The Christian Brothers brought the ideals and teachings of St. John Baptist de La Salle to the U.S. and started many Catholic schools in New York and the Northeast. On September 10, 1924, a new Catholic high school officially opened its doors, welcoming 59 young men into what was once a residence on Walcott Street in Pawtucket, RI. The De La Salle Christian Brothers have operated the school since its inception. Brother Anselm Moore, FSC, the first principal, was joined by two Brothers and a priest in educational ministry.

The following year, with support from the Diocese of Providence and in consultation with Bishop William Hickey, the local pastors whose parishes provided students for the new high school decided that the academy should be dedicated to Saint Raphael, one of the seven Archangels and the patron saint of youth.

Athletics were an important addition to the school. Beginning in the late 1920s, the school offered baseball, football, track, hockey and basketball. Golf was added shortly thereafter.

As school enrollment grew at Saint Raphael Academy, so did the need for more space. Students came from Pawtucket and Central Falls, but also other towns in Blackstone Valley and the Attleboros in Massachusetts. Again, with the support of the Diocese of Providence and the local parishes, a two-story brick structure including classrooms, cafeteria and a gymnasium was constructed and officially opened in January 1929, just to the east of the 123 Walcott Street building. This structure was then known as the West building.

The Academy became co-educational, welcoming young women from St. Jean Baptiste Academy, also in Pawtucket. To accommodate the influx of additional students, the Academy entered into a lease agreement with St. Joseph’s parish for the use of their former elementary school building, also located on Walcott Street.

With increased enrollment and the need to provide additional space for computers, the arts, music and athletics, a new annex to the West building was built in 1986.

Saint Raphael Academy launched a capital campaign in 1996 to provide funds for modern technology, faculty and curricular development programs, the acquisition of 38 Maynard Street for conversion into an Administrative Center and for the landscaping of the West campus. Additionally, the Healey Library and Media Center was constructed on the second floor of the White building, the original Academy building at 123 Walcott Street.

SRA purchased the former St. Joseph’s School and the adjacent parking lot from its parish. This is now the East Building.

In the summer of 2001, the second floor of the West building was completely renovated to create three new science labs and an additional classroom.

Our most ambitious expansion project, the 30,000-sq.-ft. athletic and wellness center known as Alumni Hall, opened in September 2007.

The Joseph and Blanche Coutu Theater and the Navigant Art Gallery, located in the former Lynch gymnasium in the West building, opened in February 2014.

In the summer of 2015, the Academy welcomed young women from Bishop Keough Regional High School when it closed its doors. The following year, the Academy began a 1:1 device program, providing laptops for every student and teacher.

In May 2018, Saint Raphael Academy strengthened agreements with Overbrook Academy in Greenville and Quingado Grand International School in China to increase enrollment of international students.

The Academy became the first Catholic high school in Rhode Island to become STEAM-certified by Roger Williams University in 2019.