The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School in Midland, Pennsylvania, was founded in the early 20th century as part of the Presentation parish, established in 1912 to serve the growing steel mill town. The school was built to provide local children with a faith-based education, blending Catholic instruction with traditional academics.
By the 1970s, when my mother, Kathleen Dunlap attended through the 8th grade, the school remained a small but close-knit institution, where students were taught by both lay teachers and religious sisters. Daily life likely included uniforms, regular attendance at Mass, catechism lessons, and participation in parish activities, fostering a strong sense of discipline, community, and faith. After graduating 8th grade, students typically continued their education at Lincoln High School, as Kathleen did, where they joined a larger student body from across Midland and the surrounding towns.
School Snapshot: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary School
Location: Midland, Beaver County, Pennsylvania
Parish Affiliation: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church (later merged into St. Blaise Parish)
Years Active: Established 1912, operating through the late 20th century
Grades Offered
- Elementary school, Grades 1–8
- Some years may have included Kindergarten, though this varied by parish and era
- Students typically continued to Lincoln High School for Grades 9–12
School Type
- Parochial Catholic school (privately run by the parish under the Diocese of Pittsburgh)
- Considered a private school, distinct from the public school system
Tuition & Support
- Early model (1910s–1960s): Tuition often minimal or none for parish families; costs covered by parish donations and fundraising, with teaching largely provided by nuns
- 1970s (when Kathleen Dunlap attended): Families began paying modest tuition, especially as more lay teachers replaced religious sisters. Parish families paid reduced rates, while non-parishioners paid more.
Daily Life & Culture (1970s)
- School uniforms required
- Core subjects (reading, math, history, science) alongside daily religious instruction
- Regular attendance at Mass as a school community
- Taught by a mix of lay teachers and nuns (often remembered as strict, with strong emphasis on discipline and respect)
- Small-town, close-knit environment where most families knew each other
Family Connection
- Kathleen Dunlap (as well as her siblings) attended Presentation through 8th grade (1970s) before entering Lincoln High School in 9th grade.
- Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Church was central to her life: she was married here, and all three of her children were baptized here.
