Our Lady of Grace High School (OLGHS) was incorporated on June 26, 2000 in the state of Texas as a private, coeducational, college preparatory school in service to the Catholic Church. This called for an immediate designation of a Corporate Board of Directors. Application was made to the Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) for the designation as a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation in August of 2000 and provisional status was granted by the I.R.S. on November 7, 2000.

In January of 2000, the need for secondary education in the Catholic faith, in Denton County, began to be realized with the pending graduation of students attending Immaculate Conception Elementary school in May of 2002. Families who desired to continue their children’s education in the same faith filled and academically challenging environment simply had no local option. In the summer of 2000, interested families were invited by the Corporate Board to attend informational meetings and to become involved in the effort to promote a lay led effort toward actualizing the vision of secondary Catholic education for children in Denton County. From these meetings, a core committee of individuals was established who met on a monthly basis to strategize long-range developmental and fundraising efforts needed to raise sufficient funds to initially purchase land for a new secondary school building.

In May of 2001, the Corporate Board of Directors established an Honorary Board of Professional Advisors. In July of 2001 the Corporate Board made the decision to open Our Lady of Grace in a leased facility. This decision was made in accordance with the desire expressed in our Holy Father Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Message to the Lay Faithful for the New Millennium to “put out into the deep”, or “Duc In Altum”. From our baptism, we are all called to evangelize and to lead the Gospel message and sometimes it isn’t just casting our nets into the waters, but casting them into the ‘deep’ waters, taking that risk, having faith in God, that He will not only provide, but will multiply what you have brought Him. The Board Members of Our Lady of Grace made the decision to open the school with this message in mind.

On August 15th, 2001 the entire project was consecrated to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary and a pre-registration period was held at Divine Mercy Bookstore on October 17,18, and 19th. Four students pre-registered. Proposals to lease space were presented to St. David’s Episcopal Church and St. Mark Catholic Church in Denton in the month of September. The Board accepted St. Mark’s agreement to temporarily locate the school at the Pennsylvania Drive location. Actual registration was held February 9th and 10th at St. Mark’s Church. Enrollment after this time reached 10 students. The school’s first portable building arrived on March 5, 2002.

The first day of classes for Our Lady of Grace High School students was on the Feast Day of the Assumption August 15, 2002. The school used its own portable for administration and a Library/Computer Center. A complete functioning dark room was also set up in one of the portable bathrooms. Two other classrooms were used from the parish.
The second year (’03’–‘04’) of Our Lady of Grace High School saw the addition of 10 new freshmen and one new sophomore. We said good-bye to two of our sophomores who moved to Tulsa, OK. We ended the year with 17 students. We became a NAPCIS member school and began our self study for accreditation. The Internal Revenue Service granted our final status as a functioning 501 (c) 3 Corporation in the state of Texas. Our faculty and staff grew to a total of 9. We used 4 classrooms that year.

In the third year of operations (‘04”-’05) we acquired a new portable to house the dark room, science lab and another classroom. Our student population grew to 24 students in grades 9-11 coming from Hurst, Flower Mound, Bartonville, Ft. Worth, Corinth, Ponder, Roanoke, Hickory Creek, Grapevine, Argyle and Denton. 10 faculty and staff were on payroll. In October we were granted full accreditation through the National Association of Private Catholic Independent Schools. OLGHS students placed first in District TAPPS Art and Academics and 6th in the State competition. OLGHS played Girls’ Varsity Volleyball and Basketball. Tennis, Golf, track and cross country were offered.

The school year of 2005-2006 saw the first graduating class from Our Lady of Grace High School and the growth of our student population to 27. 17 faculty and staff were on payroll. Seven students graduated from the school. Alumni are currently attending St. Thomas University in Houston, University of North Texas, North Texas Community College, Tarrant County Community College, Franciscan University at Steubenville, University of Dallas.

With the relocation to Hwy 170 & Alta Vista, the school decided to remain open for the 2006-2007 school year to provide coursework for the six graduating seniors. The school moved temporarily to Argyle, Texas and was housed in the old Argyle Elementary School. All 6 seniors finished up their course work with the addition of a Classical Studies Course which included Greek, Astronomy and Logic. Their reading of the Great Books in conjunction with their Theology, Civics, Technology and Psychology courses, prepared them for entry into college. The Administration worked on the new site preparation plan and prepared the Scope and Sequence of the Theology courses for presentation to the Bishop for his approval. The school began the process of seeking accreditation through the Texas Catholic Conference. The school became members of NCEA and for the first time celebrated Catholic Schools Week.  Graduates from the class of 2007 attended Hawaii Pacific University, Univ. of North Texas, Ave Maria University, Lexington College, and the University of Dallas. 

Year six saw the school opening up at a temporary location while they awaited completion of the Hwy 170 property. Operations began at the new site on October 2, 2007. The visit for provisional accreditation through the Texas Catholic Conference was October 22. Eight of the students participated in the state cross-country meet in Waco.  The school received provisional Accreditation through the Texas Catholic Conference on Dec. 5th 2007.  The School was officially recognized as a “Catholic” school at the Diocesan Catholic Schools Banquet on Jan. 26th.    

  ”08-”09 was the first full year on the Highway 170 property.  We held our first ever “LIONS Scramble Golf Tournament” with a turnout of over 130 golfers.  In September we celebrated Mass for the very first time on our new campus.  Our students competed in District TAPPS winning first place in Art and Academics and third place in State.  The OLGHS boys golf team took 4th in Regionals and 6th in State.  We had one student take 1st place in the girl’s golf individual category at Regionals and 7th place at State.