School History
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Forming Young People in the Image of Christ Since 1901
Founded in Downtown Atlanta as a Boys Military School
Marist School, formerly known as Marist College, was established in 1901 by the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers and Brothers). The Marist Fathers first came to Atlanta in 1897 at the request of Bishop Thomas Becker to staff the new Sacred Heart Parish. In September 1898, Father John E. Gunn, S.M. became pastor of the parish, and he soon realized the need for a school that would offer a Catholic education to Atlanta's young men. In 1901, Father Gunn purchased the Alexander lot adjacent to the parish church, and construction of the school began on June 7, 1901. Marist College opened on Monday, October 2, 1901 with an enrollment of 32 boys. The school’s preparatory program began in the sixth grade and included the traditional high school program. In addition, Marist College was incorporated in 1902 under the laws of the State of Georgia.
Current Campus Established on Ashford Dunwoody Road
From 1901 to 1962, Marist College was located at the red brick school building on Ivy Street, near Peachtree Center Avenue, in downtown Atlanta, which is currently the site of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Due to the growth of the city, the school was forced to relocate, and land was purchased on Ashford Dunwoody Road in 1957 from Harold B. Kirkpatrick. Construction of the new campus began in August 1961 and was completed for the start of the 1962-1963 school year. At this time, the “new” Marist changed its name to Marist School.
Marist Welcomes Female Students
The school functioned as a Catholic, military day school for boys until 1976. At that time, Marist became coeducational, and the Air Force Jr. ROTC was discontinued due to insufficient enrollment.
Advancing the Marist Mission
Today, Marist School thrives as an independent Catholic, coeducational, college-preparatory day school for students in grades 7-12.
Marist School is grounded in the spiritual inheritance from the Society of Mary and builds on our longstanding communal pursuit of excellence to form the young people in our care in the image of Christ, preparing them to be the compassionate leaders our world needs.
Marist School Seal
The Marist School crest is composed of a shield with its motto and external ornaments. The place of honor on the shield, the left side, is devoted to the Blessed Virgin and the Society of Mary. The six-pointed star is a symbol of Mary which recalls her role in bridging the history of the Old Testament peoples and the New Covenant through the birth of Jesus. The AM monogram, borrowed from the crest of the Society of Mary, stands for Ave Maria (Hail, Mary). It was used by Father Colin prior to 1839. The AM monogram also appears on a gold coin issued in 1804 by the French government to commemorate the coronation of Napoleon in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in the presence of Pope Pius VII.
The right side of the crest focuses on the school and the state of Georgia. Georgia’s state flower, the Cherokee rose, is surrounded by three books representing religion, the arts, and the sciences. The four stars stand for Georgia, the fourth of the original thirteen states; the wavy lines suggest the waters of the Atlantic. The motto, Sub Mariae Nomine, means "under the name of Mary" and signifies that Marist places itself under the protection and guidance of Mary, the Mother of God.
Leadership Through the Years
Marist School Archives
The Marist School Archives includes materials from the establishment of the school in 1901 through the present day, including yearbooks, newspapers, photographs, school records, personal papers, brochures and publications, and financial records. Materials relate to the following areas of Marist School life: the Marist priests and brothers in Atlanta, faculty, students, grounds and buildings, fundraising, parents, athletics, and the fine arts. The collection includes a variety of artifacts such as uniforms, medals, awards, certificates and diplomas, and assorted memorabilia representing Marist over the decades.