About St. Peter School
Saint Peter School is a Catholic elementary school located in Cambridge, MA. Our school is committed to teaching to the heart, mind, and soul of each student.
Saint Peter School was founded in 1901 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame as a Catholic elementary school ministering to Irish and Italian immigrants. For over a century, Saint Peter School has served as a mainstay in the Cambridge community, providing a comprehensive education to children for generations – no matter their demographic or economic status.
Saint Peter School honors its well-established reputation as an institution of distinction with an unwavering commitment to excellence in education. Today, it is the city of Cambridge’s last remaining Catholic grammar school. Inspired by our traditions and a dedication to innovation, Saint Peter School’s devoted and talented teachers serve 186 students, pre-K through grade eight. Competing with the area’s public schools and larger, deeply endowed private schools, Saint Peter School offers a well-rounded education, emphasizing rigorous academics and strong character in an enriching, engaging, and accepting environment.
For 118 years, Saint Peter School has been an anchor in its tight-knit Cambridge neighborhood. Over that time, its commitment to academic excellence, open and accepting culture, and relative affordability have made the school a valued resource for families from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds throughout Greater Boston.
Saint Peter School has remained true to the highest values of the Catholic faith: 60% of our families self-identify as Catholic. The student population accurately reflects the Cambridge community, a place where students from a variety of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds come together to learn and share. We are committed to making Saint Peter School available to all who desire a faith-based, academically rigorous education.
Welcome from Head of School, Dr. Evan Kristiansen
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Saint Peter School (SPS), an outstanding K1-8 school rooted in the rich Roman Catholic tradition and in pursuit of academic excellence. SPS was founded in 1901 as a as a parochial school associated with St. Peter Parish and staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and for 120 years has provided a well-rounded educational experience that has allowed each student to grow and develop academically, spiritually, morally, and personally. We are very excited to welcome you and your children to our community for the 2023-2024 school year.
Saint Peter School (SPS) is a diverse and growing community with incredible learning resources for your child to engage with. Our facilities include a brand-new state of the art STEM Center, a dedicated art room and ceramics studio, a well-stocked library, lovingly restored Convent, a music studio, and Hoff Technology Center.
Our faculty and staff leverage these facilities to create innovative curricular experiences for your child including: a new LEGO robotics program, a varied and engaging art curriculum, coding and programming experiences, individualized Learning Center programs, partnerships with outdoor learning programs, and many others! In addition, at SPS every child has access to a computer through our 1:1 Chromebook program, which prepares our students for their future by ensuring that they become expert digital learners. Finally, our teachers are among the best and brightest in Massachusetts, with nearly 85% of our faculty holding graduate degrees. The result is that SPS students grow to be mature and precocious young people that are equipped for lifelong academic success. Outside of the classroom, our students engage in a variety of extracurricular activities, ranging from athletics and student government to theater and social justice ministry.
Our Catholic identity is also a key part of SPS, where students attend weekly liturgy and engage with thoughtful religious education. Saint Peter School believes that all students, whether they come from a Catholic Christian background or not, benefit from the formation of an intellectually curious mind and a steadfast moral compass. Our students become thoughtful and empathetic friends, servant leaders, and global citizens with a foundation in Christ and charged with love of God and neighbor.
SPS also celebrates the role of parents as the primary educators of their children. At SPS, we engage and involve our families in everything that we do. Our active Parent Association organizes regular community-building events, and our dedicated “Room Parents” are a constant source of inspiration and support for our students and teachers.
If you are interested in learning more about the remarkable things happening at SPS, please do not hesitate to contact us. You and your family are invited to visit our beautiful campus and experience our wonderful community for yourself. It would be an honor and privilege to welcome you and be able to show you what makes SPS so amazing!
In the meantime, know that we are praying for you and your families.
In Christ,
Evan Kristiansen, PhD
Our History: A Legacy of Faith and Education
In 1888, Father John Flatley became Pastor of St. Peter Church, overseeing a growing Catholic community across Cambridge, Somerville, Belmont, and Watertown. Recognizing the need for a school to educate the children of this expanding parish, Father Flatley purchased land for just one dollar and, with architect Edward T.P. Graham and builder D.W. Power, began constructing a new school.
In 1901, St. Peter School opened its doors with five founding Sisters of Notre Dame—Sister Mary Isaiah, Sister Mary Basilissa, Sister Mary Joanella, Sister Mary Freida, and Sister Mary Dosithea—and a group of 131 students. Father Flatley’s vision for Catholic education became a reality on September 11, 1901. Sadly, Father Flatley passed away two years later, but his legacy was carried on by Father Edward J. Moriarty, who expanded the school to meet the needs of the growing student body.
For over a century, St. Peter School has flourished, thanks to the dedication of pastors, teachers, and parents. Today, under the leadership of Father Americo Santos, the school continues to thrive with a talented team of lay administrators, faculty, and staff. Just as in 1901, our teachers remain committed to providing an exceptional and relevant education, supported by specialists in learning support, counseling, wellness, music, art, and technology.