The Auburndale School was founded in 1966 by Mrs. Mary Alice Riggs Smith.

Mary Alice Riggs Smith was born in Memphis, TN, and was married to Stanley J. Smith of New Orleans, LA. Mrs. Smith attended Lausanne Collegiate School, Duke University, and the University of Memphis for high school, college, and graduate school, respectively. Mr. Smith was a graduate of Christian Brothers High School, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and the University of Memphis. 

In 1966, Mrs. Smith saw the need for a non-graded program specializing in the instruction of children with learning disabilities; thus the Auburndale School was formed, with 12 charter students. Mrs. Smith initiated one of the first educational programs for children with learning disabilities, a program that would evolve into the PLUS program for both Auburndale and SBA.

The Smiths had six children together: Mary Annette Smith Keating, Stanley J. Smith Jr. (deceased), William Warren Smith, Roy W. Smith, Allison Ann Smith, and Mary Alice Smith. All but Mary Annette graduated from the Auburndale School. Mary Annette, William, and Roy are all former teachers of the Auburndale School. Keeping the family tradition, the Smiths also had seven grandchildren that graduated from St. Benedict at Auburndale: Kristen Keating Spencer ‘02, Lisa Keating Scruggs ‘05, Emily LaForce ‘08, Melanie LaForce Hays ‘10, Daniel LaForce ‘13, Taylor Smith ’08, and Max Smith ‘11. 

Without the Smiths, there would be no St. Benedict at Auburndale. 

Mr. Stanley Smith and Mrs. Mary Alice Riggs Smith

As the school became known for its excellence in education, a demand grew for a comparable program to accommodate those students who no longer required special academic attention and the regular program was formed in 1970. The school was originally planned to be housed in a church in Midtown on Auburndale Street from which it took its name. Due to a fire at that church, the first classes with a total enrollment of 12 students were held at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church. 

In 1972, plans began to build the Auburndale School in Cordova on a 21 acre site near the Countrywood subdivision.  While waiting for the completion of construction, the school moved to the old Siena College.  With the construction of the first building completed, four grades moved to Cordova for the 1973-1974 school year while four grades remained at Siena College.

 Mr. Smith joined the Auburndale School full-time in 1973 as the Business Manager.

By the 1974-1975 school year, the second building was completed and all 480 students were house in Cordova.  Plans began immediately in the fall of 1974 for two major undertakings; the construction of the Upper School and applications of accreditation by the State Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 

In 1975, the Auburndale School was accreditated by the State Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and recognized by the Memphis Association of Independent Schools as one of the fastest growing school systems in the area. 

Our first Auburndale senior class graduated in 1976.

A five year old Kindergarten was also designed in 1976.

In 1978 the Gifted program was established to serve the needs of the academically talented 

The first four year old kindergarten class enrolled at Auburndale.

Mrs. Mary Alice Riggs Smith was honored as the Humanitarian of the Year by the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ) now known as the National Conference for Community and Justice for her leadership role in providing educational opportunities, particularly to economically disadvantaged minorities.    

Due to health issues, after 22 years of service from Mrs. Smith and 15 years from Mr. Smith, the couple sold the school to the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, thus becoming St. Benedict at Auburndale. Both faithful Catholics, Mary Alice Riggs Smith and Stanley J. Smith were instrumental in the Auburndale School becoming St. Benedict at Auburndale. Mrs. Smith died just prior to the official sale of the school. 

On January 14, 1988, Bishop Buechlein announced that the Catholic Diocese of Memphis had acquired the Auburndale School, which was subsequently renamed St. Benedict at Auburndale, in honor of the patron saint of Bishop Buechlein’s order. The Diocese then contacted the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville to join St. Benedict.

Class of 1989

In July 2004, St. Benedict at Auburndale relocated to its new campus at 8250 Varnavas Drive, undergoing a transformation into an institution dedicated solely to high school education, serving grades 9 through 12.

Photo: Dr. Mary McDonald and Bishop Terry J. Steib

On September 23, 2004, the new campus at 8250 Varnavas Drive was officially dedicated, marking a significant milestone in the school's history.