St. Benedict at Auburndale Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school of the Diocese of Memphis. We form a diverse student body in grades 9 - 12 through faith, to achieve academic excellence and experience a rich student life. St. Benedict offers unique programs for all students including those who excel beyond the traditional curriculum and those who have specific learning needs. The school is located on a beautiful 47-acre campus in northeast Shelby County.
The Auburndale School was founded in 1966 by Mrs. Mary Alice Riggs Smith. The first Auburndale senior class graduated in 1976. On January 14, 1988, Bishop Buechlein announced the Catholic Diocese of Memphis had purchased the Auburndale School. Plans, terms, and even a name, St. Benedict at Auburndale, named after the patron saint of Bishop Buechlein’s order, were agreed upon. The diocese reached out to The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville to come to SBA and enlighten it with a solid spiritual and religious presence. As the demand for a quality Catholic high school education grew, SBA received more applications than they could admit. In July 2004, after several years of discussion, fund-raising, and construction, SBA moved next door to the new campus and underwent a transition into a high school-only setting, serving grades 9 through 12.
St. Benedict at Auburndale is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. St. Benedict is a member of the National Catholic Education Association, an associate member of the Memphis Association of Independent Schools, a member of the National Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, Learning Disabilities Association, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association.
The philosophy of St. Benedict at Auburndale recognizes as its highest value an environment wherein knowledge is enlightened and enlivened by the Gospel values. This essence of Faith is shared by administration, teachers, students, and parents in a spirit of great freedom and great love. St. Benedict at Auburndale is aware that each student has a personal style of learning and a pace at which he/she learns best. Consequently, the school works to provide an atmosphere that capitalizes on strengths and remediates weaknesses. Knowing also that the classroom is not the only arena in which learning takes place, St. Benedict at Auburndale attempts to educate the whole person by providing a variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. The focus of this institution is the promotion of personal excellence through the maximum spiritual, physical, emotional, social, and academic growth of the student. We endeavor to guide each student to realize his/her worth and dignity; to identify and develop the potential for learning; to utilize his/her individual talents and skills for the betterment of self, family, Church, community, nation, and world. Based on this philosophy, St. Benedict at Auburndale seeks to lead each student in the gradual transition from dependence to self-determination and personal mastery.
Additionally, in line with Catholic teaching, we welcome those of other faith traditions. We believe that every member of the St. Benedict family, regardless of their religious affiliation, deserves respect, dignity, and encouragement in the practice of their faith.