On October 1, 1911, Archbishop Prendergast officially established Saint Cecilia Parish and Reverend William C. Sheridan was appointed founding pastor.  On August 17, 1924, the cornerstone was laid for the first school at 530 Stanwood Street. Classes for 113 students conducted by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a community dedicated to the apostolate of Catholic education, began in September 1925.

By 1955, the enrollment had increased and it became necessary to convert the school auditorium into classrooms and to rent the top floor of the Fox Chase Library for the eighth grade, and later, fourth to sixth grades. This was called the “Saint Cecilia Annex.”  In 1964, no longer able to accommodate all the pupils despite a loss of area because of new boundaries, ground was broken for a new modern building with three floors and six classrooms on each floor.  In 1971, six additional classrooms, a gymnasium, and an auditorium were added to this building.

The years 1982-1992 brought about many important changes. The gym and computer classes were professionally structured. The school library was computerized to handle its ever-growing services. Students in need of special help, such as counseling, speech therapy, remedial reading and mathematics, were, and still are, referred to professionals in the CORA trailer, located on the school grounds.  A second kindergarten class was opened and CARES, an after school program to care for the children of working parents, was begun.

With enrollment at capacity, an addition was added to the original structure in 1993. This addition accommodated new classrooms, office space, meeting rooms, a faculty lunchroom and storage areas.  Over the next few years the computer lab was updated and a laptop room was added while the entire building was wired for the internet. The curriculum additions included Honors Math and Classroom Music.

Since our last Middle States accreditation there have been many changes.  A second computer lab was built to accommodate an entire classroom of students for research purposes.  A fully equipped science lab was established and the Lab Learner Science program was adopted. This hands-on program, utilized by students in kindergarten through grade 8, correlates with the requirements of the new National Guidelines Science Standards (NGSS). 

Security procedures are constantly being updated. School entrances are locked at all times. Faculty and staff have access to the school with key fobs. Security cameras are in place and in operating order. All classrooms are equipped with a phone having a direct line to the main office and the vice-principal’s office.

A daily hot lunch program provided by the Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was initiated in 2012.  This program offers hot lunches five days a week to all students at free, reduced or regular prices.  To accommodate this lunch program larger refrigerators, freezers and ovens were placed in the cafeteria kitchen. 

New lighting in the gymnasium and a specialized floor was installed in 2012 thanks to the generosity of the Keeley family.  This renovation honors the memory of their son, Mark, a former student and coach at St. Cecilia School. 

In September 2013 wireless internet access was added and a  World Language program was introduced. Taught at different grades levels are Spanish, French, and Latin.