monsignor scanlan high school was initially established in 1949 as two schools, st. helena's high school for boys and st. helena's high school for girls. both schools were formed by monsignor arthur j. scanlan, founding pastor of st. helena's church. he also founded the parish elementary school in 1940. both high schools were renamed in scanlan's honor in 1972 and merged to form one coeducational high school in 1976. the parish also operated a commercial high school from 1956 to 2002.