christopher e. byrne, a bishop, consolidated st. james high school and st. mary high school into a single school, which initially had the two campuses but later got a single one. in 1949 the first class of students graduated. in 1965 the school had 500 students. in 1983 170 students were enrolled. in 1983 all of the teachers were lay teachers except for a single nun; the school administration believed having more clergy on staff would show a stronger religious image and encourage more people to enroll.