Established 1925
Nativity School opened in 1925 at 943 West 57th Street under the direction of the Sister of St. Joseph of Boston. The Sisters of St. Joseph taught at Nativity until they were recalled to their home diocese in 1936. The Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross arrived one month later and administered the school until 1994. Presently the school has an all-lay staff, and serves 330 prekindergarten to eighth grade students.
From the original brick building that opened 86 years ago, Nativity School has continued to expand. The expansion began as a need after damage from the Northridge earthquake rendered the brick building unusable. Eventually, an administration office building with the school offices, a faculty room, and the school kitchen was completed in 2003. The John and Dorothy Shea Foundation constructed a new school building in 2007 that includes grades prekindergarten to three, a computer lab, a Title I room, a day care, and a religious education office. Now the original brick building includes grades four to eight, a computer lab, a science lab, library, and an auditorium.