










Short History
October 10, 1892, the works and prayers of Father Menard became a reality with the construction of the first school for boys in Alexandria. It
was named the St. Francis Xavier Commercial College.
In June 1922, after thirty-one years, the St. Francis Xavier Commercial College ceased to exist, being renamed Menard Memorial, after Father
Menard. Menard Memorial operated at the Elliot Street location as a school for boys until 1966.
In 1914, St. Francis Xavier School transformed into Providence Academy for Girls.
In 1949, Providence Academy became Providence Central for girls in grades nine to twelve, and Our Lady of Prompt Succor for boys and girls in
kindergarten to eighth grade.
1966 Providence Central High School and Menard Memorial High School consolidated and was renamed Holy Savior Menar dCentral High
School.
Long History
Holy Savior Menard’s roots date back to 1884, when Father L. Menard became the eleventh pastor of St. Francis Xavier Commercial College
Catholic Church. On October 10, 1892, the works and prayers of Father Menard became a reality with the construction of the first school for
boys in Alexandria. It was located on Second and Ogden Streets and was named the St. Francis Xavier Commercial College. In 1903, the
school was rebuilt on the corner of Fourth and Beauregard Streets, next to the present St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. In 1915, the school was
raised ten feet to provide a third floor and additional floor space to handle the increased enrollment. Father Menard was also responsible for
bringing the Sisters of Divine Providence and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart to Alexandria. The sisters taught at the St. Francis Xavier Girls
Academy, founded in 1894, and later at Providence Academy, Providence Central, and currently at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Elementary
School. The Brothers taught at the Commercial College and later at Menard Memorial High School. . In 1914, St. Francis Xavier transformed into
Providence Academy for Girls and opened on the grounds of the present day Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church. In 1949, Providence Academy
became Providence Central for girls in grades nine to twelve, and Our Lady of Prompt Succor for boys and girls in kindergarten to eighth grade.
In 1934, the Menard Memorial school colors were changed from purple and gold to green, gold, and white, and the mascot was changed from the
bulldogs to the eagles. The year 1966 marked the last year for the name “Menard Memorial.” In that year, the school combined with Providence
Central to become Holy Savior Menard Central High School. The new facility at its present location on Coliseum Boulevard opened in the fall of
1967.
In 1988, in cooperation with Our Lady of Prompt Succor, the seventh and eighth grades were moved from Prompt Succor to Menard. Holy Savior
Menard is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and by the Louisiana State Department of Education. The School is
affiliated with the National Catholic Educational Association, The National Association of Secondary School Principals, and the Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development. Athletic teams participate under the auspices of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Holy
Savior Menard is intensely proud of its 6,000 plus alumni. One of the school’s greatest assets is the achievements of its graduates. Many
prominent leaders in the Central Louisiana area are among students nurtured through their crucial adolescent years by the Brothers of the
Sacred Heart, the Sisters of Divine Providence, and the dedicated lay faculty and staff members at Holy Savior Menard Central High School.
How Our High Schools Evolved