SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga Preparatory Academy is marking a significant milestone as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of admitting female students. The private school, which is approaching its 138th year, is reflecting on the impact of this change on its culture and the Spokane community.
In 1887, Gonzaga Prep welcomed 18 students, all boys aged 11 to 15. It wasn’t until 1975 that girls were allowed to enroll, a change that has since shaped the school’s history and influence.
Kathleen Wilson, who was part of the second co-ed freshman class, shared her experience of attending the school. “For a female, going to this school made me a part of a community that I had grown up in,” she said. Initially expecting to attend an all-girls school, Gonzaga Prep became a pivotal part of her life.
The school is honoring this anniversary by sharing 50 stories of influential female alumni. Michael, a school leader, emphasized, “This is a mission milestone. Celebrating 50 years of going coed is huge for the school.”
Gonzaga Prep’s president highlighted the school’s pioneering role in coeducation among Jesuit high schools. “Gonzaga Prep was actually the fourth Jesuit high school in the country to go coed, so it was visionary back then,” he stated.
Reflecting on the transition, Wilson noted some challenges, “We didn’t have enough bathrooms, the locker rooms weren’t great. So, it was a real change here. But it was a great school, it really was.”
Despite these growing pains, Wilson expressed gratitude for her experience, saying, “I was blessed to be a part of this community, and it took being coed to get me there.”
The school’s motto, “Go forth and set the world on fire,” continues to inspire all students. Michael noted, “They are the ones who are really changing the world,” underscoring the lasting impact of Gonzaga Prep’s decision to become coeducational.
