Immaculate Heart of Mary School exists to glorify and serve Jesus by providing a Catholic education through faith, respect, and tradition. We enrich knowledge through rigorous academics combined with the innovations of today and foster family values steeped in cultural diversity. Our purpose being to maintain a century long legacy where students serve with the heart of Christ.

At Immaculate Heart of Mary School (IHM), our vision is to bring inspiration and innovation to every student in the classroom.

We are committed to providing a holistic education rooted in Catholic beliefs and values, where faith and learning go hand in hand.

At IHM, we strive to:

• Foster academic excellence, mutual respect, self-discipline, and faith formation.

• Build a strong sense of community among our students, faculty, and staff.

• Develop leadership qualities and active learning skills, encouraging critical thinking and the effective use of technology.

• Provide a safe and supportive environment that enhances the overall vision and mission of our school.

Immaculate Heart of Mary School is dedicated to offering high-quality academic programs integrated with religious truth and values. Our goal is to prepare students for meaningful lives in today’s Church and society—and to equip them for leadership in both the Church and the world of tomorrow.

Through a strong, well-rounded, and contemporary curriculum, we form students in the beliefs, values, and traditions of Catholic Christianity while nurturing their spiritual, intellectual, personal, social, and physical growth.

At IHM, teachers and parents are partners in faith and education. Our faculty serve as daily witnesses of Christian living, modeling the values of compassion, integrity, and lifelong learning. Each teacher is carefully selected and encouraged to pursue ongoing professional and spiritual growth, ensuring that our students receive an education that is both faith-filled and future-focused.

Welcome to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and School (IHM)

Since its founding, IHM has been a model of faith, community, and sustainable growth. In 1878, Polish settlers arrived in the Marche area and built a church on what became known as “Jasna Gora” or Blue Hill—named after a cherished shrine in Poland dedicated to the Blessed Mother. This deep devotion continues to shape our community and connect us to our heritage.

Located on the outskirts of North Little Rock, IHM remains deeply rooted as a parish and community school, serving families from across a growing region.

Shortly after the church was established, the Holy Ghost Fathers built a small school—a two-story log building with classrooms on the first floor and the priest’s living quarters above. Lay women served as the first teachers, and by 1884, enrollment had reached 83 students.

In 1924, Blue Hill School was constructed to teach students through eighth grade, staffed by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Convent in Fort Smith. Just a few years later, in 1927, the Pulaski County School District took over the school, making it public. Local legend says Father Charles Hertel would station a lookout at the end of Blue Hill Road to warn when district officials were coming—so the nuns could pause Religion lessons!

In 1953, Blue Hill School returned to parish control, once again becoming a Catholic school. Under the leadership of Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Prendergast, a larger facility was built and dedicated in 1960.

As our parish community continued to grow, new additions followed: three classrooms and a library were added in 1991, and in 1998, the Upper Building was constructed. This building now houses church offices, grades 4–8, a cafeteria, and the Parish Life Center.

In 2015, two new Pre-K classrooms were added by transforming part of the lower building’s gym. These bright, welcoming rooms now provide our youngest learners with an inspiring start to their IHM education.

Our mission continues to guide us—honoring the values of our past while preparing our students for success in the future. The strong legacy of faith, education, and community at Immaculate Heart of Mary inspires us to meet today’s challenges with hope and confidence as we build toward the next 100 years.

Mission and History

Spiritual Life

Accreditation

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