Loretto Academy-1300 Hardaway St, El Paso, TX 79903

By Aaron Perez

Published 6-18-2025

(Part of this article was first posted in an earlier blog, but I decided to extend it.)

Image Credit: Trost Society


    Tracing back to 1879, the first academy of what would later be known as Loretto was first established in San Elizario, Texas by the Sisters of Loretto as St. Joseph’s Academy. By 1892, it was later moved to central El Paso before Mother Praxedes Carty, a member of the Sisters of Loretto, amassed funds to purchase the 19 acres where the current campus stands. Despite criticism, the school was designed by the Trost and Trost architectural firm and opened its doors in 1923. The building was constructed facing Mexico, symbolizing inclusivity for all who lived in the area. The school serves students from Kinder all the way to the twelfth grade, with six-twelfth being all females. The school is also rumored to be haunted by various spirits within its walls, the first being the ghost of a nun is said to haunt the tower of the school, forever pacing the tower of the school she dedicated much of her life to. There are many conflicting stories as to why this specter haunts this tower, one being that she was a nun who continues to watch over her school. Another more well known version is said that this nun shamed herself in life by breaking her vow of celibacy and becoming pregnant. She then made the terrible decision of ending her life, and now waits for atonement of her sins. Others say that this version is attributed to a totally different woman from the nun, most likely a student who killed herself by jumping off the building to not bring shame to the school. Another specter of a nun can also be seen at late hours of night in a balcony that has not been accessed for years. This nun can be seen walking to a certain location before disappearing into thin air.


Sources

Hudnall, Ken, and Connie Wang. Spirits of the Border: The History and Mystery of El Paso Del Norte. Omega Press, 2003.

“Loretto Academy.” Loretto Academy | El Paso, Texas Private School, www.loretto.org/history. Accessed 18 6 2025.

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