In 1930, Bishop Rudolph A. Gerken purchased the present church land near the new Catholic hospital.  In 1948, two buildings were purchased from Dalhart Army Airfield.  On June 13, 1949, Bishop Fitzsimon dedicated St. Anthony Church and School—the renovated Army buildings.  The school did not open until five years later. In the interim, the parish sought the commitment of an order of Sisters to teach.  In early 1954, Father James Fitzgerald was successful in bringing the School Sisters of St. Francis, who had just recently established headquarters in Panhandle, to teach in the school for the upcoming 1954-1955 school year.  Property across the street from the school was purchased and a new convent built.
St. Anthony School continues to be staffed by the School Sisters of St. Francis in combination with a dedicated lay staff, which offers the unique advantage of integrating religious truths and values with instruction in knowledge and basic skills.  Students are provided the opportunity for frequent Mass, daily prayer, and Benediction on first Fridays. 

The school has a strong basic curriculum with a phonetically based advanced reading program.  The textbooks are up-to-date, as are the supplemental materials. 

We also offer the latest technological advances in learning with a central library; a state-of-the-art computer lab; internet access networked to each classroom; printers in every classroom; and “smart boards”. 

Students at St. Anthony are dedicated to following in Christ’s footsteps.  Each student is actively involved in a service ministry.  All students, faculty and staff participate in annual projects shared not only with the parish, but also with the community. Thus the educational program at St. Anthony is carried out within an environment of Christian values.