St. Isidore School, the largest Catholic school in the Diocese of Oakland, opened its doors in September of 1962. The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia were enlisted to teach the first group of students.  In September 1962, the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia provided a staff of four Sisters to open the school.  The foundational beliefs of the Sisters of St. Francis are based on the charism given to Francis and Claire of Assisi, “. . . as they responded in living the Gospel.  As Franciscan women and men, we are called to integrate the Gospel values into our daily life.”

Ten years after the inception of the school, the first class of St. Isidore students graduated. Through the years, St. Isidore School gained a strong reputation as a top-quality Catholic school as evidenced by the long waitlists at every grade level. The school is no longer affiliated with a specific religious order; however, the Mission of the founding Sisters remains central to provide a solid faith-based Catholic education and live the Catholic faith by focusing on the Gospel Values daily.