Colegio Ponceño was founded in 1926 by María Serra Gelabert as “Colegio Ponceño de Varones”, a Catholic school for boys. – The Marianist Brothers ran the school from 1930 until 1969. – Since 1967, Colegio Ponceño (CP) is a parent owned non-profit corporation. – A Board of Directors is elected yearly; they approve the FY budget. – The Piarist Fathers have run the school since 1969 with a service contract with the school board. – In 1973, Colegio Ponceño de Varones became coed and changed its name to Colegio Ponceño. – In 1974, CP originally located in the middle of Ponce, moved to a new 15-acre suburban campus – 8 main buildings, barrier-free, beautifully constructed and connected. – In 1991 & 1992 the US Department of Education recognized the Elementary and High School of CP as an “Outstanding School of the Nation”. -In 2005, the “Consejo Iberoamericano en Honor a la Excelencia Educativa” gave the “Premio Iberoamaricano de Excelencia Educativa” to CP, the first school in Puerto Rico to receive such an award.