SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga Preparatory Academy is marking a significant milestone as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of admitting female students. The private school, which is approaching its 138th year, is reflecting on the impact of this change on its culture and the Spokane community.

In 1887, Gonzaga Prep welcomed 18 students, all boys aged 11 to 15. It wasn’t until 1975 that girls were allowed to enroll, a change that has since shaped the school’s history and influence.

Kathleen Wilson, who was part of the second co-ed freshman class, shared her experience of attending the school. “For a female, going to this school made me a part of a community that I had grown up in,” she said. Initially expecting to attend an all-girls school, Gonzaga Prep became a pivotal part of her life.

The

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