Msgr. Farrell High School, a diocesan high school, was founded as a result of the successful drive for high schools conducted in the Archdiocese of New York under the leadership of the late Francis Cardinal Spellman.
Twenty acres of land were purchased in the Oakwood Heights section of Staten Island. The architectural contract was awarded to Charles Luckman Associates who designed one of the finest educational buildings on Staten Island. The ground-breaking ceremonies in April 1961 signaled the beginning of construction.
During this time, a class of 113 boys and 5 teachers began school in an annex of Saint Sylvester's school in Concord in September 1961 under the direction of Monsignor John Considine as Supervising Principal and Brother Harold Delaney as Brother Principal. In September 1962 the freshman and sophomore classes moved into the new building.
