 St. Agnes was situated in what were then the suburbs of Memphis (Vance and Orleans), about a mile and a quarter from Court Square, the center of the city.The doors were opened on February 4, 1851, with 20 boarders and about 15 day-students.When the school year ended on July 7, 1851, the enrollment had increased to more than 50, and an addition to the school had been completed.