History

Wayanad, located among the Western Ghats, has a pristine natural beauty that offers a unique feeling of peace and tranquillity. In this serene and nature-friendly environment, some great visionaries conceived of a thought. The thought was driven with the aim of providing the best education to the children of North Kerala in general and Wayanad in particular. Thus, an ambitious project was launched 32 years ago by great minds who conceptualized an institution to give children access to the benefits of education and thereby churn out citizens who would be an asset to our nation.
With this vision in mind, the steps taken by those visionaries materialized in the form of a prestigious institution named after St. Vincent de Paul. De Paul Public School took its birth on December 18, 1993, at Kalpetta, the district headquarters of Wayanad.
Prior to the formation of De Paul Public School, this institution was named Sneha Academy, which started in 1990 and was located where De Paul Arcade stands today. It functioned under the aegis of five shareholders, namely Mr. Josekutty, Mrs. Gracy, Mr. Joseph, Mrs. Molly, and Late Mr. T. V. George, who later became the Founder Principal of De Paul Public School. When differences of opinion arose among the shareholders and the functioning of the school almost came to a standstill, a plan of action was chalked out by Late Mr. T. V. George, who wanted to carry forward the baton of education. Along with Rev. Fr. Jacob Narikuzhy, he approached the then Bishop of Mananthavady, His Excellency Rt. Rev. Jacob Thoomkuzhy, with a suggestion to take over the school. The negotiations bore fruit.
A Managing Committee was formed with the purpose of obtaining affiliation from the CBSE Board. The Managing Committee had Rev. Fr. Joseph Kallumkamakal as the Manager and consisted of 17 members, including Fr. Jacob Narikuzhy, Fr. Thomas Joseph Therakam, Fr. George Njaralakkatt, Dr. Mohan Das, Jose Thenamakkal, Sr. Salvia, the then Mother Superior of De Paul Convent, Smt. K. C. Rosakutty, Johnny Patani, Shanti Prasad, T. V. George, etc.
On December 18, 1993, Sneha Academy was christened De Paul Public School, taken over by the Mananthavady Diocese, and registered under the Morning Star Educational and Charitable Trust. The first Trust members were Rev. Fr. Joseph Kallumkamakal, Fr. Jacob Narikuzhy, Fr. Thomas Joseph Therakam, and Fr. George Njaralakkatt. The total number of children admitted in 1993 was 161, including students absorbed from Sneha Academy. The admission register of 1993 opens with K. S. Vishnu, whose name tops the list of students admitted that year. The school had a team of 14 teaching and non-teaching staff, including some Anglo-Indian teachers such as Miss Carmel, Miss Brinda, Miss Kate, and Miss Irene, and miss. Marian Jones
The then Vicar of St. Vincent de Paul Church, Rev. Fr. Jacob Narikuzhy, played a pivotal role in this transition. He gave permission to conduct classes in the church until the classes were shifted to the old De Paul building, now opposite the present school building. Boarding facilities for both girls and boys were provided from 1994 to 2004. There were around 70 boarders who felt at home under the first boarding warden, Miss. Marian Jones.
In 1995, teachers such as P. U. Joseph, Mrs. Glory George, Mrs. Reena Babu, Mrs. Viji Sathyan, and Mrs. Mary Cordelia joined the school and continue to remain strong pillars of De Paul.
In the same year, the foundation for the present building of De Paul School was laid, and after completion, the school opened its doors in 1996 with 352 pupils on roll. Classes VIII to X were shifted to the present building. The school’s first administrative body consisted of the Manager Rev. Fr. Joseph Kallumkamakal, Principal Late Mr. T. V. George, and Headmaster Late Mr. V. K. Joseph. The managers who later served the school include Rev. Fr. George Myladoor, Rev. Fr. Saji Pariyapannal, Rev. Fr. Jose Kocharackal, Rev. Fr. Augustine Nilackappilly, and Rev. Fr. Mathew Perumattikunil, Rev. Fr Mathai Pallichankudiyil. We honour the dedicated service and financial stewardship of our formar bursars Rev. Fr. Santhosh Kizhakanputhupally, Rev. Fr.  Rajeesh Karuthedath, Rev. Fr. Mathew Periappuram, and  Rev. Fr.  Jithin Edachilath.  We remember with gratitude the visionary leadership of our past principals Rev. Fr. Biju Koikattil, Rev. Fr. Johny Kallupura, and Sr. Christina whose dedication paved the way for our current success.
Needless to say, the cooperation and selfless contribution of our office assistants have been a force to reckon with. Mr. John T K, Mrs. Dimna, Mr. Francis, Mrs. Lissy, Mrs. Lourdh and Mrs. Sujatha have stood through thick and thin with the school for the past 35 years. One soul without whose mention this history would be incomplete is our dear Anil Kumar, whose demise on July 4, 2010, plunged us into deep sorrow. His contribution as the office head to the growth of our school is immeasurable.
The contributions of the above-mentioned leaders and non-teaching staff have helped De Paul grow from its inception into one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Wayanad. Our words of gratitude are insufficient to thank them for their unwavering support and inspiration.
The first batch of Class X passed out in 1998, and De Paul reaped the fruits of hard work and diligence. With a growing reputation for excellence in teaching and learning, the Higher Secondary Section was started, and the first batch appeared for the AISSCE examinations in 2001. Year after year, by producing wonderful results in board examinations, De Paul has proved that success comes to those who aim high and work had. 
Efforts have also been vital in the growth of infrastructure. Over the past 32 years, there has been tremendous expansion in buildings and other facilities. Apart from the three floors of the main building, an additional wing was constructed with spacious Kindergarten classrooms, an auditorium, a fully fledged library, and other classrooms. Science laboratories, a language lab, and a counselling room are also were constructed in the new block. In 2024-25, the school's facilities were significantly upgraded with the addition of a new block, housing seven furnished classrooms, a mini-auditorium, and a dedicated children’s play area.
Over its storied 32-year history, the school has flourished through the unwavering dedication of its community. Today, the institution is steered by a visionary management team, including the steadfast Manager, Rev. Fr. Mathew Periappuram, and Associate Manager, Rev. Fr. John Perumattikunnel. Under the dynamic leadership of our Principal, Mr. P. U. Joseph, alongside Bursar Rev. Fr. Aneesh Purakkal and Vice Principal Rev. Fr. Siby Madappallilkunnel, the school thrives on the passion of 65 devoted staff members. Supported by an engaged parent body and the spiritual patronage of His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Jose Porunnedom, Bishop of the Diocese of Mananthavady, we remain tirelessly committed to the holistic excellence of every pupil.
In these 32 years, the school has achieved incredible progress, and its emphasis on quality has placed it in a premium position among the CBSE schools in Wayanad. As De Paul completes 32 years of its historic journey in imparting quality education, we realize that there are still miles to go. As we move ahead, we pray for the blessings of the Almighty to guide us through time and help us cross many more milestones.