John Moore was born in County Westmeath, Ireland, and moved to Charleston, South Carolina at the age of 14.

Moore was influential in the expansion of Catholic schools in Florida and in the recruitment of religious nuns and priests to meet the ministerial needs of the diocese.

The landmark "Golden Dome" remains in use as a secondary gymnasium, and was recently renovated to include extra classrooms and a space for theater productions.

In the summer of 2016, the media center and Mary Martha Hall were renovated to add a new student cafe and additional classrooms.

In May 2021, the new Moore Center for Excellence, a multi-purpose athletic and academic facility, was dedicated and opened.