ST. LOUIS — Two parish elementary schools will close following the 2023-24 academic year, the Archdiocese of St. Louis announced Friday.
St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski accepted the recommendations to close Little Flower School in Richmond Heights and St. Roch School in St. Louis after parish pastors met with the Office of Catholic Education and Formation and episcopal vicars.
The groups reviewed school enrollment, staffing, building capacity, parish subsidies, Archdiocesan funding, proximity to neighboring schools and other factors related to immediate and long-term viability, a press release said.
St. Roch Parish Council President Mike Stephens described the announcement as 'devastating.'
"I think the community is really going to suffer by not having this anchor in place," he said.
Like many, attending St. Roch Catholic School runs in the Stephens family.
"It has been, all my kids went here," he said.
Now, that tradition may never continue.
"It's disappointing that they won't have that option now," Stephens said.
According to the Archdiocese, Little Flower School's enrollment had fallen from 138 students in 2019-20 to 80 students this year. There are currently only eight students enrolled for the next school year.
St. Roch School had its enrollment fall from 195 students in 2018-19 to 130 students this year. Only 74 students are enrolled for the next academic year, the release said.
"The uncertainty just took its toll, and we really had a tough, difficult time recovering from that situation," Stephens said.
According to Stephens, recently enrollment at St. Roch Catholic School had started to increase, but unfortunately, with the ongoing situation and the uncertainty it was bringing, many families began to leave.
"It had a chilling effect on new families coming to St. Roch, all created by the way the archdiocese managed this whole All Things New process," he said.
Both schools also faced staffing issues, including Little Flower School's principal and 10 members of the teaching staff. St. Roch's principal and at least four staff members opted not to return next year.
Stephens said the impact of their doors shutting will be great.
"It's a very important hub of activity for the community and it's a great loss to our community in general," he said.
Not too long ago, St. Roch parishioners raised $400,000 for their beloved school and church. It's momentum that Stephens prays will only continue.
"We're encouraging all of our parishioners to continue to support the school through next year and to continue to support our parish as a community and our church building," he said.
The Archdiocese said it is working with impacted faculty, staff and families following the announcement.
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