Another St. Louis Archdiocese school to close at end of school year

CREVE COEUR, Mo. – The Archdiocese of St. Louis is planning to close three elementary schools after the 2023-24 school year, announcing plans to shut down a third school on Friday.

St. Monica Catholic School in Creve Coeur will close at the end of the current school year. The Archdiocese previously announced plans last month to close Little Flower School in Richmond Heights and St. Roch School in St. Louis at the end of the school year.

“While providing Catholic Education in St. Louis County for more than 100 years, St. Monica
School has faced ongoing challenges due to inconsistent and declining enrollment,” said Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, Archbishop of St. Louis, via a news release Friday. “This trend means that continuing to provide quality education at St. Monica School would require support that would negatively impact the parish’s finances and impede other crucial parish ministries.”

The Archdiocese says only 120 students would have been enrolled at the school for the 2024-25 school year had it continued to stay open. The Archdiocese adds that the decision came after “consultation with parish and archdiocesan leaders to explore possible cost-reducing options,” and that it plans to offer assistance to staff, faculty and students affected.

FOX 2 first learned of the possibility of school closures late last year due to low enrollment and budgeting outlooks.

Plans for other schools remain to be determined. According to FOX 2’s December 2023 report, the Archdiocese says more than 80 schools are less than 65% full, fueling an average yearly deficit of $600,000 per parish.

Around 26 schools under the Archdiocese of St. Louis umbrella were reportedly notified of the possibility of closing last year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.