The Chicago Archdiocese announced the closure of six elementary schools at the end of the school year because of budget shortfalls and low enrollment. Another six schools will merge to become three, and two schools will transition to become early childhood centers only.
The announcement comes just weeks before Cardinal Francis George’s retirement and the installation of Archbishop Blasé Cupich. The Archdiocese is making the plans known far earlier than they have in past years as Cardinal George looks to hand over the school system to his successor without difficult decisions for him to make.
The Archdiocese announced the following closures:
- St. Peter, 8116 Niles Center Road in Skokie
- St. Hyacinth, 3640 W. Wolfram in Chicago
- St. Ladislaus, 3330 N Lockwood in Chicago
- St. Turibius, 4120 W 57th St. in Chicago
- St. Rene Goupil, 6340 S. New England Ave. in Chicago
- St. Lawrence O'Toole, 4101 Lawrence Ave. in Matteson
St. Dorothy, located at 7740 S. Eberhart, and St. Columbanus, at 7120 S. Calumet in Chicago, will form Augustus Tolton Catholic Academy, at 7120 South Calumet Ave.
Holy Cross Deerfield and St. James in Highwood will merge, and Holy Cross will remain open. Our Lady of Destiny and St. Zachary in Des Plaines will merge, and St. Zachary will remain open.
St. Agatha, located at 3151 W. Douglas in Chicago, will become an early childhood center that may be run by Catholic Charities. Nativity Early Childhood Center, at 2740 W. 68th in Chicago, may also be run by Catholic Charities.
The impact of the reconfiguration affects about 1,280 elementary students, 107 full-time teachers and 17 part-time teachers, as well as 47 full- and part-time aides and substitutes, and 58 full- and part-time administrative and operations staff, the Archdiocese said.
“This restructuring is the result of our ongoing efforts to strengthen and support sustainable Catholic schools over the long term,” said Thomas McGrath, chief operating officer for Catholic Schools. “Although difficult in the immediate term, we know taking these steps will increase access for families and students to excellent Catholic school education, now and in the future.”
"We are very proud of our students, and we will help them through this," St. Peter School Principal Julie Crawford said.
An open letter from outgoing Cardinal Francis George said the Archdiocese simply cannot handle the costs associated with operating more than 240 elementary and high schools in Chicago.
George wrote that operating expenses for the Archdiocese schools reached as much as $23 million in 2012, and $18 million in 2014.
"This level is higher than the Archdiocese can afford and still remain financially healthy and has contributed to unsustainable operating deficits in the Archdiocesan budget," George writes. "These deficits stem from our ongoing operations and do not include expenses related to misconduct settlements."
Compounding the budget issue for the Archdiocese is the sagging enrollment at some of its schools, and a reliance on scholarships for low-income families.
"Too many of our schools suffer from low enrollment, in many cases driven by the inability of families to afford Catholic school tuition" George writes. "Many of these families have household incomes of $40,000 or less. With two or three children, the cost of education at a Catholic elementary school, at an average of $4,500 per student, could constitute 20 to 30 percent of the entire household income."
George will be officially replaced by Cupich on Nov. 18, and the school closings could mark the last official act by the current cardinal.
"I believe I need to make these decisions before my retirement because this process was initiated years ago, and many people in our Archdiocese have been working hard to bring these decisions to a conclusion," he writes. "Making these decisions this fall also ensures adequate time to help affected students transition to different schools. I am grateful for the guidance of our Archdiocesan Finance Council and School Board in making these decisions. Archbishop Cupich has also been made aware of these decisions and of the decision-making process. I ask that you keep all affected school families and staff members in your prayers as we embark on these transitions. Thank you and God bless you."
