5 Chicago-Area Catholic Schools Will Soon Close

CHICAGO, IL — Five Chicago-area Catholic schools will close at the end of the school year, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced Monday. Low enrollment and financial difficulties are the reasons behind the closure of St. Jane Chantal School in Chicago, St. Colette School in Rolling Meadows, St. Joseph School in Round Lake, St. Louis de de Marillac School in La Grange Park and St. Maria Goretti School in Schiller Park.

“School closures are difficult and complicated and we realize the impact this has on students, their families and our staff. We are committed to making the transition caused by these closures as seamless as possible," said Jim Rigg, superintendent of Catholic Schools. “The Archdiocese will be working with each affected student and employee to assist them in finding places at other Catholic schools.”

The schools that plan to close have faced similar struggles in recent years:

• The closure of St. Colette School in Rolling Meadows comes after the school lost 97 students in just three years. The school faces a $500,000 deficit and despite "strong efforts" there have not been enough funds raised to cover the deficit, according to the news release.
• St. Joseph School has seen a drop in enrollment for years and lost 70 students in the last four years, according to a news release from the Archdiocese of Chicago. The school faces a $575,000 deficit this year and has not raised enough funds, or had enough outside donors come forward, to help keep the school's doors open.
• St. Jane de Chantal School in Chicago lost 92 students in three years. The archdiocese set a fund-raising target of $357,000, which would have allowed the school to continue for another school year. The school has not met that goal and will also be forced to close at the end of the school year.
• St. Louise de Marillac School in La Grange Park lost 38 students this past year and faces a $250,000 deficit. Outside donors and fund-raising efforts have not brought in enough money to keep the school open.
• St. Maria Goretti School in Schiller Park has lost 73 students in three years. The school set an enrollment target of 150 students for the current school year but has not met that target.