Holy Cross School To Shut Down In Deerfield

DEERFIELD, IL — Holy Cross School is shutting down at the end of the year. The Archdiocese of Chicago cited a recent decline in enrollment and an untenable operating deficit in its announcement that the Deerfield school and several other Catholic schools would be closing June 30. Parents of students enrolled in the school were notified Wednesday.

Declining enrollment at the 112-student school has caused a financial strain on operations at Holy Cross, according to to a statement from the Archdiocese. It said the school can no longer cover its costs and has been operating with a deficit.

"Despite their best efforts, finances and enrollment have not improved. Neither the parish nor the Archdiocese is able to pay for the school’s operating deficits," it said.

The Archdiocese said Holy Cross school and parish leadership have recently been working with St. Norbert School in Northbrook to encourage students to transition there and "continue their efforts to create a new vision for Catholic education in their area in 2018/19."

Holy Cross' closure was one of five Catholic schools in Archdiocese of Chicago to be shuttered at the end of the year "due to low enrollment, financial difficulties and other factors," according to an announcement Wednesday.

Others include St. Michael School in Chicago, St. Cyprian School in River Grove, Incarnation School in Palos Heights and Our Lady of the Ridge School in Chicago Ridge.

“We realize these closures have a difficult impact on families and are committed to working with them through this transition to find them the right next school for their children,” said Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Jim Rigg, who commended faculty and staff at all the schools that are closing.

“We are dedicated to working with them to secure future employment within the Archdiocesan school system," he said.

Holy Cross School posted the following statement Wednesday:

Holy Cross School has faced declining enrollment in recent years. The declining enrollment has caused a strain on the school's finances. With less tuition revenue, the school is not able to cover its costs and has incurred an operating deficit. Despite best efforts to restore the school to viability, finances and enrollment have not improved. Neither the parish nor the Archdiocese are able to pay for the school's operating deficits. As a result, Holy Cross School will close at the end of this school year, effective June 30, 2018.

We commend the dedicated leaders, faculty and staff of Holy Cross School for their tireless work to foster an academically rigorours and faith-filled community. We are confident it will be a great remaining school year, and the school community will support each other through this time of transition.

The school's principal did not immediately respond to a request for more details about the closing and transition.

An online history of the school traces its origins back to three portable classrooms purchased in 1937 for $25 by the Sisters of Loretto.

After 20 years of commuting between Highland Park and Deerfield, a fundraising drive from parishioners paid for the construction of the school's primary wing.

Additional parts of the school were added in 1964, 1967 and 1988.

_{Top photo via Patch file, Angela Sykora}