In a significant restructuring effort that has already seen the closure and merger of numerous parishes, the Archdiocese of St. Louis is now considering the possibility of shutting down more than 25 Catholic elementary schools. Approximately one-third of the 80 Catholic parish elementary schools in the archdiocese are set to meet with representatives from the Office of Catholic Education and Formation, along with their Episcopal Vicar, to discuss their current and future status, as announced on September 27th.
The selection of schools for these consultations is based on various factors, including enrollment numbers, demographic trends, financial strength at the parish and school level, and proximity to neighboring Catholic parish elementary schools. The Archdiocese, under the leadership of Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski, has emphasized that while some schools may be recommended for closure by parishes, others will undergo a feasibility analysis phase.
Throughout October, the Office of Catholic Education and Formation and archdiocesan Episcopal Vicars will engage with pastors to evaluate the long-term sustainability of their parish elementary schools. These meetings are consultative in nature, with pastors sharing and considering this information alongside parish and school leadership. Recommendations regarding parish elementary schools' future will be submitted to Archbishop Rozanski after this process concludes, similar to the standard archdiocesan procedure.
School changes are expected to be announced in early December, with implementation set for the 2024-2025 school year. The archdiocese has also mentioned its consideration of a new compensation model for teachers, effective from the 2023-24 academic year.
Historically, St. Louis has had a higher percentage of students in Catholic schools compared to national averages. However, several Catholic schools have closed this year, and existing school buildings are operating at roughly 65% capacity. The Archdiocese attributes these challenges to increased costs, declining enrollment due to geography, building maintenance needs, and parishes unable to subsidize school costs.
This consolidation process, named "All Things New," is administered by the Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) and follows similar initiatives in other midwestern archdioceses. Factors such as suburbanization and rising crime have contributed to population shifts away from St. Louis' historic inner core, leading to smaller Catholic populations in urban areas.
In 2021, the Archdiocese of St. Louis saw its Catholic population dip below 500,000 for the first time since the 1960s, and projections suggested parishes could outnumber priests by 2026 without intervention. Earlier this year, Archbishop Rozanski announced the closure or merger of approximately 25% of the archdiocese's parishes, a move that faced criticism from some Catholics.
Despite concerns, the archdiocese extensively sought feedback from the community, conducting listening sessions, surveys, and soliciting input from various stakeholders before finalizing the restructuring plan. The All Things New Planning Committee, consisting of clergy and lay leaders, considered this feedback alongside financial data and other information to shape the final plan.