Declining enrollment led to unsustainable parish subsidy, leaders determined
St. Monica School in Creve Coeur will close at the end of the 2023-24 school year, the Archdiocese of St. Louis announced April 19.
The school has faced “ongoing challenges due to inconsistent and declining enrollment,” according to a news release from the archdiocese. Fewer than 120 students were enrolled for the 2024-25 school year, including one grade level with just three enrolled students.
This year, St. Monica School has 143 students in grades K-8, with an additional 75 in preschool. The preschool plans to remain open next year.
Parish and archdiocesan leaders explored possible cost-reducing options but determined that such changes would take away important school services and resources while still requiring an unsustainable parish subsidy, the release said. The increasing subsidy would negatively impact the parish’s finances and other crucial ministries.
The archdiocese will provide placement assistance to St. Monica faculty and staff and enrollment assistance to families who wish to place students into other Catholic elementary schools.
St. Monica School was established in 1873, one year after the parish was founded as a Franciscan mission.
“The parishioners of St. Monica can indeed be proud of the long history of educating children in the faith. I am profoundly grateful to them, to all the administrators, teachers, and staff who share their gifts to help raise children in our Catholic faith, and to the parents who make a commitment to Catholic education,” Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski said. “Please join me in keeping all affected by these changes in our prayers.”
