January 11, 2017
St. Joseph School, located in Homewood, and St. Louis de Montfort School, located in Oak Lawn, have faced declining enrollment and financial difficulties over the past several years. Current enrollment at St. Joseph School is 64 students; current enrollment at St. Louis de Montfort School is 133 students. Despite best efforts to restore the schools to viability, finances and enrollment have not improved.
After careful deliberation on the long-term sustainability of the school, school and parish leadership recommended that St. Joseph School in Homewood not reopen for the 2017/2018 school year. This recommendation was reviewed and endorsed by the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Catholic Schools and the Archdiocesan School Board, as well as Vicariate Bishop Joseph Perry. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich has accepted the recommendation. As a result, St. Joseph School in Homewood will close, effective June 30, 2017.
Similarly, school and parish leadership at St. Louis de Montfort School recommended that the school not reopen for the 2017/2018 school year. This recommendation was reviewed and endorsed by the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Catholic Schools and the Archdiocesan School Board, as well as the Vicariate Bishop Andrew Wypych. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich has accepted the recommendation. As a result, St. Louis de Montfort School will close, effective June 30, 2017.
The Archdiocese of Chicago remains committed to providing strong Catholic schools throughout Cook and Lake Counties. The Archdiocese is engaged in a thoughtful process to plan for the future and is diligently working to ensure that every Catholic school is strong, vital and sustainable.
The Archdiocese commends the dedicated leaders, faculty and staff at St. Joseph School in Homewood and St. Louis de Montfort School for their tireless work to instill a rich Catholic identity into academically excellent communities. The Archdiocese is working with affected families to find alternative ways for their children to continue their Catholic education. Please join the Archdiocese in praying for the St. Joseph School and St. Louis de Montfort School communities.
About the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools
The Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools serves more than 76,000 students in 217 schools, including 180 Archdiocesan-sponsored schools, in Cook and Lake Counties. It is the largest private school system in the United States and the recipient of the greatest number of U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards of any school system. In July 2015, all Archdiocesan elementary and secondary schools were successfully accredited by AdvancED.
About the Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago, the third largest in the United States, serves more than 2.2 million Catholics in 347 parishes in Cook and Lake Counties, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese, pastored by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, has more than 15,000 employees in its systems and ministries, including Catholic Charities, the region’s largest nonprofit social service agency. The Archdiocese also has one of the country’s largest seminaries. The Archdiocese’s 217 elementary and secondary schools comprise the largest U.S. private school system and have garnered more U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards than any system of any type.