Six schools sacked by rising costs, falling enrollment

The number of students affected by the closings is 889 out of a total Catholic elementary school enrollment of 23,184.

ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FLORIDA CATHOLIC MIAMI BUREAU EDITOR

Posted: 01.29.09

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Click on the markers for more information on the schools and to read what the principals and pastors have to say about the closing of their schools. The schools to be closed are, from north to south: St. Clement (pink); St. Stephen (purple); Corpus Christi (green); St. Francis Xavier (turquoise); Our Lady of Divine Providence (blue) and Sacred Heart (red).

MIAMI | Like the death of a family member after a long illness, the news did not come as a complete surprise – but that does not lessen the grief.

Falling enrollment, rising costs and the current financial crisis will force the closing of six of the archdiocese’s 59 elementary schools at the end of this school year: Corpus Christi in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, Our Lady of Divine Providence in Sweetwater, Sacred Heart in Homestead, St. Clement in Fort Lauderdale, St. Francis Xavier in Overtown and St. Stephen in Miramar.

The closings were announced Jan. 22 by the archdiocese’s Department of Schools. The decision to close was made by each pastor after consultation with his finance and parish councils.

Neighboring Catholic schools have been notified of the closures and have been asked to accommodate students from these schools to the best of their ability.

“Given the current state of our nation’s economy and growing financial needs of these schools and in some cases, declining enrollment, the Archdiocese of Miami can no longer provide the needed subsidies to continue operating these schools,” said Kristen Hughes, archdiocesan superintendent of elementary schools.

The archdiocese has provided $10 million in subsidies to struggling parochial schools during the last five years, including $3 million this fiscal year, which began July 1, 2008.

The number of students affected by the closings is 889 out of a total Catholic elementary school enrollment of 23,184. More than 9,000 students also are enrolled in Catholic secondary schools in the archdiocese.

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