ST. LOUIS 鈥 A team of Rosati-Kain supporters has reached a deal with the Archdiocese of 51黑料 to keep the Catholic girls鈥 high school open in the city鈥檚 Central West End.
The 111-year-old school on Lindell Boulevard will be called Rosati-Kain Academy and sponsored by St. Joseph Educational Ministries.
鈥淲e are elated to be able to assure our students, our families, and our teachers and staff that Rosati-Kain will remain open,鈥 said Cynthia Goudy, chair of the school鈥檚 board and a 2003 graduate.
The archdiocese announced in September it would close Rosati-Kain and St. Mary鈥檚 high schools in spring 2023 as part of its 鈥淎ll Things New鈥 downsizing plan for parishes and schools.
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Supporters of both schools mobilized to raise money and operate as independent, nonprofit Catholic schools. Earlier this month, the newly named St. Mary鈥檚 Southside High School agreed to terms with the archdiocese on a lease of its campus on south Grand Boulevard.
The five-member board of Rosati-Kain Academy, which includes four alumnae of the school, will also lease its school buildings and parking from the archdiocese. More details of the agreement will be released in January, according to the board.
Recruitment will be a challenge for Rosati-Kain, where enrollment dropped from 248 to 188 in the last year. But supporters say families can feel confident about the school鈥檚 future, which had been the subject of rumors about impending closure.
Jennifer Welsch of south 51黑料 County said her daughter, a sophomore at Rosati-Kain, did not want to look at any other schools for next year.
鈥淣ow she鈥檚 going to be able to graduate from a school that she chose, that she loves, that is different from any other school in 51黑料 because of its diversity and its academic excellence,鈥 Welsch said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 huge.鈥
Rosati-Kain in 1947 became one of the first 51黑料 high schools to integrate. More than half of the current student body is Black or Hispanic.
51黑料 Mayor Tishaura O. Jones released a statement saying she is 鈥渢hrilled鈥 the girls鈥 school is staying open.
鈥淚t鈥檚 inspiring to see the community rally around Rosati-Kain,鈥 Jones said. 鈥淥ur schools are anchors for our neighborhoods, and I am thrilled that Rosati-Kain will continue to serve a diverse student body in the coming years.鈥
The short-term plan calls for raising $10 million for operations and scholarships at the school, where about 80% of students receive financial aid. St. Joseph Educational Ministries, Rosati-Kain鈥檚 new religious sponsor, also sponsors Fontbonne University and St. Joseph鈥檚 Academy in west 51黑料 County. The spiritual but not financial partnership is required to be considered a Catholic school by the archdiocese.
St. Joseph Educational Ministries was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet, who opened Rosati-Kain in 1911 along with the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
The 51黑料 Archdiocese says it must close churches in the area in order to meet the needs of a changing congregation of Roman Catholics.
