School Closures

The number of students heading to college is projected to decline after this fall. The financial impact is putting some Missouri institutions at risk.

School boards in the Ferguson-Florissant and Riverview Garden school districts retain most incumbent leaders to bring stability as they navigate financial uncertainty.

Three seats are up for grabs for the April 8 election. The St. Louis Board of Education is in charge of governing one of the largest public school districts in the region.

The St. Louis Public Schools superintendent announced the news to teachers and staff during professional development meetings on Friday.

A demographic survey commissioned by the school board found the district is projected to lose anywhere from 800 to 1,000 students over the next decade.

St. Louis Public Schools will not close any schools during this school year, according to district officials. To repair and maintain school buildings over 20 years would cost the district $1.8 billion, according to an architecture firm that is reviewing school buildings in the district.

“I believe in Catholic education,” Bishop Michael McGovern said. “Of all the different ministries we have, I think education is something we’ve done very well, especially in the United States.”

Notre Dame Academy in Belleville and St. Ann in Nashville, Illinois will both close at the end of the school year, citing declining enrollments.

The cost-saving measures enacted by the private Clayton-based university will reduce the next two fiscal year's budgets by more than $2 million combined.

The school was still calling for new students to enroll on social media as recently as last week.