Schools
De Smet Jesuit Won't Add Middle School
The high school would have joined St. Louis Priory and Chaminade College Preparatory School in offering a private middle school experience in Creve Coeur.
The De Smet Jesuit High School Board of Trustees this week voted against moving forward with plans to add a middle school to the Creve Coeur site on New Ballas Road.
The Trustee vote came Tuesday night.
In April, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the St. Louis Archdiocese was worried about the potential expansion, citing a "detrimental impact" on efforts to fill parochial schools. The paper reported that CBC abandoned similar thoughts after the Archdiocese spoke up.
Find out what's happening in Creve Coeurwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
De Smet Jesuit considered expanding at least twice before and did not, after similar concerns were raised. In a statement Thursday, the school president, Father Wally Sidney said in part:
"Based on the survey results alone, our Board was inclined to move forward with the middle school. However, out of respect for the concerns the Archbishop of St. Louis shared with us, andthe knowledge we have gained through conversations with our local pastors and grade school principals, the Board of Trustees has decided not to actively pursue a middle school at this time.
Find out what's happening in Creve Coeurwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
We are still interested in being part of the conversation about the future of Catholic education, and our leadership will continue the dialogue which has begun.”
What do you think? Is there a need for another middle school option in the area?
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.