Archdiocese Of Chicago Closing Three Schools At End Of School Year
(CBS) -- The Archdiocese of Chicago announced Tuesday that it is closing three Catholic schools at the end of the 2015-16 school year.
The schools are Saint Agatha Catholic Academy in Chicago, Saint Peter School in Antioch and Seton Academy in South Holland.
"The Archdiocese commends all of the dedicated leaders, faculty and staff of Saint Agatha Catholic Academy, Saint Peter School and Seton Academy for their tireless work to instill a rich Catholic identity into an academically excellent community," the Archdiocese said in a statement.
Saint Agatha was transitioned to an early education school last year and there are currently 12 students enrolled. Saint Peter is a pre-K through eighth grade school and the Archdiocese says the school has seen declining enrollment. Seton Academy is a high school and the archdiocese says the school had been saved from closure the last two years but that its finances have not improved.
Saint Agatha is the school where Rev. Daniel McCormack once preyed on male students. He was a basketball coach at the school 15 years ago and pleaded guilty to sexual abuse nine years ago.
Principal Patricia Williams, who came to the school seven years ago, says McCormack's association with the school probably contributed to its declining enrollment - and may have been the kiss of death.
"At some point it may have been, and... so many things have changed. And of course, that is one of the things that has impacted us significantly," Williams said.
The Archdiocese of Chicago operates 230 schools in Cook and Lake counties serving approximately 82,000 students, making it the largest private school system in the U.S.