MANCHESTER • John F. Kennedy Catholic High School will close at the end of this school year, according to a letter to parents sent Friday from St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson.
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John F. Kennedy Catholic High School scheduled to close
John F. Kennedy Catholic High School senior Julia Mazzuca, right, tries to determine if a cardboard cut out of former president John F. Kennedy is actually life sized as she and senior Regan Cole, center, and junior Carly Sewell, left, look at Kennedy memorabilia on display at the school on Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 in Manchester. The 35th President of the United States, was assassinated on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle, scordle@post-dispatch.com
Kurt Nelson, superintendent of Catholic education for the St. Louis Archdiocese, says no other closures are on the horizon.
The number of non-Catholic students has increased 23 percent in the past decade, while the number of Catholic students declined 22 percent.
An anonymous donation will keep the school open for the 2017-18 school year.
Enrollment dropped from 321 in 2000 to 109 this year.
Barbara Zipoli, who wanted to discontinue living as a nun, will be allowed to continue as principal.
St. Ambrose is among several Catholic schools in St. Louis that have undergone expansions and renovations to improve academics or accommodate growth.
Parish leaders at St. John the Baptist and Immaculate Heart of Mary will continue looking for other cuts.
Its construction will mark the first new free-standing Catholic parish school building in the city in 50 years.
Diversity and neighborhood boom are credited for enrollment bump.
