Homewood's St. Joseph School Slated for Closure

HOMEWOOD, IL — Homewood's St. Joseph school will shutter at the end of the 2016-2017 school year, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced on Wednesday.

The school, located at 17949 S. Dixie Highway, posted a notice on its website citing "declining enrollment and financial difficulties over the past several years.

"We have also seen an overall decline in the population of school-age children in the area. Despite best efforts to restore the school to viability, finances and enrollment have not improved," the notice read.

St. Joseph is one of two south suburban schools that will close as of June 30, 2017, according to the archdiocese. St. Louis de Montfort School, 8840 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Oak Lawn will also not reopen for the 2017-2018 school year.

Current enrollment at St. Joseph is 64 students.

"Despite best efforts to restore the school to viability, finances and enrollment have not improved," St. Joseph said in on its website.

Considering all factors, school and parish leadership recommended that St. Joseph School not reopen for the upcoming school year. This recommendation was reviewed and endorsed by the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Catholic Schools and the Archdiocesan School Board, as well as Bishop Joseph Perry. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich has accepted the recommendation.

"We commend the dedicated leaders, faculty and staff of St. Joseph School for their tireless work to foster an academically rigorous and faith-filled community. We are confident it will be a great remaining school year, and the school community will support each other through this time of transition."

St. Joseph opened in 1925.