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By Tom Anselm

During what is now called “The Mid-Century” starting with 1950, there began a social phenomenon resulting from the return to civilian life of millions of men in the mid-1940s who had just won a war against tyranny. Called “The Baby Boom”, it created an unprecedented effect on American society the likes of which we may never see again.

This boom found its way into the farmlands of far North St. Louis County in the form of a massive migration of Catholics to the area, which was primed for occupation with affordable single-family housing surrounded by new parish churches. These families provided the children that fed into the schools, which every parish had. And they all were literally bursting with children. It could be called the Golden Age of Growth in North St.Louis County.

However, these children grew up. Some settled in neighborhoods they grew up in, but many more followed in the footsteps of their parents to produce another exodus, this time west across the Missouri river into St. Charles County. And with this new migration came the inevitable loss of numbers for the Catholic schools. Parishes and schools closed or consolidated. Of the over-20 parish schools that had developed in the middle of the past century, there are only eight remaining. And about five years ago, these eight joined to provide support to the schools and the community they serve, both Catholic and non-Catholic.

Federation of Catholic Schools

It is called the Federation of Catholic Schools and serves these eight schools and the 11 parishes of the Northeast Deanery of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

“We are making great strides in providing support to people of North County, with a quality Catholic education that is affordable and accessible to everyone,” said, Cara Koen, director of Advancement for the Federation. Part of the challenge that families face is the cost of a private education. “We use the Alive in Christ scholarships, which are available to everyone regardless of religious affiliation,” said Koen. “Our deanery is taking full advantage of this help, and it is helping us stay steady in enrollment.”

Koen noted that as a group, the enrollment is 70% Catholic. These schools are accredited by The Missouri Non-Public School Association.

A few of the schools in the area have consolidated. St. Norbert School has included the students from St. Sabina for several years now.

“We are also getting a lot of parents contacting us from the community, referred by our current families, to enroll. We see our job as providing a quality education, of course, but also as a means of evangelization, to build a relationship with Jesus Christ,” said David Watkins, new principal at St. Norbert, where enrollment is about 280 with 25% not Catholic. St. Norbert also runs the pre-school program at the St. Sabina location.

Principal Ken Morr of St. Rose Philipine Duchesne says that his school mirrors the percentages of St. Norbert, with an enrollment of around 260, pre-school included. Both schools have a curriculum component for character development.

Key to Success Program

“It is called the Key to Success program, where kids can earn “keys” for positive actions that they can turn in for toys and books and gifts at the “Key Store”, he said.

The program also encourages proper behavior, conflict resolution and respect for each other. St. Rose is a consolidated school from the former St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Dismas elementary schools.

At St. Angela Merici School, the numbers are a little different. “We are holding our own regarding enrollment,” said Mary Ann Kauffman, principal there. “Half our students are Catholic.”

One of the oldest schools in the region and easily the oldest in the Federation is Sacred Heart School. Built originally in 1866, it has served the community in various buildings.   “Our enrollment is very steady. We are over 300, including our preschool,” said principal Lois Vollmer. She also noted the great Federation programs for the teachers to gather by grade level and subject area for professional development and networking. The non-Catholic percentage at Sacred Heart School is 10%.

Trinity Catholic High School is a consolidation of Mercy, St. Thomas Aquinas and Rosary high schools. Established as Trinity in 2003, it serves as the only Archdiocesan high school in the North County region.

Teachers from the Catholic elementary schools in North County gathered at St. Rose Philippine Duchesne School for their third Professional Learning Team (PLT) meeting of the school year.  PLTs are organized by grade level for the lower grades and subject area for upper grades.  Pictured here are the 2nd grade teachers and the literature teachers, each discussing their goals for the year and supporting one another with curriculum ideas and classroom strategies.

Catholic Schools’ Long History in North County

“I am feeling good about where we are headed,” said Sr. Karl Mary Winkelmann, president of Trinity.

“The Church has a mission to educate all students, regardless of race or creed, and we are doing that to the best of our ability promoting education as a means to rise from poor economic conditions. Our current enrollment is at 60% white, 37% African-American and 3% other races. It changes as the community changes. But this diversity is an exciting piece of what we offer to the community. Really, it is a world of diversity and that is reflected in our student population.”

Sr. Karl Mary noted that the Archdiocese has recently implemented a financial aid program that is not based on income of a $2000 incentive for incoming freshmen and $500 incentive to current students with the stipulation of February registration for the next school year. “For those parents who are searching for a more affordable high school education from the area, this has gone a long way to helping that decision be to choose Trinity,” she said.

As indicated by the administrators of these schools, it appears that there is a steadiness in the provision and growth of Catholic education in the North County region, despite demographic changes and the challenges of affordability.

Koen of the Federation of Catholic Schools seems to speak for all of them when she says in a recent press release that “our schools are communities of faith, service and knowledge, ready to welcome parents who are seeking a rigorous academic program rooted in Gospel values.”

On Friday, Jan. 16 hundreds of teachers from the Catholic elementary schools in North County gathered at St. Rose Philippine Duchesne School for their third Professional Learning Team (PLT) meeting of the school year.  PLTs are organized by grade level for the lower grades and subject area for upper grades.  Pictured here are the 2nd grade teachers and the literature teachers, each discussing their goals.

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