CV NEWS FEED // St. Paul Catholic School in San Antonio, Texas, a long-standing presence in the city’s Catholic education landscape, is now facing possible closure at the end of the school year due to mounting financial and enrollment pressures.
Father Mark Dreves, parish administrator of St. Paul Catholic Church, shared his recommendation to shutter the school with members of the community during a town hall meeting March 26, MySA reported.
The school, a beloved fixture of Catholic education in the city, has seen steep declines in enrollment and mounting infrastructure needs. Each year, the parish has absorbed roughly a quarter of a million dollars in operational shortfalls. Compounding the crisis is more than $1 million in necessary but postponed building repairs.
In February, the school’s alumni network issued a public call for donations to fund classroom upgrades aimed at attracting new families. The group raised $184,000 — still far short of the goal.
Fr. Dreves acknowledged the gravity of the situation in a message to families, expressing sorrow and a desire to walk with them through the uncertainty.
“It is impossible to fully express how deeply this school has touched the lives of so many, and the thought of closing its doors weighs heavily on all of us,” Fr. Dreves said in the letter shared with the school community. “Our goal is to provide as much support as possible during this time of transition — whether that be through helping identify appropriate schools, guiding families through the process, or offering emotional and spiritual support along the way.”
Founded in 1953 by St. Paul Parish and the Sisters of St. Brigid, the school has served generations of Catholic families in San Antonio, offering formation in both academics and faith. According to the archdiocese, the school currently serves around 100 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Jason Vasquez, a graduate of the school and member of a family with deep ties to the institution, voiced the shock many in the community are experiencing.
“It’s where my father and brothers went to school, it’s where many friends, family, and community members who are now leaders went to school, and it’s a special place where the Catholic faith is sowed in each of us who were able to start our educational journey,” Vasquez told MySA.
The archdiocese has announced it will assist students with transition funding and give current staff priority consideration for other teaching roles within the Catholic school system.
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