St. Theresa Parish
Evansville’s St. Theresa Parish will close its Catholic elementary school at the end of the current academic year.
St. Theresa Pastor Father Zach Etienne advised faculty, school staff, administration, and school families of the decision to close during a Jan. 9 town-hall meeting. There are currently just 82 students enrolled in the school – 60 in grades K-8, and 22 preschool and pre-K programs.
“Population changes in Southwest Indiana have adversely affected elementary and secondary school enrollments in public and private schools across our region,” Father Etienne said. “St. Theresa Catholic School, unfortunately, has been unable to avoid the impact of these changes.”
“The closing of a Catholic school is difficult and painful for the entire parish,” said Bishop Charles C. Thompson of Evansville. “Our prayers go out to everyone affected by this decision. Across the diocese, we remain strongly committed to Catholic education. Responding to the changing demographics in our diocese will only continue to strengthen our Catholic schools for years to come.”
St. Theresa Catholic School enrollment peaked in 1997 with 263 students. It was the first Catholic school in the area to provide direct services to special-needs students through the Marian Day Educational Program.
“St. Theresa blazed a path for all Catholic schools in the diocese in effectively providing a Catholic education to all students,” said Dr. Daryl Hagan, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Evansville.
Families will be invited to Open Houses from surrounding Catholic schools in the region to consider their options for the 2015-2016 school year. “We are committed to working with all affected families and helping them transition to a nearby Catholic school so that students may continue the rigorous, faith-based education they currently receive at St. Theresa Catholic School,” Hagan added.
Hagan said the diocese is committed to helping faculty and staff displaced by the closing find jobs at other diocesan schools.
