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St. Agnes Catholic School in Catonsville will cease operations following the 2024-2025 school year due enrollment decreases. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

St. Agnes School, Catonsville, to close at end of academic year


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Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools

Leaders of St. Agnes Catholic School in Catonsville announced Jan. 13 that the parish school will close at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. The coeducational school serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and has a current enrollment of 171, down from nearly 300 in 2011.

According to a statement by the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the closure is the result of “consistent years of declining enrollment” that has caused “significant financial strain on both the school and parish.”

Enrollment decreases of 25 percent over the past several years have not allowed St. Agnes School to meet operational expenses, according to the Archdiocese of Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

According to information posted on St. Agnes School’s website, enrollment has decreased by 25 percent in the last decade. St. Agnes School experienced a rebound in enrollment after Our Lady of Victory School in Arbutus closed in 2021, St. Agnes School posted, “but took a significant and sharp turn shortly after that growth.”

Enrollment numbers for the 2024-25 academic year are the lowest the school has seen in the last two decades. The school noted that there are short- and longer-term expenses related to keeping up with the demands of maintaining a building the size of St. Agnes School. The deferred maintenance expenses include a total cost of more than $313,000 between now and 2027, the school said.

“We are deeply saddened by the recent announcement of St. Agnes Catholic School closure and understand the news is upsetting to the students, their families, staff and alumni of this beloved institution,” the archdiocesan statement said. “This was not an easy decision to make and came after considerable discussion and extensive evaluation of the sustainability of the school.”

The archdiocesan statement said the school cannot meet its operational expenses “nor continue, in the long run, to meet the needs of our students and families.”

The statement noted that over the last several years the Archdiocese of Baltimore has given “significant support to the school and will keep doing so to ensure a successful and rewarding final 2024-25 academic year.”

According to St. Agnes School’s website, the archdiocese has provided the school $1.6 million in financial assistance over the past several years.

“Additionally, they have supplied significant staffing support, aiming for St. Agnes School to boost enrollment, enhance donor contributions, and achieve a balanced budget,” the school posted online. “Sadly, both enrollment and revenue are still on the decline, while the financial support required to sustain operations keeps rising.”

Students carry a St. Agnes School banner in the 2011 Catonsville Fourth of July parade. (CR file)

For the 2025-26 school year, the St. Agnes School Catholic tuition rate will be honored at all archdiocesan Catholic schools for the first year of enrollment in the new school.  The St. Agnes School Catholic tuition rate, plus a standard 2.5 percent rate increase for 2025-26 will amount to tuition of $7,674. The Archdiocese of Baltimore is providing $100 per student to help with uniform expenses of St. Agnes students who attend archdiocesan schools next year.

Students are encouraged nearby Catholic schools: St. Mark School in Catonsville, Mother Mary Lange Catholic School in Baltimore, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Ellicott City, St. Augustine School in Elkridge, Resurrection-St. Paul School in Ellicott City and Sacred Heart School in Glyndon.

“We pray that the transition for these students and families is a smooth one and we will work closely with them on placement in our other Catholic schools,” the archdiocesan statement said. “We also pray for the dedicated staff at St. Agnes School and thank them for their years of dedication to our students and community.”

The St. Agnes School building is owned by St. Agnes parish. The archdiocese will work with the pastor to help determine its future use.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional information Jan. 14, 2025 at 8 a.m.

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