School has just 48 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade; pastor calls decision 'deeply difficult'

ST. CLAIR — St. Mary School in St. Clair will close its doors at the end of the current academic year, with rising costs and declining enrollment contributing to a “deeply difficult decision,” St. Mary Parish pastor Fr. Michael Zuelch said.

Fr. Zuelch made the announcement during weekend Masses at the St. Clair County parish Feb. 22-23.

“It is with sadness that I inform you that after careful thought, discussion and prayer, parish leadership has decided to close St. Mary Catholic School,” Fr. Zuelch said. “This decision was made in consultation with the parish’s consultative bodies, pastors from our vicariate, the College of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Catholic Schools Department.”

Fr. Zuelch cited “various challenges our school has faced over the years,” including declining enrollment trends that have placed an unsustainably higher financial burden on the parish.

Fr. Zuelch added he was grateful for the community’s efforts to keep the 114-year-old school operating.

“Closing a parish school is never easy, but after reviewing enrollment and demographic trends, parishes and schools that are nearby, our parish and school finances and other data to assess the viability of the school, I fully believe that this is the best decision for the continuing health of our parish community,” Fr. Zuelch said.

During the current academic year, St. Mary School has just 48 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

St. Mary School offers a Montessori education, which emphasizes creative problem solving, hands-on learning and self-directed activities for students. The school offered a curriculum that included music, fine arts, science, technology lab and Spanish-language classes.

“We know that St. Mary Catholic School has made (an) immeasurable impact on the lives of countless people in the St. Clair area since its founding in 1906, thanks in no small part to the sacrifice and hard work of our staff and faculty, as well as the dedication of our families,” Fr. Zuelch said. “As saddened as we are about this news, we must also remember that the work we have done here lives on in the minds, bodies and spirits of everyone — staff, student and parents — who passed through our doors.”

St. Clair, situated on the St. Clair River between Port Huron and Marine City, is a rural community bordering Canada. Other nearby Catholic schools include Holy Cross School in Marine City, St. Mary/McCormick Academy in Port Huron and St. Edward on the Lake School in Lakeport.