CV NEWS FEED // The Catholic Diocese of Rockford, Illinois recently announced that amid financial challenges and shrinking enrollment, it will be starting a “micro Catholic academy” to continue providing affordable Catholic education to families.
The Diocese posted a news release on its Facebook page on May 1 announcing the new academy.
The Diocese also announced the closing of its high school, Freeport Aquin High School, because only 18 students registered for the 2024-2025 academic year. Enrollment for grades pre-kindergarten through 8th grade is a little higher, with 77 students enrolled for the upcoming year.
If the high school were to remain open with its current enrollment rates, the diocese school budget faces a $400,000 deficit, the news release added.
“These are hard realities to face and even harder to reconcile into a positive solution,” the diocesan statement reads.
Superintendent for Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Rockford Dr. Kim White stated that “after much study and discernment we believe we have developed a way forward to provide the Freeport Catholic community with solid Catholic education rooted in Catholic identity and family values.”
The new school model “will be fiscally responsible and educationally sound, offering a curriculum thoughtfully designed to align with core foundational academic content… and the teachings of the Catholic Church,” White explained.
The news release highlighted that the school’s size is “intentionally small” and is called a “Micro School” or “micro Catholic academy.” The academy will be open to students pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
The statement encouraged students who will be affected by the Aquin school closure to consider enrolling in one of five other diocesan Catholic high schools.
The micro academy will use one of the diocesan school buildings, according to local news outlet 23 WIFR.
The news statement adds, “The new academy will integrate academic rigor with spiritual formation, providing a well-rounded education that prepares students for success in high school, higher education, and beyond. The small class sizes enable personalized instruction and individualized learning experiences.”
White concluded, “We are excited with the spirit of collaboration and continued financial support among our Freeport parishes and the opportunities to build on Freeport’s academic legacy with an amazing new Catholic educational and spiritual experience for our students today and in the years to come.”
