Parents are organizing to save St. Francis de Sales School after the Diocese of San Bernardino announced its closure at the end of the current academic year.
In a letter dated April 14, 2025, which serves as the diocese's official statement on the matter, the pastor announced the "profoundly difficult decision to close St. Francis de Sales School at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 academic year."
"After careful and prayerful discernment and following a thorough review of several critical factors—including declining enrollment, rising operational costs, ongoing financial challenges, and changing demographics—I, the pastor, in consultation with Bishop Alberto Rojas, the Education and Welfare Corporate Board, and the Office of Catholic Schools have made the profoundly difficult decision to close St. Francis de Sales School," the letter to parents and guardians states.
Founded in 1918 by the Dominican Sisters of Houston, St. Francis de Sales has served the Riverside community for 107 years, making it one of the oldest schools in the city.
Current enrollment has dropped to 94 students, down from approximately 300 in 2018-2019, according to David Suarez, a parent involved in organizing efforts to keep the school open.
"What we're going to do is come up with some sort of plan, laying all of the cards on the table—applying for grants, requesting donations, and then what the potential increase in our tuition would be to help save the school for at least a year until we start getting some momentum," Suarez said.
Suarez indicated that neighboring Catholic schools are already at capacity.
"The majority of us went to try to enroll in local Catholic schools, and they were all essentially too full to take us," he said. "They have no room for us, and then the teachers have no place to go."
A parent meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the church to discuss possible solutions, including applying for grants, requesting donations, and potentially increasing tuition to address the financial shortfall.
According to Suarez, the diocese gave parents approximately 30 days' notice of the closure.
The school administration has scheduled a follow-up meeting for May 20 at 6 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales, 4268 Lime Street, to provide information about transfer opportunities and application procedures for other Catholic schools.
