JACKSON – St. Therese School will close at the end of this academic year due to low enrollment. Parents got word of the closing in a letter from St. Therese principal Carol McWilliams sent home the week of May 5. The school opened in August of 1959 in what was then a booming post-war neighborhood in South Jackson. The population has declined in recent years as has enrollment. The school served children in pre Kindergarten – sixth grade.

“This decision was not made hastily or without first considering the alternatives. I met with the pastor, Father Norbert, the superintendent of Catholic Schools and the chief financial officer of the Diocese of Jackson to discuss the implications of declining enrollment and what actions could be taken to continue the operations of the school,” wrote McWilliams in her letter to families.

We have tried to ensure that your child(ren) received a quality education while keeping tuition as low as possible. The current economic situation has hit St. Therese hard. The parish does not have sufficient income to fund the school. And, despite our best efforts to obtain outside funding, it is unfortunately not enough to cover the rising costs of operating our school,” she continued.

She closed her message with praise and a request for prayers for the many people who are part of the community. “Both St. Therese and the Diocese of Jackson sincerely appreciate the individuals and families who have supported the mission of Catholic education and the operation of this school for the last 55 years. Throughout its history, St. Therese School has created generations of Christians and academically enriched citizens,” wrote McWilliams.

Earlier this spring, McComb St. Alphonsus School also announced that it would close at the end of the year.