Marion Catholic to Close at End of School Year

The Catholic Diocese of Columbus has announced that Marion Catholic Senior High School (grades 9-12) will close at the end of the 2012-13 school year because of declining enrollment and financial concerns. Grades 7 and 8 will be incorporated into St. Mary Catholic School beginning with the 2013-14 school year.

“This was a difficult decision to reach, but in light of all the data available, it was the only responsible one to make,” stated Bishop Frederick F. Campbell in a letter to school families and alumni dated March 20, 2013. “Enrollment continued to remain low and the financial picture worsened. I had hoped that after I and school officials met with a large number of individuals at the town meeting on September 22, 2010, the situation could be turned around, but the many admirable efforts to boost enrollment and raise needed funds fell far short of the minimum required to sustain the high school now and in the future.”

Bishop Campbell recommended the closing of the school following a March 11, 2013 meeting with representatives of the school’s advisory board, foundation board, and staff.

“The decision to close Marion Catholic has been a very difficult one,” Lucia D. McQuaide, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, said. “While the quality of both academics and religious education delivered at the school remains high, we also need to consider, over and above the financial imperatives, the quality of the overall student experience. With such a limited number of students, it becomes impossible to provide them with many of the extra-curricular activities and programs that compose a well-rounded student life.”

Bishop Campbell hosted a forum at the school in the fall of 2010 to address concerns about the school and refocus community efforts to increase school enrollment and improve its financial position. Following this meeting, a special committee, comprising representatives of various groups within the school community, was formed in an effort to reverse the decline, but Campbell called the results insufficient.

Enrollment at the school has declined steadily over the past several decades, from more than 200 senior high school students in 1979-80 to 39 in 2012-13. In 1988, 7th and 8th grades were added to the school to increase enrollment; overall student population this school year is 78 students.

Options for ongoing utilization of the Marion Catholic campus and the nearby St. Mary Elementary School are currently being considered, and events at the high school activity center, which is home to many outside activities the area, will continue as scheduled.