Sioux Falls Catholic School Set To Close But Not Without A Fight

A neighborhood Catholic School in Sioux Falls is set to close its doors after the 2025-2026 academic year.

Located on South Lake Avenue, Christ the King Elementary School will be "consolidated" into other Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Elementary schools. This "difficult decision" was due to "rising costs and stagnant enrollment."

Get our free mobile app

Christ the King Elementary (via Facebook)

In a letter to parents and parishioners, Pastor of the Divine Mercy Pastorate, Fr. Paul Rutten, explains that this tough decision highlights the realities of the ongoing sustainability challenges as well as the Set Ablaze vision in the Diocese of Sioux Falls. That doesn't make this choice any easier.

I want to acknowledge the deep impact this has on many families, teachers, and staff members. Transitions like this affect the heart of parish life, and we will join together in prayer and support. We remain grateful for the decades of faith formation and academic excellence that Christ the King Elementary has provided, and we will continue to honor and uphold that legacy within our pastorate.

Despite the upsetting news, parents of Christ the King Elementary School are not giving up. Parents have a petition out in an effort to save the school. Concerned parent Kristi Hay-Merfeld tells our news partners at Dakota News Now, this discussion seems "abrupt." Parents want to show Bishop O'Gorman schools they're making a mistake.

“The teachers, seeing them last night, and the looks on their faces. They accomplished so much last year that it was just devastation, and those are the people that I am trying to be a bigger voice for...We are looking for them to see they (Christ the King) have the numbers. They want to be heard. Let’s work together and not just shut it down."

Christ the King Elementary School was awarded a Blue Ribbon for academic excellence by the U.S. Department of Education last year.

Unfortunately, I can relate to the pain the students and parents of Christ the King Elementary School are feeling. I've witnessed a grand total of three of my schools closing: My grade school (2005), high school (2017), and college (2017). When Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana, announced they were suspending operations after the 2016-2017 academic year, I was just a year shy of graduation. So yes..I know the frustration.

The purpose of the petition is to create a dialogue between parents and Bishop O'Gorman. You can learn more here.

Check Out This 1962 Listing of Sioux Falls Bars and Restaurants - Do You Remember Any?

Check out this collection of Sioux Falls bars and restaurants. We have Giovanni's Steak House, The Rainbow Bar, Harry's Hamburgers, Eagle Bar and Lounge, Pancake House, Nickel Plate, and more. Do you remember any of them? Or how long any lasted?

14 Grocery Shortages South Dakota May Deal With This Winter

It seems like grocery shopping has turned into a hit-and-miss experience across the Midwest. South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa have seen empty shelves next to fully stocked ones.

All the jelly you want, but no peanut butter, for example.

The fallout from the first year of the COVID pandemic is still with us. Add to that the effect of the war in Ukraine and weather disasters.

Disruptions to global shipping and the domestic supply chain mean that you may run into a situation where you don't know if all you need will be in stock.

Winter 2022-2023 is looking to deal with several possible shortages of some grocery store favorites.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns