ST. LOUIS - A year ago, the futures of St. Mary High School and Rosati-Kain High School were up in the air.
In Sept. 2022, the Archdiocese of St. Louis had plans to shut down both schools, citing declining enrollment as the reasons for the decision.
However, local school leaders and residents fought to keep both school afloat, with both schools eventually reaching a deal with the Archdiocese of St. Louis to help keep both schools in operation for the forseeable future.
Both schools will now be heading into unchartered waters now.
In July, St. Mary High School became known as St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School, while Rosati-Kain High School is now known as Rosati-Kain Academy.
Monday was the first day of school for the South Side Catholic High School, and it's off to a good start with the school's freshman class at it's highest in over five years.
According to school president Mike England, the school is set to begin the school year with 75 freshman, it's largest in five years. However, Sullivan says due to teacher constraints, and the demand from parents to enroll their kids to the school, it had to open a waitlist for the first time ever.
"For the last four years, we've had a cloud over our head," England said, "Now that cloud has been lifted, now our student's families know we're going to be here for a while and they are looking the different things we're looking to do, expand and grow and they want to be a part of it."
Rosati-Kain Academy, which doesn't start classes until Aug. 18, is also excited for the future of the school, which is set to be the first year in which it is independent.
"We have 125 students to start the school year this fall," said Rosati-Kain Academy President Maggie Sullivan, "We continue to get inquiries and we are still admitting kids because of the excitement over this divinely-inspired school community that we know will last forever."
Nora Skouby, a student who set to begin the school year at the academy, is excited to for a new chapter in her life.
"I feel like (all the girls) are all connected," Skouby said, "I feel like attending all-girls high school has given me my voice and helped me become the person that I am. I've learned so much to stand up and speak for myself."
Both schools are excited for the future goals and opportunities they are set to provide. St. Mary's South Catholic High School is set to offer a pre-apprenticeship program along to their college prep curriculum, the first high school in the state to offer that.
while Rosati-Kain is working to innovate their curriculum to make it more student-centered and project based that will apply to the real world instead of basic learning and memorialization.