South Loop’s Old St. Mary’s Catholic school plans expansion 

By Ivette Sandoval 

Roman Catholic schools are unevenly distributed in Chicago, and students sometimes have to travel several miles to attend the school of their choice. In the South Loop, however, residents desiring a Catholic education for their early-grade children can send them to nearby Old St. Mary’s Catholic School at 1500 S. Michigan Ave.

Established in 1833, Old St. Mary’s is Chicago’s oldest parish. Over the years it has called six different sites home, but administrators plan on staying at its South Loop location for many years to come.  The church moved there in 2002.

Despite the church’s longevity, it did not open a school until 2004. It started with just 18 children in pre-school and has added a grade level each year, continuously growing the student population to its current total of 85. Today, the school now has classes for children in pre-school through second grade.

Now, with the community growing, the parish plans to commemorate its 175th anniversary next year by expanding the school either in the same location or somewhere close by. 

            “The cardinal wanted us to be where so much growth was taking place—the South Loop,” said the Rev. Michael Kallock of Old St. Mary’s.  “The interest of the young families in the area is great; they’re very interested in having a new school.”

Expansion planning already has begun. In fact, school expansion “has been in conversation in the parish for several years now,” Fr. Kallock said, noting parish administrators have met with the community, formed a task force, and are looking at every option for the expansion to see what will work best.

“We have a couple options, but we don’t have an exact plan yet,” Fr. Kallock went on. “Ideally, we hope it will be on the property that we have. We want to construct something that will accommodate students up to the eighth grade—about 200 students altogether—and have no more than 24 students to a class.”

            The school can accommodate students through the fourth grade at its current facility, but administrators want to be ready with more space to address the South Loop’s rising population.

“I think that this area has a need for education, for new schools, and for a bigger Catholic school in this growing area, and to have the option here in the South Loop,” Fr. Kallock said. “This would be a good alternative for Catholic parishioners” because “there isn’t another Catholic school nearby, so the need is definitely there.“

            Expansion plans should be final within a year, and administrators hope to break ground in fall 2008. Old St. Mary’s Parish will fund construction. 

For additional information, call (312) 922-3444.