Two long-running Catholic schools in South Sacramento are on the chopping block, with St. Patrick Academy and St. Charles Borromeo School both set to close at the end of the 2025–26 school year. The move is part of a broader restructuring plan from the Diocese of Sacramento, which calls for a new regional elementary campus to open at the St. Robert site in August 2026. For many families, that timeline means a scramble to secure new placements, transfer records and sort out end-of-year details sooner than they had planned.
As reported by The Sacramento Bee, diocesan leaders announced the closures in a letter to families, citing years of steadily declining enrollment in South Sacramento Catholic schools. The Bee notes that St. Patrick Academy on Franklin Boulevard will end service after more than 90 years, while St. Charles Borromeo on Center Parkway will close at the end of the academic year. Bishop Jaime Soto framed the consolidation as an attempt to preserve Catholic education in the area and create a more stable model for the future.
Local campuses and addresses
According to the Diocese of Sacramento school directory, St. Patrick Succeed Academy is listed at 5945 Franklin Blvd and St. Charles Borromeo School at 7580 Center Parkway. Both are described as parish or regional schools serving preschool through eighth grade in South Sacramento. The diocesan listings are the official starting point for families looking for contact information and transition details.
Diocese cites enrollment declines
The diocesan letter, described by The Sacramento Bee, said projections pointed to another three to five years of declining enrollment, even after what church officials called significant financial investments in South Area schools. Faced with those numbers, diocesan leaders said consolidation was the most viable way to keep Catholic elementary education sustainable across the region. In a videotaped address, Bishop Soto called the plan “an invitation for three communities to come together so Catholic education may continue with stability and hope.”
History and community role
St. Patrick Academy has long presented itself as a regional school serving multiple parishes in South Sacramento, with its history page highlighting arts integration and tight-knit family partnerships. The school’s website notes that it was created at the request of Bishop Jaime Soto to serve parishes that did not have their own elementary schools, underscoring its role as a neighborhood anchor. Families and alumni have posted praise for the small-school feel in messages tied to the Academy’s online presence, and school leaders say they intend to support students and families through the transition. St. Patrick Academy provides background information and contact details for parents seeking more context.
Next steps for families
The diocese has said it will work with families, parishes and receiving schools on student records and placements, and officials are urging parents to talk with their principals and the Catholic Schools Office for guidance. The Diocese of Sacramento school directory lists contact information that families can use to request placement assistance. Church leaders maintain that the consolidation is intended to strengthen Catholic school programs over the long term, although key operational details, including capacity at the new regional campus and staffing plans, have yet to be finalized.
