On the eve of its 100th Anniversary, the school receives long-term financial and
operational support to remain open
March 6, 2024 (CHICAGO) – Today, St. Frances of Rome School, Big Shoulders Fund, and the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that St. Frances of Rome School will remain open and join the Big Shoulders Fund Plus network. Following the January 18, 2024, announcement that St. Frances of Rome would close, anonymous donors to Big Shoulders Fund offered a gift to help keep the school open. This pledge fostered intensive collaboration between the St. Frances of Rome School community, Big Shoulders Fund, and the Archdiocese of Chicago and made it possible to find a path to keep the school open.
“St. Frances of Rome School has been an important part of the fabric of the Cicero community for 100 years,” said St. Frances of Rome School Principal Phil Jackson. “We’re moved by the overwhelming generosity of Big Shoulders Fund and other donors to keep our school open. Joining the Big Shoulders community, St. Frances of Rome is ready to embark on its next 100 years.”
The news was shared with students, staff, and families, on Wednesday, March 6, just days before St. Frances of Rome School is scheduled to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The lead gift from the anonymous donors will fill immediate needs and by joining the Big Shoulders Fund Plus network, the school will have access to operational support for at least the next five years.
“Big Shoulders Fund is fortunate to have built a robust network and support system, and it never ceases to inspire me when I see so many people rally to save a school,” said Big Shoulders Fund President and Chief Executive Officer Josh Hale. “With this addition of St. Frances of Rome School, Big Shoulders is excited to expand to Cicero. We look forward to working in partnership with the local community and we invite others to join us in this important work.” Big Shoulders Fund has also announced that it will be offering scholarships to St. Odilo students who would like to continue their education next year at a local Catholic school.
Launched in 2020 with 30 schools, Big Shoulders Fund Plus is a 10-year, nearly $100 million commitment that builds on the long-standing relationships and support that Big Shoulders Fund has provided to its highest-need schools. With the addition of St. Frances of Rome and five years remaining on the agreement, the initiative now includes 38 schools, offering increased operational support to best meet the needs of students, families, and the broader community. The remarkable and continued growth of the Big Shoulders Fund Plus initiative reaffirms the position of Big Shoulders Fund as a catalyst for change, shaping the future of education and opening doors of opportunity for all.
“All communities are stronger when families can choose a school that best meets their children’s needs. Our partnership with Big Shoulders Fund strengthens dozens of communities throughout the Chicago area and we are delighted to add Cicero and St. Frances of Rome to that list,” said Greg Richmond, Superintendent of Catholic Schools.
Big Shoulders Fund Plus boasts a powerful track record of providing comprehensive support to Plus schools, empowering them to deliver quality education while fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment. In 2021 and 2023, Curriculum Associates conducted a large-scale study to compare the performance of Illinois students taking the iReady Diagnostic assessment with public school students taking the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and found a high correlation between the two tests. In English Language Arts, 44% of Plus students – 90% of whom are low-income – met expectations on iReady compared to 21% for Illinois low-income students and 19% for Chicago Public School (CPS) low-income students on IAR. In math, 30% of Plus students met expectations compared to 13% of Illinois low-income students and 11% of CPS low-income students. Big Shoulders Fund remains most focused on the trajectory of students to and through college and career to become active, engaged citizens. To that end, 80% of scholars matriculate to college and students earn a degree at two times the national average. Even more, Latino and Black scholars graduate at three-times and four-times their counterparts, respectively, and graduates go on to vote, contribute, and participate at greater rates than local and national outcomes.
A central piece to keeping St. Frances of Rome School open is its integration into the Big Shoulders Fund Plus network of schools.