Queen of Martyrs School, a Catholic elementary school in Evergreen Park, will not reopen for the 2026-2027 school year, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced Monday.
The decision to close the school, opened in 1953, “follows a significant decline in projected enrollment,” the archdiocese said in a letter to school families signed by Greg Richmond, superintendent of Catholic schools.
Earlier this year, Queen of Martyrs substitute teacher Brett Smith, a 43-year-old Tinley Park resident, was fired and charged after a history of child molestation allegations came to light.
“As you know, events earlier this year, including concerns related to a personnel matter, shook the trust of some families and contributed to their decision to leave,” the archdiocese said.
Prosecutors said Smith made unwanted physical contact with a juvenile while working at Queen of Martyrs, placing his hand on the student’s hand and pressing his upper back onto the student’s back while conducting a school-related activity. He was charged with misdemeanor battery in relation to the incident.
Smith was also charged with felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse to a minor regarding alleged abuse of a 9-year-old boy in Orland Park.
At the same time, the archdiocese said, Queen of Martyrs has experienced a long-term decline in enrollment over the past decade. The school enrolled more than 325 students in 2016, but by this past school year, enrollment had fallen to 178 students.
Projected enrollment for the next school year is only about 140 students, the archdiocese said. Operating the school at such low enrollment would create a budget deficit of over $400,000.
“The decline in next year’s enrollment would create an under-resourced school, unable to provide the quality education students need and deserve,” the archdiocese said.
The archdiocese acknowledged the June timing of the announcement would be especially difficult for families, and said church and school leadership would help families find nearby schools for the coming school year and assist with the transition as much as possible.
The archdiocese had named Beth Guerrero as interim principal of Queen of Martyrs in late January, replacing Jacob “Doc” Mathius” who was fired shortly after Smith was fired and charged.
elewis@chicagotribune.com
