Dear Friends,
Cardinal Ritter College Prep (CRCP) was established 45 years ago by asking one profound question: What do Black kids need in education? The overwhelming response was teachers, a curriculum, and a school environment that reflects the student body and builds confidence that not only encourages success but breeds it. Today, building on that foundation started in 1979 with the Archdiocese of St. Louis, we are experiencing results beyond what we dreamed of or imagined.
We attribute much of our success to Cardinal Ritter’s unrelenting mission of Faith Development, Academic Excellence and Leadership. And now we have the opportunity to expand this success to benefit K–8 students. Effective July 1, 2024, several members of our school family will join the new St. Louis Catholic Academy (SLCA) under the following appointments:
- I will become president of SLCA in addition to my role as president of CRCP.
- Eric Cooper, CRCP’s director of enrollment and marketing, will move to a new role as Head of School of SLCA.
- Dr. Alice Prince, board member of CRCP, will take on a new role at SLCA as Director of Faith Formation.
- We will join Dr. Tango Walker, who is the current Director of Student Services at SLCA, while the roles of Director of Elementary and Director of Middle School are being filled.
Even though CRCP and SLCA will operate as separate entities related to governance and funding, students will benefit from a united focus as they move from elementary school through high school.
We are deeply grateful to the Archdiocese of St. Louis for their belief in the Cardinal Ritter mission and for entrusting us to widen our impact, footprint and influence all the way to kindergarten!
"We are so excited for the future of St. Louis Catholic Academy, from the building to the curriculum, to the culture, to the teachers, to the textbooks, we will forge ahead, ask the right questions, and design the educational experience around what SLCA students need. SLCA will be molded in the image of Cardinal Ritter College Prep to ensure the continued success of Catholic education for Black students in the St. Louis metro area," says Eric Cooper, Head of School at SLCA.
We look forward to sharing more about the changes at SLCA in the coming months.
Please join us in celebrating this milestone in Catholic Education for the City of St. Louis!
Gratefully,
