St. Frances Cabrini Academy is the result of foresight and faith.

St. Pius V

Well before the Archdiocese of St. Louis began its 2004-05 consolidation of parishes and schools in the South City Deanery, St. Pius V Catholic Church made the decision to take a good, hard look at its own elementary school, which had enjoyed great success for over 90 years.

In 2002, lay leaders of the parish, with support and direction from their pastor, Rev. Michael J. Lydon, studied the demographic, economic, and societal changes in their neighborhoods and St. Louis in general. At least one fact was clear: overall Catholic school enrollment was decreasing while costs were increasing. The group decided to investigate possible alternatives to the current structure of the parish school and recommended to the parish that St. Pius V's school consolidate with another (nearby and like-minded) Catholic elementary school.

St. Pius V was at that time (and is still today) known for its vibrancy and hospitality, serving both long-standing local residents as well as immigrant and refugee families, especially Vietnamese and African families. If a suitable partnership was to be formed, it would need to involve a school with a similar mission and experience in serving a truly diverse group of families.

Notre Dame Elementary

Years before St. Pius V made this decision, several parishes in the South City area had already consolidated their schools into one: Notre Dame Elementary. This school was formed with the guidance and faithful stewardship of five Catholic parishes: St. Francis de Sales, St. Henry/Immaculate Conception, Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Wenceslaus. The leadership of these parishes had decided to consolidate their efforts and resources in one elementary school and cooperate rather than compete.

The Cabrini Consolidation

The leadership of Notre Dame Elementary and St. Pius V's school agreed to the consolidation, and Notre Dame's site was selected for the school. (St. Pius V's former school building now houses Head Start classrooms.) The school at 3022 Oregon Ave. opened its doors in August 2003, as St. Frances Cabrini Academy.

The namesake of the school, Mother Cabrini, was chosen for her work in education and holistic care, with special focus on welcoming the immigrant family.

The school continues Mother Cabrini's tradition of faithful education with excellent, award-winning faculty, a dedicated and highly respected administrator, and a body of volunteers from the community of Cabrini school families, the neighborhood, and the region who preserve and promote the school's current mission and vision for a brighter future. In this way, Cabrini Academy is an anchor in the city, building up the quality of its neighborhoods as it builds up the minds and spirits of its students.

Cabrini Academy is blessed with the support of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and sponsorship, now, from 10 local parishes: St. Wenceslaus, St. Vincent de Paul, Resurrection of Our Lord, St. Pius V, Sts. Peter and Paul, Old Cathedral, St. Joseph Croatian, St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Agatha.