A Catholic institution with a 138-year history in California has abruptly closed its doors, following financial difficulties. This development occurred shortly after the San Francisco Archdiocese consented to a nearly $400 million settlement with a large group of individuals who have accused clergy members of sexual abuse, marking one of the biggest payouts of its kind.
On Thursday, families associated with St. Brigid Academy in San Francisco were caught off guard by the announcement of the school’s permanent closure. They were informed that the deposits made for the $20,950 tuition for the upcoming academic year would be reimbursed later in the summer.
This unexpected shutdown coincided with the Archdiocese’s revelation of a settlement amounting to approximately $395 million, intended to provide compensation to around 530 individuals who allege they were victims of child sexual abuse by clergy, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Established in 1888, St. Brigid had evolved into a K-8 microschool, offering a learning environment with mixed-age classrooms in recent years.
The school was particularly known for its focus on teaching neurodivergent and gifted children, employing a highly individualized approach with a student-teacher ratio of 4 to 1.
“After a thorough review of the school’s finances and after exhausting every available alternative to us, we deeply regret that the school can no longer sustainably operate or fulfill its mission to your children,” Chris Fisher, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese, wrote to families.
“We recognize that this announcement brings disappointment, uncertainty, and grief to many families who have entrusted Saint Brigid Academy with their children’s education and formation.”
Parents are now frantic to find new schools just weeks before classes begin, fearing it will be nearly impossible to secure spots in similar specialized programs after the enrollment season ends.
The settlement announced Monday follows the Archdiocese’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in August 2023 after California’s Child Victims Act temporarily lifted the civil statute of limitations.
This allowed survivors to pursue decades-old child sex abuse claims between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2022.
The agreement also requires greater transparency from the Archdiocese by prohibiting confidentiality agreements in future settlements and requiring broader disclosure of clergy members accused of abuse.
According to plaintiffs’ attorneys, the Archdiocese of San Francisco was the only Catholic diocese in California that had not released a list of clergy members credibly accused of child sex abuse as of 2023.
Plaintiffs’ attorney Jeff Anderson said a committee of survivors worked alongside attorneys to negotiate the agreement and that each survivor will vote on whether to approve its terms.
“It’s a joint effort that has been underway for years,” Anderson said. “This represents, effectively, the most robust non-economic settlement that’s ever been made in the country.”
The Archdiocese’s bankruptcy filing followed the passage of California’s Child Victims Act, which prompted thousands of lawsuits against individuals and institutions across the state, with Catholic dioceses among the hardest hit.
San Francisco was among the first California dioceses to seek bankruptcy protection, followed by Santa Rosa, Oakland and Sacramento, per the SF Chronicle.
The school’s closure also comes weeks after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland announced it would shutter 13 East Bay parishes, blaming financial pressures stemming from hundreds of child sex abuse lawsuits against its own clergy members.