Discover the Difference: 2 Schools Accommodate Enrollment Growth
by Diocese of Des Moines | April 22, 2021
Last fall, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School and Parish, located at 1102 NW Weigel Drive in Ankeny, announced a building addition that will include six new classrooms, a multipurpose meeting room, expanded parking, storage, and a storm shelter that will position the school and parish for continue growth in the booming Ankeny community.
Funding for construction is provided through the Growing Together: Building in Faith capital campaign. To date, nearly all of the $3.5 million campaign goal has been pledged by members of the parish and school community. Construction began last October and the anticipated completion date for the project is July 30 - just in time for the new school year.
“I am so excited to see our building expand, which will allow our school to continue to grow,” shared Misty Hade, school principal. “This expansion provides more opportunities for the Ankeny community to join our school and parish and to be a part of the St. Luke the Evangelist family.”
St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School, grew by more than 35 percent this past year - unprecedented growth for any private school. The newest school in the Diocese of Des Moines, St. Luke the Evangelist, opened in 2015 to support the growing Ankeny community. Students in kindergarten - eighth grade receive an education rooted in Catholic values that provides a caring, creative and quality learning environment.
And just this past week, another Diocese of Des Moines Catholic School
announced its plans to pursue capital improvements. St. Pius X Catholic Parish and School, located at 3601 66th St. in Urbandale, will extend its building capacity to meet the needs of its growing community with a new multipurpose space, additional classrooms, and upgrades to the kitchen and parish center.
"It is truly a very collaborative effort between the parish and school," said Mary Jo Kever, school principal. "The new building will be a two-story addition that connects our current school building and the parish center."
These building enhancements are made possible through the Living Our Mission capital campaign which brought together members of the parish and school community to raise nearly all of the campaign's $5 million goal. To date, $4,967,348 has been pledged by 636 individuals and families. $1,910,042 of the pledged amount has been secured and construction is scheduled to begin immediately after the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
St. Pius X Catholic School, founded in 1956, serves students in preschool through eighth grade. Building on the foundation of Catholic values, St. Pius X Catholic School provides students the opportunity for spiritual growth, the development of moral character, and academic success.
The Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools includes 16 schools in 23 counties in central and southwest Iowa. Catholic schools in the Des Moines Diocese build Christ-centered, collaborative, inclusive partnerships with parents, students, and parishes to provide innovative academic excellence and inspirational faith formation for students. To learn about more Catholic schools in the Diocese of Des Moines, visit www.dmdiocese.org/catholic-schoolsor email ExpectMore@dmdiocese.org.