Educators explore feasibility of opening new Catholic high school serving Branch County

COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – After being closed for almost 60 years, members of the Catholic school community in Branch County have formed an expansion committee to explore the potential reopening of a Catholic high school serving Branch County and surrounding communities.

The committee plans to launch a feasibility study, with the support of the Diocese of Kalamazoo leadership, which they say will assess the needs, interest, and long-term viability of expanding Catholic education beyond eighth grade in the region.

The expansion group hopes to conclude the study in the Spring of 2026 with the possibility of opening the new high school for the 2027-2028 school year.

St. Charles Borromeo School was first established in 1911, with the school closing in the late 1960’s. St. Charles Elementary School reopened in 1998, and currently has 215 students, an 82 percent increase in enrollment over the past 12 years.

According to a news release from the expansion committee, the growth “reflects both rising population trends and the increasing desire among families for a holistic Catholic education.”

Principal Brenda Mescher says for 25 years there has been discussion of offering a complete Catholic education through high school. She says “With continued growth and increased demand, this is the right moment to take a thoughtful, in-depth look at what is possible for our families and for the future of Catholic education in Branch County.”

The feasibility study will gather input from current St. Charles school families as well as a broader circle of Catholic communities, including parishes in Sturgis, Marshall and Bronson as well as neighboring communities outside the diocese such as Hillsdale and Angola.

The study will examine enrollment potential, facility needs, financial considerations, partnerships, and the long-term sustainability required for launching a Catholic high school; form a governing board, as well as secure building space for the growth.