Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Office Announces Holy Name Elementary as Newest Partnership School

CLEVELAND, OH – Bishop Edward Malesic of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and Rev. Robert Jasany, pastor of Holy Name Parish in Slavic Village, announced this week that Holy Name Elementary School is joining the Partnership Schools of Cleveland.

Partnership Schools is a non-profit school management organization that manages urban Catholic elementary schools.

Partnership Schools currently manages four other Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Cleveland: St. Francis and St. Thomas Aquinas in St. Clair-Superior, Archbishop Lyke in Lee-Harvard-Miles, and Metro Catholic on the near west side.

According to Bishop Malesic, “The Diocese of Cleveland remains deeply committed to our urban Catholic schools that have served the city’s neighborhoods for generations.”

Dr. Frank O’Linn, Superintendent of Schools for the diocese, notes, “In Cleveland, Partnership Schools has been demonstrating how collaboration can be a force multiplier, enabling our schools to accomplish more when we are working together. Fr. Jasany and the Holy Name community are eager to participate in the same collaboration and support for the strength of the parish’s school.”

Since 2020, the Partnership has brought stability to the schools during a deeply tumultuous time for education in the city. For example, St. Thomas Aquinas School was slated for closure shortly before getting a second chance as a Partnership School. Now enrollment is up over 30% from pre-pandemic levels.

“The commitment of teachers, supporters, and the diocese to children and neighborhoods in the heart of the city inspires us every day,” says Partnership Executive Director Kristen Gengaro. “Adding the Holy Name community to our network is a win-win. We are determined to amplify the strengths of this school, which has been giving Clevelanders a strong start in life since 1864, while expanding our school network.”

The Partnership Schools organization leverages educational expertise, best practices for operations and outreach, and fundraising support to amplify the impact of urban Catholic elementary schools and help make them financially sustainable. The Partnership Schools movement began 13 years ago in New York, when an independent foundation supporting Catholic elementary schools in low-income neighborhoods became a school management organization to better manage academics and operations of the schools it funded.

The Partnership Schools have a history of raising academic outcomes and stabilizing enrollment in moments when it is declining in other area Catholic schools, a track record of success that led to Cleveland schools forming a Partnership network six years ago. Just this winter, the network’s efforts in both cities led Partnership Schools to be named a winner of the Yass Prize Alumni Award. Philadelphia philanthropists Jeff and Janine Yass provided a total of $20 million to 16 organizations this year, including Partnership Schools, as part of their efforts to spread innovative approaches to education.

This week, the Catholic Diocese of Toledo also announced that two of its schools – Rosary Cathedral and Queen of Apostles – are forming Partnership Schools of Toledo and will be managed by the same nonprofit.

For more information or to schedule an interview:

Partnership Schools:
Superintendent: Nick Green
nick.green@thepartnershipschools.org
216-249-6220 

Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Office of Catholic Education:
Superintendent: Frank O’Linn
folinn@dioceseofcleveland.org
216-696-6525 X2460