School Growth Vision
St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School is committed to responsible, sustainable growth. Our overall growth plan focuses on two key objectives:
· Broader Base ("Fatter"): Expand to two classrooms per grade (Preschool - 8th) to strengthen enrollment and financial stability.
· Higher Reach ("Taller"): Introduce a 9th grade that could expand to a full Catholic high school.
Why fatter? why not taller?
A broad Preschool through 8th grade enrollment provides an essential foundation for our future, ensuring financial stability while creating a natural pipeline for an eventual 9th grade. Data from other new Catholic schools across the state show that high school enrollment grows slowly; without a strong lower-school foundation, our long-term expansion risks collapse.
Has Enrollment Been Growing Thus Far?
Yes. Enrollment of 265 students in Fall 2026 will be our largest in school history, including having for the first time two grades with two classrooms (Kindergarten and 5th Grade). However, while this is in line with our “fatter” growth strategy, our lack of space is quickly becoming a hinderance to these developments.
Current Space Challenges
Expansion Plan Highlights
Interior Highlights
To view our proposed floor plans in full, click here
New Regulation Size Gym
Includes divider for flexible use and separate access for after-hours activities
Commercial Kitchen
Enables in-house meal service
Relocated Cafeteria
Existing gym becomes a cafetorium for meals and small performances
Additional Classrooms
Nine new classrooms, a central gathering commons, and one oversized multi-purpose room
Renovated Entrance and Offices
Enhanced security and space for administrative staff, information technology, and nursing
Exterior Renderings
A Campus Approach to Growth and Expansion
St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School (SFOLCS) and St. Francis church are separate threads that create a single campus cloth. Both entities are intertwined and our futures linked. We strive to strengthen Catholic education while supporting vibrant, collaborative parish life across all the parishes within our Brainerd Catholic mission field, and this project will help us achieve this goal on a new level.
The Campus Unification and Expansion effort is organized into three distinct phases, carefully sequenced to maintain optimal functionality for both the school and church.
Join us
St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School, in cooperation with and in support of the family, is committed to challenging students to grow spiritually, academically, and socially within a Catholic environment.
Together, this project is investing in a shared vision that strengthens Catholic education and community for future generations. Will you help this shared vision become a reality?