Xavier Catholic Schools unveils name of new middle school

CEDAR RAPIDS — The new Xavier Catholic middle school set to open next fall now has a name: Xavier Middle School.

The name was chosen because of its strong connection to the brand of Xavier, a parochial preschool-12th grade school system in Cedar Rapids. The Xavier Catholic Schools board of education approved the new name Aug. 19.

“The name allows for greater opportunities to share resources with Xavier High School and offers greater ease for families and community members to associate the school with the Xavier Catholic Schools system,” according to a press release Wednesday.

The school system is part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and in keeping with archdiocesan policy, the naming recommendation was reviewed and approved by Archbishop Thomas Zinkula before receiving final approval by the school board.

The process of naming the new consolidated middle school — which will replace Regis Middle School and LaSalle Catholic Middle School by fall 2026 — began with a committee that included teachers, parents, middle school students, administrators, school board members and representatives from local parishes and Xavier schools leadership.

The group “prayerfully considered options,” according to a press release, reflecting on the school’s mission “to form disciples unafraid to follow Jesus Christ.”

The name Xavier Middle School was chosen because of its alignment with the missionary spirit of St. Francis Xavier, according to the press release.

Two other names considered were Blessed Carlo Acutis and St. Frances Cabrini.

The middle school will be in the former Toyota Financial Services building, a three-story, 109,000-square-foot building surrounded by 11 acres of land at 5005 N. River Blvd. NE. It will serve sixth- to eighth-graders.

Eight metro-area Catholic schools united as a single corporation for preschool-12th grade called Xavier Catholic Schools as of July 1, 2024.

There are nearly 2,500 students in preschool to 12th grade in the Xavier Catholic Schools.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com