Catholic Academy Buying School Property in Chesterfield

Barat Academy, a five-year-old private, independent Catholic high school, signaled its intent to buy the former Gateway Academy property in Chesterfield.

The school announced the purchase publically Wednesday. The deal is expected to close sometime in April. No details of the agreement were available.

has been operating out of the building since the start of the 2011 school year. It's located at 17815 Wild Horse Creek Road. Class size is 17 students or less, according to the school website.

Last year's graduating class was 65 students, school officials said. The campus is co-ed but classes are single gender. Studies find boys and girls learn differently.

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Barat opened in a new building in 2007 in St. Charles County, but several years into it, the landlord sued for non-payment of $75,000 in rent. 

in Chesterfield, closed in May 2011, citing financial difficulties. The campus was grades kindergarten - 8th. 

(“It's) just what we need, a great facility and campus where we can follow our mission while we attract more students," Barat President Debby Watson said Wednesday in a written statement. "Our plan is to grow our enrollment." 

The for families interested in the coming school year.