In addition to parental support, St. Matthew has a strong parish following. The parish is currently developing and implementing a Long-Range Strategic Plan. The Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee gives the parish a process for ensuring and shaping the future of the school by exploring long-term goals and the means to achieve them. The strategic planning permits the leadership to involve the total school community in a professional, controlled, and organized fashion in articulating the preferred future of the school and designing strategies to achieve those goals.

      
    St. Matthew enjoys a school/business partnership with several businesses in the community. A grant from the Marie de Reinville-Franicevic' Foundation provides funds for the Junior/Senior Olympics program and the girls' athletic programs. Assistance from Shady Oaks Garden Club, Lakeshore Kiwanis Club, Entergy, Colonial Bowling Lanes, Colonial Golf and Country Club, Papa John's Pizza, AAA Sporting Goods, Lloyd's Furniture and others helps with service and community projects. Little Farms playground and Harahan Library also unite the students and the community of River Ridge.

   St. Matthew recognizes the important role that parents play as the primary educators of their children. Orientation meetings for all parents are held at the beginning of the school year in order to acquaint parents with the objectives, regulations, and programs of the school and to give parents an opportunity to meet with the teachers personally. Daily communication between teachers and parents may be obtained via E-mail, Voice Mail, and Edline. Additionally, newsletters are sent home regularly to inform parents of events and activities that take place throughout the year. There are scheduled parent-teacher conferences throughout the year. Parents are actively involved in the life of the school through the Men's Club and the Home and School Association. Parent volunteers from these organizations organize and staff the annual school fair and conduct school-wide screening tests for various health concerns. They also provide daily assistance in the cafeteria and on the school yard.