Tuesday, January 20, 2009

More Catholic schools closing

At least it's not in our Diocese for a change... Thanks to the Times Leader.

Declining enrollment has claimed another Roman Catholic grade school in eastern Pennsylvania.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia says Our Lady of Peace in Milmont Park will close at the end of the 2008-09 school year.

The pastor, Rev. Louis Kolenkiewicz, announced the closure to members of the parish during services on Sunday.

Enrollment at the school, which offers Pre-K through eighth grades, dropped from 262 students in 2000 to 128 this year. Only four students remain in the third grade.

Pupils will transfer to Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish Elementary School in Swarthmore.

Easton Catholic in Northampton County also will shut its doors at the end of the school year.

Allentown Diocese officials say that school also is the victim of slumping enrollment and mounting debts.

1 comment:

Christian said...

Interesting. I can tell you that at a certain Large Catholic Elementary in the Wyoming Valley, the 06-07 year enrollment was about 486. If I recall correctly at some point during the 07-08 year the enrollment was 420 or 430. There was a big push during Catholi Schools week to re-enroll the current students saying that "You need to enroll now, before we decide how many classes there will be in each grade level." I.E. the enrollment was projected to fall and you might lose a spot by delaying. The last time I was in the office about a month ago, the enrollment figure was 385, and yesterday I dutifully signed the Re-enrollment form for 08-09.