Diocese to close three Catholic elementary schools on LI

Due to the financial impact on parishes and schools within the Diocese of Rockville Centre created by the coronavirus pandemic, three Catholic elementary schools will close at the end of this school year and not reopen for the fall 2020 academic year: Holy Family Regional School in Commack; Our Lady of Wisdom Regional School, Port Jefferson and Saint Peter of Alcantara Elementary School in Port Washington.

Changing demographics and increased competition from public and secular private schools have contributed to ongoing declines in Catholic school enrollment nationwide, according to the diocese. In schools that have faced significant enrollment declines, there has been a growing requirement for parish financial support to the school. While these financial pressures existed prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the impact of the crisis on the Catholic school families and parish communities have placed significant burden on already-struggling schools.

Following much analysis and discussion with stakeholders at both the diocesan and parish levels, the pastors of the parishes that support each school have made the difficult decision to close, the diocese said.

“We are deeply saddened by the closings of these three elementary schools,” said Sean P. Dolan, Director of Communications, Diocese of Rockville Centre. “Covid-19 has had a significant financial impact on all of the parishes and schools within the Diocese, resulting in the difficult decision to close these three Catholic elementary schools in order to eliminate the unsustainable financial stress on their parishes.”

Dolan said that students from Holy Family Regional, Our Lady of Wisdom Regional and Saint Peter of Alcantara School will be welcomed into any Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. School officials and representatives of the Department of Education will assist parents and students in the process of selecting and transferring to any of the Catholic Schools on Long Island.

“The Diocese of Rockville Centre thanks each and every one of the dedicated and committed principals and teachers, both lay and religious, who have taught in these schools since their inception,” said Dolan.

Each of these schools has experienced a sharp decline in enrollment over the last several years. “Unfortunately, the enrollment decline combined with the impact of COVID-19 on both parish offertory collections and tuition collections, and fundraising efforts,” Dolan said, “has made it clear that it is not feasible to maintain these schools financially.”