In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Schools of the Archdiocese of Newark announced on Tuesday that five elementary schools are not reopening this fall. Also, three schools will consolidate with nearby communities.
The office said it had been monitoring and evaluating projected enrollment, finances and the level of support it would need to stay open. The pandemic resulted in a lack of funding resources and paid 2020-2021 registrations for the school and, consequently, was deemed unsustainable to operate.
These are the schools that will not reopen:
- Transfiguration Academy, Bergenfield;
- St. Joseph Academy, Bogota;
- The Academy of St. Mary, Rutherford;
- St. Francis Xavier, Newark;
- Ironbound Catholic Academy, Newark.
And those that will consolidate:
- St. Joseph of the Palisades, West New York, will join the school communities of Mother Seton in Union City and St. Augustine School in Union City;
- St. Joseph the Carpenter, Roselle, will welcome Our Lady of Guadalupe in Elizabeth to its campus.
“I recognize that this news is profoundly painful for our students and their families, teachers and principals, school communities, and those who support Catholic education, as well as for our archdiocesan community. I extend my prayers and support to all those affected. Our schools represent communities that offer vital faith formation for children. The difficult decision to further consolidate our Catholic Schools follows considerable discussion and examination of their viability under the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Education remains a crucial element in the life and mission of this Archdiocese,” Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, archbishop of Newark, said.
