Archdiocese announces closure of 3 more New York City schools

The Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York has announced the closing of three more schools in New York City.

The latest announcement means that since the start of 2025, seven Catholic schools--five in the Bronx, one in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn have--have said they will shut down at the end of the 2024-25 academic year.

The decision to close Our Lady of Refuge School and St. Lucy School, both in the Bronx, and St. Mark the Evangelist in Manhattan stems from the Archdiocese's School Viability Study.

"We recognize the deep emotional impact of these closures on students, families, faculty, and parish communities who have given so much to these schools," said Sister Mary Grace Walsh, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese.

Last month, the New York Archdiocese announced the closing of two elementary schools in the Bronx--Immaculate Conception School and Sacred Heart School. These closings are not part of the Archdiocese's viability study; the closings will clear the way for a charter school network to take over those campuses.

Brilla Public Charter Schools plans to relocate Brilla Pax and Brilla Veritas middle schools into the buildings, the Archdiocese says. In addition, the campuses will also offer an optional Catholic extended-day program.

All Hallow High School in the Bronx is closing after 116 years.

The other schools slated for closure:

All Hallows High School, Bronx. The school's board of trustees announced in January that it was closing after 116 years. Like most of the other affected schools, declining enrollment and rising costs are being blamed.

The school reported an operating deficit of $1.7 million that is expected to exceed $2 million by June. Its aging campus would need a major upgrade to continue operating.

"The nearly 100-year-old school building would require a complete overhaul of its major systems – electrical, plumbing and roofing – and other rehabilitation and upgrades to its infrastructure, as well as modernization of major facilities such as the gymnasium, cafeteria, classrooms and science labs," the diocese says.

Despite converting from all-boys to coed, All Hallows' enrollment is only 325, a significant drop from 514 in 2018.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy, an elementary school in Brooklyn. In announcing the closure after 108 years, the Diocese of Brooklyn noted that since 2020, enrollment has fallen from 174 to 111, and only 85 were registered for 2025-26. The enrollment decline increased per-pupil expenditure to more than $11,600; the tuition of $5,500 did not come close to covering costs.

"The decision to close was made after a thorough analysis with the hope there was a way to turn things around," said Deacon Kevin McCormack, Superintendent of Schools. "Unfortunately, the pattern of student enrollment and the financial condition of the academy did not make that possible."

The school has been operating under the name Our Lady of Perpetual Help since 1917.