Philadelphia Archdiocese Announces Major School Closings

By Brian Roewe
National Catholic Reporter
January 6, 2012

http://ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/philly-archdiocese-announces-major-school-closings

The Philadelphia Archdiocese has confirmed that its 10,000-square-foot archbishop's residence in Philadelphia is going to be sold. Located near St. Joseph's University, the mansion has served as home to archbishops since the 1930s. (CNS photo/Sarah Webb, Catholic Standard & Times)

Dramatic realignment to the Philadelphia Catholic school system is coming. Today, the archdiocese announced that it will close four high schools, and 44 elementary schools will either close or merge with other schools.

News of which schools were affected spread after a closed-door meeting this morning between the archdiocese and priests and school administrators at Neumann University. A formal press conference is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST.

The announced closings come as the archbishop-appointed blue ribbon commission announced its recommendations for Philadelphia's schools after its yearlong study of the education system in archdiocese.

The decision impacts schools across five counties — Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia.

Montgomery County and South Philadelphia were most affected by the closings, with 22 elementary schools facing mergers in Montgomery and 15 schools merging in South Philadelphia with another elementary school closed, as well as West Catholic High School.

For the majority of schools, the mergers pair a closing school with a nearby school.

Before today's announced closings and mergers, the archdiocese had 156 elementary schools, 17 high schools and four special education programs. Reports list enrollment as 49,177 for elementary schools; 15,172 for high schools and 212 for special-education programs.

The news comes at the end of a yearlong study by a blue ribbon commission appointed by former Archbishop Justin Rigali. On Dec. 10, 2010, Rigali named Jack Quindlen, former senior vice president and chief financial officer of Dupont Co. the chair of the 16-member committee.

"As many of you know, however, Archdiocesan schools face challenges―changing demographics, lower enrollments in some schools and the continued struggle to keep Catholic education affordable for the many families who wish to make this investment for their children's future," Rigali said at the time.

"We are not alone in this struggle. In fact, it is very much a national trend. Across the country, many dioceses are finding themselves at a crossroads, carefully seeking what path is best for the future of Catholic education."

The commission spent 2011 gathering information on the state of Catholic education in the archdiocese and formulated a multi-year strategic plan to adapt to the challenges of declining enrollment, changing demographics and affordability, and overall strengthen Catholic education across the region.

Dwindling enrollment has been evident in the area for years. A 2011 Pew study examining Philadelphia alone found 27,694 Catholic school students in the city, a drop of 41 percent since 2001.

Chaput used a December pastoral letter to warn Catholics in the archdiocese that significant changes were coming soon.

"Complacency is the enemy of faith. To whatever degree complacency and pride once had a home in our local Church, events in the coming year will burn them out," Chaput's December letter warned.

In a web column Thursday at CatholicPhilly.com, Chaput again braced parishioners for today's announcement, saying "the substance of the Commission report will be much more comprehensive and much more positive than the closing of specific schools. It will create the foundation for a new and stronger future for Catholic education in the Archdiocese."

The school realignment is the latest in sweeping changes for the archdiocese. On Sept. 8, Chaput replaced Rigali, after he stepped down July 19 amid the priest sex abuse scandal in the archdiocese. Jury selection for a combined trial for four accused priests is set to begin in late February.

The new year began with diocesan officials announcing it would be selling the 10,000-sq. ft. archbishop's mansion, used by every archbishop since 1935.

Contact: broewe@ncronline.org