Area Catholic Schools Facing Closure

NEW YORK (CBS 2) - Nearly three dozen local Catholic schools are facing the ax, meaning almost 4,500 students may have to find places to get their education.

The Archdiocese of New York said Tuesday 31 of its 185 schools are financially "at risk." Those schools now face the loss of their subsidies, a virtual guarantee they'll close.

In a statement released by the Archdiocese, the superintendent of schools explained which schools were in trouble.

"Declining enrollment and rising tuition are key challenges facing those schools that have been identified as "at-risk." These under-enrolled schools require significant financial support from the archdiocese, which cannot be sustained indefinitely. We need to allocate our resources where they can do the most good, and support schools that can sustain themselves over time," Dr. Timothy J. McNiff said.

The schools identified as "at-risk" are:

Manhattan:
Saint Joseph of the Holy Family
All Saints
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Our Lady of Sorrows
Good Shepherd

Bronx:
Saint Augustine
Saint John Vianney
Saint Martin of Tours
Saint Dominic
Saint Anthony-Saint Frances
Saint Pius V Girls High School

Staten Island:
Saint Margaret Mary
Saint Sylvester
Saint Roch
Saint Mary

Westchester/Putnam:
Saint Ann, Ossining
Saint Anthony of Padua, West Harrison
Christ the King, Yonkers
Saint Bartholomew, Yonkers
Saint Mary, Yonkers
Saint Joseph, Croton Falls
Saint John the Evangelist, Mahopac
Sacred Heart School for the Arts, Mount Vernon; Saints Peter and Paul, Mount Vernon; Holy Name of Jesus, Valhalla

Upper Counties (Dutchess, Ulster, Rockland, Sullivan, Orange):
Sacred Heart, Highland Falls
Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Cornwall-on-Hudson; Saint Joseph, New Windsor; Saint Peter, Poughkeepsie; Saint Joseph, Middletown; Saint Joseph, Kingston; Saint Augustine, Highland