28 Catholic Schools in the New York Area are Closing Due to COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic is undoubtedly changing school as we know it. City schools are developing hybrid plans to operate partly in-person and partly online and New York state just released guidelines for how schools can operate safely in person. Last Thursday, the Archdiocese of New York announced that 20 Catholic Schools will not reopen in the fall and that three will merge. St. John School in Goshen will be merging with Sacred Heart School in Monroe and St. Stephen-St. Edward School in Warwick. The closings and mergers come as a result of families being unable to pay the school’s tuition prices amidst the economic turmoil our nation is facing during the pandemic. The Archdiocese estimates that these closures will affect 2,500 students and 350 employees. 

“Children are always the most innocent victims of any crisis, and this COVID-19 pandemic is no exception,” Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan said in a press release. “Too many have lost parents and grandparents to this insidious virus, and now thousands will not see their beloved school again. I’ve kept a hopeful eye on our schools throughout this saga and my prayers are with all of the children and their families who will be affected by this sad news.” 

The Archdiocese of New York is not alone. The Diocese of Brooklyn announced that six schools are now closed because of similar financial issues and last month the Diocese of Rockville Centre announced that three Long Island Catholic schools are staying closed this fall because of financial issues caused by COVID-19. 

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Here is a list of the Catholic schools that are not reopening because of COVID-19 related issues:

Catholic School Closings in Manhattan

Corpus Christi School 

Our Lady of Pompeii School

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Catholic School Closings in Brooklyn

Queen of the Rosary, Williamsburg

St. Gregory the Great, Crown Heights/Flatbush

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Catholic School Closings in Queens 

Our Lady’s Catholic Academy, South Ozone Park 

Our Lady of Grace, Howard Beach 

Holy Trinity Catholic Academy, Whitestone

St. Mel’s Catholic Academy, Flushing 

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Catholic School Closings in the Bronx

Nativity of Our Blessed Lady School