This is right in my neck of the woods. The Academy of St. Joseph closed a few years ago because of low enrollment.
Now, there are many reasons for declining enrollment at Catholic schools, and on Long Island, there is no doubt that property (school) taxes are among them. When you are paying about $15k/year in property (school) taxes, it is difficult indeed to scrape together the $$$$ for Catholic education.
That said, St. Joseph’s is the only Catholic high school that has closed in several years. The last one I can remember was the LaSalle Military Academy, which closed about 10 years ago (after they started admitting girls).
I have no doubt that the squishy theology taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph has a TON to do with it. That order has truly gone chug-chug-chugging right ‘round the bend. They are big into the Mother Earth new-ageism stuff.
Who would want to spend a bundle of cash on a “Catholic” education that is only barely Catholic? No me, that’s for sure.
Regards,
PS: It is an absolute disgrace that the school has gone over to the Muslims. An absolute disgrace.
Sad to hear the Sisters of St. Joseph took that kind of turn. My sister, my friends and I received a pretty good grammer school education from them. Of course that was more than fifty years ago.
I didn’t know LaSalle closed! Of course, I’ve avoided Long Island as much as possible. It was a really great place to grow up. The oddball in the neighborhood was “Jimmy the Greek”. Now I just wish my parents would sell and get out so I didn’t have to go over the stupid bridges to see them.