Dozens of Philly Catholic schools to close or combine

From The Philadelphia Inquirer:

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia plans to close four Catholic high schools and 44 elementary schools will be closed or partnered with other schools, officials told school administrators and priests at a close-door meeting at Neumann University this morning.

West Catholic, St. Hubert, Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast in Drexel Hill and Conwell-Egan in Fairless Hills will be shuttered in June, according to Rita Schwartz, president of the union that represents the high school teachers and attended the session.

“It was a very sad meeting,” Schwartz said.

While officials from the archdiocese attempted to be upbeat and talk about how the changes would strengthen Catholic education in the region, she said that the school administrators and others need time to grieve.

The news came as members of a 16-member commission presented the recommendations from their yearlong study of Catholic education.


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BY Adam Emerson

Editor of redefinED, policy and communications guru for Florida education nonprofit