BROOKLYN CATHOLIC ACADEMY WILL NOT RE-OPEN FOR NEW SCHOOL YEAR

The Board of Members and the Board of Directors of St. Francis Xavier~Queen of All Saints Catholic Academy, located at 300 Vanderbilt Avenue in Brooklyn, have voted to close the school effective August 31, 2019. The immediacy of this decision has been prompted by a 30% decline in enrollment since the 2018-2019 school year concluded in June.

This drastic reduction in student enrollment has significantly increased the negative fund balance of $676,639 projected for the 2019-2020 school year. This growth of this financial debt combined with the decline in enrollment, has made St. Francis Xavier~Queen of All Saints Catholic Academy unsustainable. Tuition for the upcoming school year was slated for $4,650 per student, with actual costs totaling $13,825 per year per child.

“This decision was not an easy one to make and took much discussion on the part of the Members of the Academy. It comes after many efforts on the part of the diocesan support staff to maintain a financially viable and high-quality educational program in this section of Brooklyn. We regret that factors beyond our control led to this decision so close to the start of the school year,” said Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, and Chairperson of the Board of Members.

“We are most appreciative of the leadership and efforts of the administration, faculty, and staff for all that they have tried to do to sustain St. Francis Xavier~Queen of All Saints Catholic Academy. We also recognize the efforts and support of the parents. We understand the impact this decision will have on the students and their families and will assist them in the transition,” continued Dr. Chadzutko.

A parent information night has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 20 at 6:30 PM to assist families in enrolling their child(ren) in a neighboring Catholic Academy. Representatives of various schools, including Queen of the Rosary, St. Gregory the Great, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Joseph the Worker, and St. Saviour, will be in attendance to assist with the registration process. A full list of Catholic schools available in the Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens is available at www.dioceseofbrooklyn.org/schools/find-a-school.

Prior to the merger of St. Francis Xavier and Queens of All Saints Catholic Academy in June 2018, enrollment was declining, with 213 students in the 2013-2014 school year to 122 students in the 2017-2018 academic year. The demographic change in Park Slope/Fort Greene and Clinton Hill has been the primary factor impacting Catholic education in the area.

 

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