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Catholic high school in Brighton to close at end of school year
By adamg on Sat, 02/11/2023 - 4:01pm
Saint Joseph Prep Boston, with a history dating back 137 years, announced yesterday it will be closing at the end of the current school year.
In a letter to the school community, Saint Joseph trustees said they made the decision with "heavy hearts:"
While the strength of our academic program, the caliber of our faculty and staff, and the vibrancy of our community life are beyond question, unfortunately, this does not make SJP immune from the financial challenges that come with a commitment to ensuring an exceptional and accessible education. While every member of the Board and the leadership of the school have worked tirelessly to find a way forward, we have not been successful in finding a strategic partner(s) who could support the long-term sustainability of the school. Additionally, our school continues to face the challenge of ongoing demographic shifts among middle and high-school-aged children. This combination of key factors has resulted in insurmountable financial pressures that have led to this decision.
The co-educational school currently has about 240 students in what was formerly Mount Saint Joseph Academy. It took its current name in 2012, when Trinity Catholic High School in Newton was merged into the academy.
The school s one of seven "sponsored ministries" of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, located next door to the school on Cambridge Street.
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Comments
And when does the biotec
And when does the biotec building open on the property.
It would probably be easier
It would probably be easier/more convenient for St. Elizabeth's Hospital to use the property for something. Most hospitals are always screaming for space.
Health sciences more likely.
Health sciences more likely.
I keep thinking it will
I keep thinking it will become just another apartment block along the 57 bus. That area is not as "urban" or "glassy" as the South End, the Seaport, etc., just my reaction.
SHAME Anyways
SHAME
Anyways
At least it wasn’t like that
At least it wasn’t like that Everett school, the one where the Florida company scammed them by promising them a bunch of Chinese students.
I'm not usually surprised at
I'm not usually surprised at parochial school closures, but I didn't expect this one. MSJA has such ardent alumni, and is a genuinely good school (not all Catholic schools are-- don't at me, I attended enough of them).
Maybe a local anti-fascist organization can rename itself after MSJA alum Francis Sweeney. That would be a nice tribute.
It’s says more about how Boston is changing
Than it’s does about the school. There’s very few middle class families left.
People cant afford to stay in the neighborhoods they grew up in and afford a decent school. So off the the burbs, because BPS just isn’t an option for HS. Unless you get your kid into the only 2 functioning HS.
But now that’s a crap shoot in the name of a social justice race to the bottom.
Unfortunately there is a Catholic school wealth concentration
The generous men who dig deep to improve and sustain places like BC High, have failed to support the schools which nurtured their mothers, aunts, sisters and daughters. MSJA never should have been allowed to fail nor should Cardinal Cushing in Southie or MRM in Dorchester. Fontbonne and even Notre Dame in Hingham beg for scraps while BC High receives multimillion dollar donations.
bingo
.
The "wealth concentration"
Only matters because the supply of prospective students (and also low-cost teachers) is shrinking. This is a decades-long trend for parochial schools and it's the real reason why so many Catholic schools (and not just high schools) have closed.
The schools with more wealth (like BC High) survive because they have benefactors who can help cover the financial shortfalls and also maintain an attractive brand for prospective students. It is no different from the small colleges which have closed in recent years (like Mt. Ida or Becker).
This issue
is more concentrated to Boston as families continue to leave (see BPS enrollment). Catholic HS outside of the city saw their numbers increase during the 21-22 school year. Primarily due to the absurdly strict Covid restrictions pushed interest groups and elected officials.
Many parents who left public schools haven't returned.
Benefactors who
are male alumni and have more personal wealth than most alumnae of the Catholic women's high schools.
Yes
This particular closure seems rather shocking. But there probably aren't many Sisters of St Joseph left...
Agree
Given the factors you cited, I am also surprised. It's a pity that St. Columbkille's Elementary/Middle School could not be linked in a way that would complement both. Boston College helped guide the merger of Trinity HS and Mt. St. Joseph's, and now has a partnership with St. Col's. But the various orders of the Catholic church are often quite territorial, and not given to cooperating with each other.
Add this to the closure of the nearby Jackson Mann. Fewer and fewer options for families in Allston Brighton.
Frances with a e
I had trouble Googling this name until I found a page with the correct spelling
The study body is protesting
The study body is protesting on twitter - the school community is not happy about this.
Perhaps it's time
for Elwood and Jake to get the band back together.
147 years of Graduates an NO
147 years of Graduates an NO Alumni that cared enough to build an Endowment, maybe it's ok to close those doors.