NJ Catholic schools keep shutting down

As enrollment numbers plummet, Catholic schools across New Jersey continue to drop like flies.

According to Jim Goodness with the Archdiocese of Newark, most Catholic schools throughout the state have been dealing with lower enrollment numbers, year after year. Once the host of more than 50,000 students in 176 schools, the Newark chapter is down to 94 schools, handling about 18,000 fewer students.

"Unfortunately, we had to close four schools at the end of this past June," Goodness said. "We did a few the year before."

Enrollment fell from 16,400 to 13,230 over the past five years within the Diocese of Camden. It has also had its share of closures in recent years.

"When they happen, they're very difficult and emotional," said Peter Feuerherd, director of communications for the Diocese of Camden.

Another two elementary schools in the Diocese of Trenton are scheduled to close in June, and a third will join the list if significant funds aren't raised soon.

Holy Family School in Lakewood and St. Denis School in Manasquan each cited financial difficulties due to declining enrollment. Meanwhile, St. Paul School in Burlington is introducing a major fundraising campaign in order to keep its doors open in September.

Father Ed Blanchett of St. Denis School said his parish is doing everything possible to get its students to other Catholic schools in the area for next year.

"One of my hopes is that we can have our children continue to be in Catholic school education for as long as possible, even if it isn't at St. Denis," Blanchett said.

An increasing number of New Jersey families have fallen victim to the struggling economy, and Catholic school tuition has become harder to afford. Even if parents believe their child can get a better education at a Catholic school, Goodness said, they must go the route of public schooling in order to save money.

Goodness also pointed to demographic changes and the rise in popularity of charter schools as primary reasons for lower enrollment.

"Institute school choice," Goodness said. "We would see more children in Catholic schools, we would see more students in other non-public schools, and we'd continue to see a quality improvement in public schools too."

Blanchett suggested there has been a change in priorities among "area Catholics," which adds to the problem.

"Years ago, it would be that if you were Catholic, you went to Catholic school," he said. "That's a thinking that just doesn't seem to be very prevalent anymore."