Students at a Catholic elementary school in Manhattan were left feeling “devastated” upon learning their institution was one of three slated for closure in June. Families are now facing limited options for other religious education.
Incarnation School in Washington Heights shared the announcement with its community on Monday, amid ongoing challenges like declining enrollment and increasing tuition fees for Catholic educational institutions.
“I felt blindsided,” expressed a fourth-grade teacher who asked to remain anonymous. “Throughout the year, we had numerous visitors saying the school was thriving. Suddenly, it’s being closed, and it’s just awful.”
Children from preschool through eighth grade are heartbroken at the thought of being separated from their friends and teachers.
“They’re sad. They cry every day. They really like it here. They feel safe,” the teacher added.
The announcement from the Archdiocese of New York confirmed that Incarnation School and two other Catholic schools would shut down at the end of this academic year, while some institutions will consolidate students into a single campus.
Details surrounding the closures were sparse; the Archdiocese only mentioned facing significant challenges that made it impossible to continue operations in these areas.
This news follows a recent similar announcement from the Diocese of Brooklyn, which declared seven school closures, compounding the situation after another seven closed just a year prior.
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s a bit shocking. Incarnation is like family. The teachers here feel like family, and they provide a sense of safety. Losing that will create a big void that will be tough for our families to fill,” said Leilaine Rosario, a kindergartner who has attended the school for three years.
“He’s heartbroken. He even asked if his teachers could go with him to another school. I had to tell him that isn’t possible. But we’re in a group chat with other parents to see where the kids might end up and hoping we can keep them together since they’ve known each other for years.”
Administrators at Incarnation have pointed families toward alternative Catholic schools nearby, though choices are dwindling due to several closures over the years.
Many families remain reluctant to consider public or charter schools. “Not a chance. I went to a public high school in New York City, and it was the worst experience,” said Vladimir Reynoiso, father to an eight-year-old at Incarnation.
The community is grappling with the implications of the closures, as many laud the school’s quality and worthiness of its $6,175 tuition. “My child is receiving a good education here, not just academically but also in religious teachings, which is crucial for structure and discipline. Every parent appreciates the values taught at a Catholic school,” shared Calvin Soto, a parent and alumni.
“As someone who’s graduated from here, I find this shocking. It impacts the community significantly; this school has been a staple for so many years.”
Ryan Seeher, another parent, concurred, labeling the institution as “a fixture in the community.” He noted, “The staff is fantastic, really welcoming. Even teachers who don’t instruct my son know him by name and genuinely care.” He expressed disappointment, saying, “My son loves school—he’s made friends and adores his teachers, so now it feels like starting from scratch.”
Since the pandemic, Catholic schools have faced significant declines, with enrollment in the Big Apple dropping 23% from 2020 to 2024. Experts attribute this downturn to rising tuition, diminishing interest in faith-based education, and a backlash against the Church due to ongoing sexual abuse scandals.
