April 16, 2024
Syracuse, NY— The Diocese of Syracuse announced the difficult decision to close Rome Catholic School at the end of the 2024 academic year. Rome Catholic School is Pre-K- 6th grade.
In a letter to parents, Bishop Lucia and Dr. Amy Sansone, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, stated that, “This decision was not made lightly. Over the past few years, we have been faced with ongoing challenges, primarily stemming from declining enrollment and financial constraints. Despite our best efforts to sustain and strengthen the school community, the combination of these factors has unfortunately led us to this difficult outcome.” For years, ardent supporters of the school have explored various initiatives to increase enrollment and stabilize finances. Unfortunately, the current enrollment, excluding its universal pre-kindergarten program, is 49 students.
“We are profoundly grateful for the unwavering support and dedication you have shown to Rome Catholic throughout the years. Your commitment to Catholic education has been instrumental in shaping the lives of our students and contributing to the spirit of Rome’s Catholic community”, stated Bishop Lucia and Dr. Sansone.
Rome Catholic School has a rich history and has experienced several transitions over the years. The school opened in 1963 as a high school located at 800 Cypress Street in Rome, NY. In 1986, Rome Catholic merged with Rome Catholic Junior High School and became Rome Catholic Junior-Senior High. In 2004, St. Peters School merged into Rome Catholic making it a pre-school through 12th grade. In 2013, the last high school class graduated from Rome Catholic, and it transitioned to K-6th grade with universal prekindergarten classes (UPK).
In the coming weeks, staff will work closely with the families to assist with the transition process and to provide guidance on alternative educational options. There are 21 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Syracuse.
For more information, contact Danielle E. Cummings, Chancellor/Director of Communications at 315. 470.1476.
