Diocese of Camden
The Diocese of Camden announced today that five schools in the diocese will close at the end of the current school term on June 30. The three elementary schools and two high schools are:
- Good Shepherd Regional Elementary School in Collingswood
- Saint Joseph Regional Elementary School in Hammonton
- Cape Trinity Catholic Elementary School in Wildwood
- Saint Joseph High School in Hammonton
- Wildwood Catholic High School in Wildwood
The decision comes after years of dwindling community support, fundraising and declining enrollment, despite significant diocesan and parish financial support, according to a release.
The decreasing priority given to Catholic education weakened the viability of these schools, the release stated.
All affected students will have the opportunity to continue their Catholic education at nearby regional Catholic elementary and high schools.
Over the last five years, each school has seen a precipitous drop in registrations despite best efforts to implement new enrollment and academic initiatives, along with the Catholic faith and life.
Since 2015, enrollment has dropped 50% at St. Joseph Elementary, 38% at St. Joseph High School, 30% at Good Shepherd and 12% at Wildwood Catholic High School and Cape Trinity Catholic School.
The negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, business shutdowns, and layoffs would further impact the schools.
The release states closing the schools was a “sobering and painful” decision made after deliberations with regional pastors, school advisory boards, the College of Consultors, the Diocesan Finance Council, the Office of Catholic Schools and the Diocesan Finance Office.
“Closing a Catholic school is gut-wrenching for everyone involved, from the principal and pastor to the superintendent and bishop. However, as stewards of the financial resources entrusted to us, we came to the difficult conclusion that low enrollment at these schools caused the strain on the funds available to become too great,” Superintendent of Schools Bill Watson said. “I am deeply grateful to the faculty and staff who have given so much to these schools and to the dedicated parents who have continued to send their children to them. We look forward to welcoming these families into another Catholic school community next year.”
