Officials from the Archdiocese of New York believe that they will be able to transfer all of the students enrolled at Our Lady of the Assumption Elementary School in Peekskill if a decision is made to close the school next year.
The last time the Archdiocese of New York decided to reconfigure its schools in 2010-2011, it managed to relocate 64 percent of its student to another school.
If that number holds true this time around, that means about 130 of the 200 students currently enrolled at Our Lady of the Assumption can be expected to continue their Catholic school education elsewhere if a decision is made to close the school in January.
“Every student is precious to us,” said Fran Davies, associate superintendent for communications and marketing at the Archdiocese. “Our goal is to retain as many students as possible and we’d like to be able to retain as many students as possible. We’re really are going to approach this on family by family basis. We’re going to try and to find the fit that’s best for them.”
Assumption is one of 26 out of 129 Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of New York that are listed as being at risk of closing in June 2013.
The list was compiled after a study conducted by Local Regional Boards and Reconfiguration Committees in every county in the archdiocese began their careful analysis of each of its schools this fall.
Enrollment, financial, academic and local demographics were factored into the study. Davies declined to give the data used to determine the Assumption school’s status.
The school has an enrollment of 200 students this year, according to the latest figures provided the Archdiocese. About 53 percent of the student body is Hispanic, 9 percent white, 7 percent Asian and 4 percent black, according to information recorded by the National Center on Education Statistics in 2009-2010.
“It was a complex process,” Davies said. “We looked at all of these different aspects and offered the schools the opportunity to present other data they fell may have been overlooked.”
A final decision on whether or not to close Assumption School will be made in January.
1) This fall, Peekskill added 63 students to the Kindergarten age group. http://peekskill.dailyvoice.com/schools/peekskill-schools-see-jump-kindergarteners It appears these unexpected additions were not part of the current budget. + Now, since most of the Catholic schools in the area charge around $350-400/mo. for tuition (unless already parishioners), maybe their parents won't want to pay that tuition, so their kids are most likely added to the Peekskill school system. Generously, let's say, maybe 100 of these Assumption kids enter the Peekskill School system next year, which is "free". 100x (roughly) $23,000/yr. + And naturally, we'll most likely need another building (Uriah Hill) opened to accommodate these kids. = Anyone, anyone? Peekskill Taxpayer....anyone?
Didn't like the "FREE" comment. You're suggesting we wouldn't want to pay to go to the other Catholic schools which is not right. It's as if we want to freeload now because the school may close. I own a home here I pay taxes here. My children can go to public school here if I chose to. If the school district has to accommodate 100 more children too bad. Let them figure it out. I've lived here all my life and don't remember a school budget EVER getting turned down.
I moved here knowing the reputation of the Peekskill school system and although not a problem yet I worry about when I am ready to retire and sell. Losing another parochial school is just a sign of the times we are in and the burden of supporting such institutions its sad but a reality...churches are next.
Apologies. Clearly you've missed the subtlety of the comment. It was not directed at you, or any other taxpayer already ponying up for the local schools while also paying for parochial in this Recession, especially due to the conditions and ranking of our public school system. Rather, it was for a good deal of the local community who saw the opportunity for a free parochial education, and took it.