Assumption School on NY Archdiocese Chopping Block

Otto Lopez does not know his next step will be.

Like Many parents at the Our Lady of the Assumption School in Peekskill, he is playing it by ear and hoping for the best.

"They told us that they are going to have a meeting in January and then they'll make a decision," said Lopez, who has two children attending the school.

The school is one of 26 schools out of 129 Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of New York that were announced earlier this week as being on a list of schools at risk of closing 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 school region this fall. 

Enrollment, financial, academic and local demographics were factored into the study.

Pastors and principals, Assumption and other at-risk elementary schools are scheduled to meet with members of the local Board or Reconfiguration Committee in their region to discuss the next steps and make their cases for why their school should remain open.

A final decision will be made in January.

Administrators for the Assumption school did not return phone calls.

Lopez said he would likely send his kids to public school if Assumption is closed.

"This place is special," Lopez said. "They work with you and help you out. I don't know if the other Catholic schools in the area will do that."

Below are enrollment figures for the school dating back to 2003-2004:

2003-2004 210

2004-2005 208

2005-2006 174

2006-2007 172

2007-2008 171

2008-2009 203

2009-2010 230

2010-2011 224

2011-2012 216

2012-2013 200