FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2010

SAINT JAMES SCHOOL AND SAINT JOSEPH SCHOOL TO MERGE

The Archdiocese of New York today announced that, after much consultation with parish and school leadership, Saint James School, located on Saint James Place, and Saint Joseph School, on Monroe Street, will merge into one school beginning in September, 2010, another step in the continuing process that will result in the eventual merger of the two parishes.  The new school will be known as Saint Joseph School and will be located in the current Saint Joseph School building.

In addition, Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral School, located at 233 Mott Street, will be closed at the end of the current school year in June. 

The decision to merge Saint James and Saint Joseph was made after careful consideration of how to best use our resources to ensure that our schools are fully enrolled and fully supported on all levels.  The merger will strengthen the enrollment at Saint Joseph’s, enabling it to continue to provide an excellent Catholic school education for its students. 

The Archdiocese remains committed to providing a quality Catholic education to any child who seeks one.  Parents of the current students of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral School will be able to select another Catholic school in the area, including Immaculate Conception School on East 14th Street, Saint Brigid School on East 7th Street, and Our Lady of Sorrows School on Stanton Street.

In addition, Transfiguration School, which has grown too large for its current school building on Mott Street, will use Saint James School beginning in September 2010, insuring that the building will continue to fulfill its mission of providing a Catholic education. 

During the current academic year, Saint James School has 213 students in grades pre-k through 8, and Saint Joseph School has 187 students in grades k through 8.  Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral School has 129 students in grades pre-k through 8.  

There are no other school closings anticipated for the current academic year.

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