The last remaining Catholic high school in Berkshire County is closing.
The Springfield Diocese says Pittsfield's St. Joseph Central High School will close at the end of the school year, in June 2017. In a letter to the school community, diocesan and school leaders said several trends in the church and society were working against them, including higher operational costs, a decrease in enrollment and high cost of repairs and renovations.
Officials say they were optimistic over the summer of gaining more students, but an expected enrollment of international students fell through at the last minute, leaving only 68 students at the school and a high deficit which the Springfield Diocese could not fund.
In a statement, Springfield Bishop Mitchell Rozanski said, "It was with great sadness that this decision had to be made, but not before many years of valiant efforts by the very dedicated board, faculty and staff of St. Joseph’s. We had hoped to turn around the enrollment decline and financial deficit, but despite the very best and exemplary efforts of so many, the task proved unattainable. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who grieve the end of this great school."
Parents and students can attend a listening session on the closure on October 20 at 6 p.m. in the high school gym.