The Buffalo Collegiate Charter School is set to close in June after five years of teaching local students.

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to withdraw its renewal application, citing the events of the May 14 mass shooting, the ongoing teacher shortage and two-plus years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This decision is extremely tough for everyone involved, especially for those of us who founded the school as part of a mission to give our families educational choice and college preparation,” Board Chair Jamel Perkins said in a statement. “We fully understand the impact this has on our families, students, faculty and staff, as well as the broader charter community.”

We know our students will be upset and unsettled by this news. Parents and faculty are working over the next few days to reassure them that while they will change schools, that is nine months away ... For the rest of the school year, their educational lives will remain here. They’ll want to know about their friends, teachers and coaches, but young children are resilient and adapt well.”