Holy Family School to Close at End of 2019-2020 School Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Holy Family Catholic School in Hillcrest Heights, Md., will close at the end of this academic year. After discussion and consultation with the Schools Office and the leadership of the Archdiocese of Washington, and careful consideration of the current school situation and new challenges presented by the pandemic shutdown and economic crisis, the decision was made to close the school in June.

Over the past several years, Holy Family School has experienced both a low enrollment insufficient to cover operating expenses and an increasing deficit. In 2018, the school was surprised by an “Angel Donor,” who donated $200,000. This gift, along with fundraising efforts, provided enough for the school to cover its deficit and stay open for the next school year. At the beginning of this school year, however, the school did not have sufficient revenue to cover operating costs.

While the school advisory board, Catholic Schools Office, and community worked to meet fundraising goals for this fiscal year, increase enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year, and investigate various school models that might be better suited for the school community other than a traditional preK-8th grade model, no new models proved viable or realistic. Despite financial assistance and resources to support teachers, students, and families by the Archdiocese, the school will end this fiscal year with a projected deficit of more than $130,000. The parish has exhausted its ability to support this deficit.

As Holy Family School will close this June, school leadership and the Catholic Schools Office will reach out to parents to provide resources for families to transition into other area Catholic schools. Faculty and staff will have the opportunity to seek positions in other Catholic schools, as openings become available for the next school year.

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