School In Jersey City Suddenly Announces It Will Close

JERSEY CITY, NJ — With the start of school about a month away, a PreK-8 parochial School in Jersey City Heights announced Tuesday that it won't reopen.

The school, St. Nicholas, cited financial and staffing factors.

A message from the Archdiocese of Newark said that the school considered merging with another nearby school, but could not fill some staff positions.

Many Catholic schools have faced declining enrollment in recent years, with some closing and others merging with nearby schools.

St. Nicholas educated approximately 200 students.

"I am going into my eighth grade year and I absolutely love this school," wrote one reviewer on Google.

Below is the message from the Archdiocese of Newark:

The Archdiocese of Newark Schools Office has announced that St. Nicholas Catholic School in Jersey City, which serves students in grades Pre-K to 8, will not reopen in September.

The decision to permanently close the school was made after careful review of numerous factors, including declining enrollment, increasing fiscal challenges related to the operation of the school, and teaching staff vacancies, affecting the school’s ability to maintain a quality academic program and a sustainable future. Possible solutions were considered, including a potential merger with neighboring St. Joseph School. However, recent faculty changes beyond school’s control left teaching vacancies that further impacted the school’s 2024-2025 academic program and operations, expediting the closure decision.

From September 2021 to June 2024, school enrollment declined by 30%. In late July 2024, registration for the coming school year declined an additional 12%. The resulting loss in tuition revenue contributed to the school’s financial strain.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of our school, recognizing the profound impact this decision will have on our students, families, and staff,” said Maria Margiotta, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Newark. “However, it became clear that remaining open was neither feasible nor responsible. Our goal is to provide our students with quality, faith-centered education within a vibrant Catholic school community. Moreover, we are committed to using our resources responsibly to offer excellent and affordable education to the families we serve.”

St. Nicholas Catholic School will remain operational until August 31st to facilitate the transfer of records and refund all paid registration fees and tuition for the 2024-25 school year. Special tuition assistance will be available for families currently registered at St. Nicholas School for the 2024-2025 school year to help them transition to local Catholic schools. This assistance is for families whose new tuition at a Catholic elementary school in the Archdiocese of Newark is higher than their 2024-2025 tuition at St. Nicholas School.

The archdiocesan Schools Office staff will meet with teachers and staff who wish to continue teaching in archdiocesan Catholic schools to provide information and assist them with the transition. More information about the Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Newark is available at www.CatholicSchoolsNJ.org.