Grace School Eliminates Grades 1-8 After Enrollment Plummets

As enrollment hit its lowest numbers, Grace Day School in Massapequa announced Wednesday that they are eliminating classes for students in grades 1-8

“It is with a heavy heart that we must inform you that Grace Day School must eliminate grades one through eight for the 2015-16 school year and beyond,” school officials announced in a statement.

The institution said the decision is “a blow to our students, faculty and staff who have been so dedicated” to the school.

The school apologized for making the announcement so far into the summer and attributed it to low enrollment and late registration. Despite efforts to contact students who showed an interest in attending, advertising, recruitment, and other efforts, the school was unable to achieve its enrollment numbers.

Just 99 students were enrolled for the 2015-16 school year, compared with 124 for 2014-15 and 250 at its height.

“After 59 years of school experience and history, meetings at the diocese, and most of all, after many sleepless nights and an endless search for alternatives and additional students, we are devastated and it breaks our hearts to have to make this decision,” they wrote.

The announcement has hit the Grace community hard. Multiple people commented on the school’s announcement on Facebook and said they were saddened to hear the news.

“I can not believe it!” commented Diane Weyer. “I graduated from there 40 years ago. The first 8th grade class. This is so sad.”

“Omg that’s part of our towns history,” wrote Traci Chiarello Romagnesi. “Very sad.”

“So sad but understandable. Thank you for trying so hard to continue the wonderful program,” said SaraLouise Krantz.

Full tuition refunds have been given to all those who enrolled, they wrote. Tuition was $11,000, which was less than the average $16,000 per student cost at public schools, they said.

Grace Early Childhood Center, which serves 2-year-old, nursery school, pre-K, and kindergarten students, will remain open, officials said. The center, unlike the day school, continues to operate at “near full capacity” with kindergarten maintaining a “solid enrollment.”

No word yet on what will become of the school building.

Read the full statement from the school:

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