St. Joseph School In Ronkonkoma To Close

The Diocese of Rockville Centre announced this week that St. Joseph School in Ronkonkoma will close.

Citing a sharp decline in enrollment - down 31 percent in the last five years - the Diocese said, "This is reflective of a significant, ongoing drop in the number of school age children in the area."

All Saints Regional School in Glen Cove will also close, the Diocese said.

"Reduced enrollment has obliged parishes and the Diocese of Rockville Centre to devote a disproportionate amount of resources to filling the schools’ revenue gaps in the hope of maintaining them. The difficult truth is that this situation is no longer sustainable and if continued, will continue to erode the overall financial strength and future of each parish," according to the Diocese.

According to officials, students from both schools "will be warmly welcomed into any Catholic school in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. We want all our students to remain in the Catholic school system. School officials and the Department of Education will assist All Saints and St. Joseph families in the process of selecting and transferring their children to any of the excellent Catholic Schools on Long Island."