Seven Catholic elementary schools, including six in Queens, will close in June, according to an announcement Wednesday from the Diocese of Brooklyn.
The schools set to close are:
• Sacred Heart, at 115-50 221 St. in Cambria Heights;
• St. Bartholomew, at 44-15 Judge St. in Elmhurst;
• St. Nicholas of Tolentine, at 80-22 Parsons Blvd. in Jamaica;
• Incarnation, at 89-15 Francis Lewis Blvd. in Queens Village;
• St. Thomas the Apostle, at 87-49 87 St. in Woodhaven;
• St. Elizabeth, at 94-01 85 St. in Ozone Park; and
• Our Lady of Trust, at 1696 Canarsie Road in Brooklyn.
All activities and events at the schools will continue as planned through the end of the school year.
Students and families affected by the closures are encouraged to go online to catholicschoolsbq.org/schooltransitions for more information.
The decision follows an extensive review process that included analysis of enrollment trends, operating costs, capital repair needs and long-term sustainability, considering rising costs of insurance and pension obligations, the Diocese said.
The schools, which serve kindergarten through grade 8, experienced significant enrollment declines since 2019, with losses accelerating sharply between 2024 and 2025.
The Diocese said the closing Catholic academies are operating with deficits totaling millions of dollars.
“This is an extraordinarily difficult moment for our school communities,” said Deacon Kevin McCormack, Superintendent of Schools. “These schools have served generations of families with dedication and faith. The decision to close them was made only after careful consideration and with great sorrow.”
McCormack said the Diocese will “walk with our families and employees through this process, while continuing to strengthen Catholic education throughout Brooklyn and Queens.”