16 Catholic Schools Close in 5 Years in Pittsburgh Area

Another school is closing in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. St. John Neumann Regional Elementary School in Lawrenceville will shut its doors for good at the end of this academic year. The closing of the school was approved by Bishop David Zubik on the recommendation of the pastors of Our Lady of the Angels, St. Lawrence O'Toole and St. Matthew parishes which support the school. The parishes cited serious fiscal challenges that make their ability to continue to support the school impossible. Enrollment has declined from 131 students to an estimated 92 for the next school year. A diocesan spokesman says they usually consider 100 to be the minimum number of students to keep a school open.
St. John Neumann will be the 16th elementary school that the diocese has closed since 2005.