Archdiocese: Proposed regional school in Manayunk will not open in the fall

A newly proposed regional Catholic school in Manayunk will not open next year due to low enrollment, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today.

Saint Blaise Regional School was expected to serve families impacted by the closure of Saint Bridget Parish School and Holy Child Regional this year. Officials said the school needed a minimum enrollment of 250 students to cover the necessary costs, but as of Friday enrollment had only reached 155.

The Archdiocese is encouraging affected families to register their child at the following parish schools in the surrounding area: Immaculate Heart of Mary in Roxborough; Our Mother of Consolation in Chestnut Hill; Saint Philip Neri in Lafayette Hill, Montgomery County; Saint Genevieve in Flourtown, Montgomery County; Saint Margaret in Narberth, Montgomery County and Saint Francis Xavier in Philadelphia.

The proposal to open Saint Blaise was part of the Blue Ribbon Commission report issued in January, which called for closing Saint Bridget and Holy Child along with dozens of other elementary and high schools. Enrollment at St. Bridget for the current year was 198 students, down from 224 students in 2005-2006. The current enrollment for Holy Child Regional School was 213 students, down from 419 students in the 2005-2006 school year.