by The Tablet Staff 

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Seven Catholic elementary schools in Brooklyn and Queens will permanently close at the end of the school year in June, the Diocese of Brooklyn announced on Feb. 11. 

Officials cited sustained enrollment declines, coupled with ongoing fiscal challenges, as the main reasons. The seven schools are: 

• Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, Cambria Heights 

• St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy in Elmhurst 

• St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Academy in Jamaica 

• Incarnation Catholic Academy in Queens Village 

• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Academy in Woodhaven 

• St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy in Ozone Park 

• Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy in Canarsie 

The diocese will assist families of students with enrollment in different Catholic schools within the diocese, officials said. The diocese will make resources available to faculty and staff members affected by the closures, they added.  

“Our responsibility is both pastoral and practical,” said Deacon Kevin McCormack, superintendent of schools for the diocese. “We will walk with our families and employees through this process, while continuing to strengthen Catholic education throughout Brooklyn and Queens.” 

To assist families in transitioning to nearby Catholic schools, the diocese’s Office of Catholic Schools has created a website, catholicschoolsbq.org/schooltransitions, with information on open houses, transferring Futures in Education scholarships, and contact information to answer questions and respond to concerns. 

According to the diocese, all seven schools have seen a significant decline in enrollment since 2019, with losses accelerating sharply between 2024 and 2025. 

As a result of the enrollment decrease, officials said the schools are collectively operating at a deficit totaling millions of dollars, creating a financially unsustainable situation. 

The decision to close the schools came after an extensive review process that included analyses of several factors, including enrollment trends, operating costs, capital repairs, and long-term sustainability, while accounting for rising insurance and pension costs, officials said.  

Despite significant efforts to stabilize enrollment and finances, officials noted that the seven schools are no longer able to operate in a pastoral and fiscally responsible manner. Here are the enrollment figures for each school: 

• Sacred Heart Catholic Academy (134 in 2025, down 40.4% from 2019) 

• St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy (138 in 2025, down 21.1% from 2019) 

• St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Academy (144 in 2025, down 55% from 2019) 

• Incarnation Catholic Academy (98 in 2025, down 46.4% from 2019) 

• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Academy (105 in 2025, down 42.3% from 2019) 

• St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy (157 in 2025, down 25.9% from 2019) 

• Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy (147 in 2025, down 36.9% from 2019) 

Calling the closures “an extraordinarily difficult moment for our school communities,” Deacon McCormack noted the decision was not an easy one. 

“These schools have served generations of families with dedication and faith,” he explained. “The decision to close them was made only after careful consideration and with great sorrow.”  

All activities and events at the seven schools will go on as planned through the rest of the school year, officials said. They added that while the closure of these schools marks the end of an important chapter, providing access to a Catholic education in Brooklyn and Queens remains a priority for the diocese.