‘Save St. Raymond Academy!’ Students rally in fight to keep Bronx school open
Holding signs and chanting outside the academy, students, parents and supporters gathered to raise awareness about the school's impending closure and show what the school means to them.
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Students at St. Raymond Academy for Girls took their fight to the streets Tuesday, rallying outside the Parkchester school in a last-ditch effort to keep it open.
Holding signs and chanting outside the academy, students, parents and supporters gathered to raise awareness about the school's impending closure and show what the school means to them.
The all-girls Catholic school is scheduled to close in June after more than 65 years in the Bronx community.
School leaders have cited declining enrollment as the reason for the decision, saying the academy has operated at roughly half capacity despite efforts to sustain enrollment and make Catholic education accessible to families.
For many students, the news has been heartbreaking.
Supporters say St. Raymond Academy is more than a school and describe it as a close-knit community that has shaped generations of young women through academics, friendships, and mentorship.
The closure has also prompted frustration among some students and families because the decision affects only the girls' academy.
St. Raymond's boys' high school and elementary school will remain open.
Parish officials have said tuition assistance will be available for students who choose to transfer to either the Academy of Mount St. Ursula or St. Catharine Academy after completing the school year.
Still, many students are holding onto hope that community support could help save the school.
Tuesday's rally was the latest effort by students to keep attention on their cause.
Organizers say they plan to continue advocating for the academy and encouraging the community to support their fight to preserve a school that has been a fixture in Parkchester for more than six decades.
