Parents are hoping to save St. Luke School following the announcement that the school would be closing for good due to poor enrollment caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The school has been open since 1910 and serves students from Pre-K through eighth grade.
Families made their way out to East 138th Street on Saturday trying to keep the Mott Haven education center running.
The official word of the school's closing came from an email from the archdiocese after school was already out for the summer. Families were left scrambling trying to find new schools for their children to go to on short notice and in the middle of a pandemic.
Parents say they feel betrayed that the news came out of nowhere, and families had already been encouraged to pre-register for the fall. Many say they have already paid tuition. Cardinal Dolan also visited the school in October.
"He promised them that he'll be back...," one parent said. "It's disgusting, that's all I can say."
In a statement responding to the rally, the archdiocese tells News 12 that the decision is final and that they're now dedicated to helping students find new schools.
Parents tell News 12 that so far all they have gotten is a credit to be used towards regional schools.
An online petition started by these same parents has already received at least 2,000 signatures and is asking for another year to help students and teachers figure out what their future is.