Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
MEDFORD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The sudden and surprising closure of a Medford Catholic School has left several parents displeased.
St. Joseph’s School on High Street has been serving its mission to educate the faithful since 1929. After nearly 100 years of teaching, the school announced it would be closing in June and would not reopen for the 2026/27 school year. The school will stay open for the remainder of the 2025/26 school year.
Many parents, including Taylor Medeiros, the mother of two students at the school, were saddened and shocked by the sudden announcement last Monday.
“We found out last Monday, an email at 7 o’clock [a.m.] saying there was going to be a 5:30 [p.m.] meeting for important information, and that was all we got until we found out,” said Medeiros. “My understanding also is that teachers found out a few hours before they had the parent meeting that Monday.”
In a letter to parents and posted on the school's website, Pastor Father Hynes said that a few factors contributed to the school's closure.
“Enrollment has been steadily declining and today stands at 169 students in grades PreK to 8,” stated Hynes. “This is down from 222 for SY21-22. Costs to educate students and maintain the building are increasing at rates that simply cannot be passed on to families.”
Hynes also announced in the letter that the goal is to provide options for different Catholic education for students, and the school is offering tuition assistance from the Catholic Schools Foundation for families who enroll at other CSO-affiliated schools.
The letter also asked Catholic schools with open employment positions for the next academic year to give interview priority to St. Joseph’s staff and faculty affected by the closing.
Despite the announcement, some parents, like Laurie Dickens, have launched a petition in a last-ditch effort to save the school.
“With your help, we can appeal the decision to close the school and explore alternative solutions to keep our school open,” stated Dickens in the petition. “Let us come together to ensure that future generations enjoy the same educational opportunities that have benefitted so many over the decades. We urge you to join us in this fight.”
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.