Livingston’s Aquinas Academy will close at the end of the 2024-25 academic year in June. The Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Newark announced the impending closure last week. Visitation Academy in Paramus will also close on the same date, June 30, the conclusion of the academic year.
The decision was made, according to theArchdiocese of Newark, following a review of both schools’ financial positions and steadily declining student enrollment.
“We recognize the impact of this news on students, families, faculty, and the entire school communities at both Aquinas Academy and Visitation Academy, both of which leave behind strong and decades-long legacies of faith and academic excellence,” said Barbara Dolan, superintendent of Catholic Schools. “Moving forward, our goal is to honor these extraordinary legacies while continuing to support students and families and all of those affected by these difficult but necessary closures.”
Part of Saint Philomena Roman Catholic Church, located on South Livingston Avenue, the Catholic elementary school was known as Saint Philomena School when it was first opened in 1952 by Monsignor William McCann. The name was changed to Saint Philomena Academy in 1982 and changed again in 1987 to Aquinas Academy, in honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas. It is the only Catholic elementary school in Livingston.
AquinasAcademy serves students from preschool through eighth grade and operates under the supervision of the Archdiocese of Newark. According to PSS Private School Universe Survey data for the 20212022 school year, Aquinas had 190 students enrolled three years ago. An additional 71 students were enrolled in the school’s pre-K program at that time In 2013, the school was one of 15 in the state to be recognized by the United
ROC Photo States Department of Education as part of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, representing educational excellence.
A statement released by the Archdiocese of Newark noted that, “The Office of Catholic Schools is committed to ensuring a compassionate and supportive transition for all affected, including working closely with families to identify alternative Catholic school options and providing tuition assistance for eligible students.”
To assist students and parents during this transition, both schools will host informational meetings to provide guidance on alternative educational opportunities, resources and next steps for the upcoming academic year. The information sessions at each school will be scheduled for next week, April 28.
The Office of Catholic Schools also said that it will try to find other positions for affected faculty and staff within its network of schools, and support them in finding open roles at neighboring institutions.
