Rochester, N.Y., Nov 23, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Catholic schools of the Diocese of Rochester have announced a series of new strategies to keep their Catholic schools open and tuition costs low.
Four Catholic diocesan schools are slated to close in Monroe County in upstate New York this year, reported the Democrat and Chronicle.
Since 1995, several of Monroe County's Catholic elementary schools have lost more than 50 percent of their student populations.
Sr. Elizabeth Meegan, schools superintendent of the Diocese of Rochester, said the drop in enrollment is caused by demographics. The birth rate is low and the city is also experiencing a decline in population, which directly impacts school enrollment. Even city schools are set to close in the next few years.