Aquinas High School to shut down
Due to fi nances and declining enrollment, Belmont school to close in 2021
BY JASON COHEN
For nearly a century, Aquinas
High School has been a fi xture
in Belmont. Sadly, last week,
the school announced it will
be closing in 2021.
The school, located at 685
East 182nd St., will remain
open for juniors and seniors
for the upcoming school year.
Eileen Gannon, president
Aquinas Board of Trustees,
sent a letter to the community
on June 25.
“The fi nancial realities
and declining enrollment over
the past several years coupled
with unprecedented and catastrophic
impact of the pandemic
this year make it impossible
to sustain a superior
4-year academic experience
for our bright and deserving
young women,” Gannon said
in the letter. “As a result, the
board of trustees accepted the
recommendation of the school
board to discontinue operations
of as of June 2021.”
Gannon said the school,
which is designed to accommodate
over 800 students, only
has 200 and they now anticipate
that will decrease due to
COVID-19. The school will help
sophomores and incoming
freshmen fi nd other schools.
“We are working hard to
provide solutions to help ease
the transition for our young
women by providing a good
path forward,” Gannon said.
“We continue to believe in the
potential of each Aquinas student
to reach for the stars and
achieve her dreams just as so
many of our remarkable alumnae
have done for these past 97
years.”
Some highlights over its
history include being granted
“Electronic Doorway” status
by New York State, and the
entire building wired, providing
Internet and database access
to all classrooms, its Glee
Club performed on the “Today
Show,” in 2000 it was named as
a Blue Ribbon School 2000 by
the U.S. Department of Education
and in 2002, First Lady
Laura Bush visited Aquinas
on the fi rst anniversary of
9/11. Aquinas HS to close in 2021 Courtesy of Aquinas HS Facebook
BRONX TIMES R 6 EPORTER, JULY 3-9, 2020 BTR
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