The Diocese of Monterey announced on Feb. 26 it is closing Notre Dame High School, a private all-girls Catholic high school, in Salinas.
“After much prayer, consultation and careful review over the past several years, the Diocese of Monterey has reached the difficult conclusion that Notre Dame High School in Salinas will close at the end of this academic year,” announced Bishop Ramón Bejarano.
Notre Dame was founded 1951 and it started as Palma High School’s girl division.
The reason the school is closing is declining enrollment, according to the Diocese. Currently, the school has 60 students and there were only 53 students last year; additionally, the school only had six completed applications for the upcoming school year.
In an attempt to boost enrollment, the diocese and school invested $1.5 million from Notre Dame’s reserves to add dual enrollment opportunities, added more elective classes and internship opportunities and more.
“Despite these sustained efforts, the enrollment necessary to ensure a sustainable future has not materialized,” Bejarano added in his letter.