ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - An Albany private school that’s been open for over 70 years is set to close its doors this year.

Last week, parents and students at St. Teresa’s Catholic School were notified that the school would close at the end of the current school year.

The school’s pastor said the school has been battling challenges like low enrollment since the COVID-19 pandemic. Struggles including Albany’s economic distress, increases in the cost of education, and operational costs were also among the reasons the decision was made to shut down the school.

In a letter, the pastor also said “We have noticed a significant decrease in the number of families who worship and choose St. Teresa’s Catholic School for their children.”

Mark Robinson, a concerned parent, said he and other parents knew about these challenges and started fundraising efforts long before the announcement was made but are now learning it’s too late.

“We’re heartbroken, blindsided. It’s a question of then where did the money go?” he said.

Lisa Malinowski, St. Teresa’s Parent Teacher Organization president, said she is still shocked to hear the news.

“Now as it goes on, I’m actually getting kind of angry that we were not given a chance to save the school,” she said. “We knew enrollment was low. It was obvious by looking around but we never knew it was that dire of a situation.”

St. Teresa’s Catholic School is a K-12 school that has been open since 1945. According to the school’s website, the school is constructed to house 150 students.

WALB reached out to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah which is over the school but has not heard back yet.

Malinowski said she is willing to do anything to save the school.

“If the parents have anything to do about it, we would like the community to know that we’re still here and would love their support to save our school,” she said.

Parents said they are waiting to hear back from school officials if there is a possibility to save the school but for now, this school is set to close at the end of May.

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