Deficit, declining enrollment causes Santa Clara private school to shutter

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KGO) -- Students at a private high school in the South Bay will soon have to find a new place to learn.

The Diocese of San Jose announced it's shutting down Saint Lawrence Academy in June after operating for more than 40 years in Santa Clara.

"It's extremely frustrating, if we would've known, we would've helped," said Suzanne Depaolis, a Los Gatos resident.

Citing an accumulated deficit, declining enrollment levels, and the inability to raise funds, the Diocese of San Jose will close the school in June.

Roughly 40 seniors will graduate, but more than 230 students in grades nine through 11 will need to transfer out. Thirty-five faculty members will lose their jobs, but the Diocese says they'll help find them new employment in the months to come.

Suzanne Depaolis' daughter graduated from the academy a few years ago. They both say they can't believe it has come to this.

"By not knowing, it's like they kept us in the dark, and I almost feel like there was some sort of plan in place, and we were just never notified about it," Depaolis said.

The Diocese of San Jose provided this statement: "We are deeply sorry for the disruption to our community of families and staff, and most particularly our students."

Campbell resident Barbara Lonsbury just applied for her daughter to attend Saint Lawrence Elementary and Middle School this fall, which will remain open.

"Some kids need a small environment, and thrive in a small environment, I think because Saint Lawrence is small, they have a lot to offer the students," Lonsbury said. "Maybe everybody hearing this news, can support the high school as well, and we can actually do something."

A petition on change.org has already collected more than 1,000 signatures.