Vincentian Academy closing at end of school year amid declining enrollment
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Vincentian Academy in McCandless will close its doors after 88 years because of declining enrollment, school officials announced on Tuesday.
Vincentian has suffered from financial hardships because of a dwindling number of students the past several years, said Sister Mary Elizabeth Miller, the provincial of the Western Province of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, which owns the school.
“This was a difficult decision for us, especially because of the excellence of the education and faith formation our students are receiving,” Miller said. “We are proud of all that has been accomplished and of the many successes and contributions of our students, faculty, administration, staff and alumni since the school was founded.”
Dana Hinton, a spoke woman for the Western Province of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, said enrollment at the school has dipped below 200 students and there “didn’t seem to be a lot of interest” in the school during an open house in January at which only seven students toured.
There currently are 60 seniors, 40 juniors, 30 sophomores and 30 freshman attending the school, Hinton said.
To continue operating, the number of incoming students must be equal or greater than the number of students graduating, she said.
In 2016, McCandless council approved an expansion project for the school that included a two-story, 4,900-square-foot addition that included three classrooms for general instruction, separate rooms for art and music as well as a media production studio, an elevator, rest rooms and a patio area.
But school officials never followed through with the project because a capital campaign did not generate enough money to cover the estimated $2.5 million price tag for the project.
Hinton said while many factors go into a parents decision about whether or not to send their children to a private religious school, Vincentian’s $12,100 tuition “probably priced some people out.”
Vincentian was founded in 1932 by the Vincentian Sisters of Charity as a school for young women aspiring to the religious life, according to school officials.
In 1939, the first lay student enrolled and by 1973, the school became co-educational.
In 1995, the school entered a partnership with Duquesne University and introduced the International Baccalaureate Program, which was offered until 2010.
The school has more than 4,000 alumni.
Rita Canton, the school’s principal and head of school, said learning about the decision was difficult.
“I was heartbroken to receive the news that our school is closing,” Canton said. “Vincentian Academy is a close-knit family. You have students, parents, teachers who care about each other.”
Canton praised the commitment to their students that teachers have demonstrated.
“We will now work to finish the academic year strong and assist our students and their parents with enrollment into a new school.”