Phila. Archdiocese to close special-ed school

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia will close one of its five special-education schools in June.

Archangels Academy in Levittown will close, and the school's 30 students will transfer to two other special-education schools operated by the archdiocese, Our Lady of Confidence in Willow Grove and St. Katherine Day School in Wynnewood, the archdiocese announced Monday.

Archangels Academy has specialized in educating students who have autism, moderate to mild cognitive impairments, and developmental delays. The current students are between the ages of 41/2 and 16, the archdiocese said.

The Office of Catholic Education decided to close the tiny school after studying current and projected enrollment, regional demographic trends, and finances, the archdiocese said. The archdiocese also said many Archangels students live closer to the two Montgomery County schools.

Parents were told of the decision in January.

Archangels Academy is based at Immaculate Conception parish school in Levittown. The archdiocese previously announced that Immaculate Conception would consolidate with three other Bucks County parish schools in the fall: Queen of the Universe in Levittown, St. Frances Cabrini in Fairless Hills, and St. Joseph the Worker in Fallsington.

This is the latest in a series of Catholic school closings. Earlier this year, the archdiocese announced the closings and consolidations of several other Catholic schools because of declining enrollment and rising costs. Those closing are Stella Maris in South Philadelphia, St. Joseph in Collingdale, and St. John Bosco, which has a Hatboro mailing address but is in Warminster.

In Montgomery County, Queen of Peace in Ardsley will merge with St. John of the Cross in Roslyn.

The archdiocese is also closing Cardinal Dougherty High School in Olney and North Catholic High School in Frankford at the end of the academic year.