Another Buffalo-Area Catholic School to Close

With its student population having fallen over the past five years from 164 to 103, teachers and parents on Wednesday were told that Mary Queen of Angels School in Cheektowaga will be closing at the end of the school year. With only half of the school's current students registered to return next year the school's Board of Trustees made the difficult decision to close.

According to a press release from the Buffalo Catholic Diocese the decision comes down to the issue of declining enrollment.  Mary Queen of Angels currently averages only 11 students per grade from kindergarten through eighth grade.  Much of that is because the overall population of school-aged children in the area of Cheektowaga surrounding the school is also declining.

Bishop Richard Malone says keeping the school open was just not financially viable.  He said the Diocese will work closely with parents to make sure that a Catholic education remains available to all of these students.

The closing of Mary Queen of Angels School will reduce the number of Buffalo Catholic Diocese elementary schools to 34.  There are six other Catholic elementary schools within five miles of the school to be closed:

• Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Depew
• Christ the Kings School in Snyder
• Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Williamsville
• SS Peter and Paul School in Williamsville
• St. Gregory the Great School in Williamsville
• St. Benedict School in Eggertsville

The closing of Mary Queen of Angels will put 31 teachers and staff out of work.  A school spokesperson said they will be offered assistance.