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Financially strapped All Hallows High School may close after a century in the Bronx

Revered Bronx Catholic school in danger of closing
Revered Bronx Catholic school in danger of closing 01:56

NEW YORK -- All Hallows High School and its legacy that started in the early 20th century could come to an end if the Catholic school in the Bronx can't come up with $2.5 million.

While All Hallows High School is half way to its goal, many in the South Bronx community are devastated over the prospects of losing it. The school has until Jan. 16 to come up with the funds, otherwise it would shut down at the end of the academic year.

"It just felt like family as soon as I came here"

Last Wednesday's dismissal could be one of the last at All Hallows because leaders of the Catholic school say its facing significant financial struggles. 

Students of the school, which was founded in 1906, are reeling over the thought of it closing.

"It really hurts," senior Xavier Batista said.

"Coming to a school like this, it just felt like family as soon as I came here," senior Sajel Atif said.

Officials say the high school on 164th Street was hit hard by the COVID pandemic. When droves of people left the city, enrollment took a big hit.

And when the all-girls Catholic high school St. Barnabas in Yonkers closed last year, All Hallows tried to increase the student body by recruiting Barnabas students and going co-ed for the first time in over a century. But even that hasn't been enough.

"They're like my sisters," senior Kayla Marie Perez said. "So, it's very sad we may have to depart, once again."

A spokesperson for All Hallows said it has been "...operating under significant deficits for the past several years." Officials said fewer donations coupled with the increased cost of maintaining the aging building is adding up.

"Bridge to Tomorrow Campaign"

The financial difficulties have led school board members to come up with it's "Bridge to Tomorrow Campaign" to raise funds. Former Congressman Joe Crowley helped create it.

"These are the next leaders of our city, or our state and our country, and to be given these values at an early age is critically important," Crowley said.

Routinely, 100% of All Hallows graduates are accepted at four-year colleges. Donald O'Toole graduated in 1969.

"I was a young, quiet, scared kid, and I came out as a grown man," O'Toole said.

Amid a recent wave of Catholic school closures in the area, including at least five last year, O'Toole said he is worried about the future of these students.

"Where will they get the quality education? You have no idea what goes on in this building," O'Toole said.

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