Bucks County Catholic school to close

Declining enrollment and rising educational costs will result in the closing of St. Agnes-Sacred Heart School in Hilltown at the end of the school year in June, officials announced Sunday.

Students are being given the option of "transitioning" to nearby Catholic schools for 2016-2017, the pastors of St. Agnes and Sacred Heart churches told parishioners.

Families who to do so will be paid a $1,000 subsidy per student each year if they attend any one of the surrounding schools.

Current school enrollment of 138 was projected to drop to 106 in 2016-2017, they said. Tuition would have needed to be raised and the multiple student tuition discount would have ended.

Additionally, the sponsoring parishes would have needed to provide a combined subsidy in excess of $560,000 to the school.

- Alan J. Heavens