Two Catholic schools in the Bronx will close as Catholic schools at the end of this academic year but will re-open in the fall as charter schools with optional, after-school Catholic education programs, the Superintendent of Schools Office of the Archdiocese of New York announced Wednesday.

“After much prayer and reflection, the Superintendent of Schools Office of the Archdiocese of New York has decided to close Sacred Heart School (on 1248 Nelson Ave.) and Immaculate Conception School (on 378 East 151st Street) as Catholic schools at the end of this academic year,” Sister Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D., superintendent of schools, wrote in a letter to parents.

Sister Mary Grace used the opportunity to announce that the two related parishes, Sacred Heart-St. Francis Parish (1253 Shakespeare Avenue) and the Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (389 East 150th Street), have agreed with the Brilla Schools Network to operate the two as charter schools going forward.

“Brilla has advised us that they intend to operate these buildings as a charter school in partnership with Seton Education Partners, which will provide an optional Catholic extended-day program,” she wrote. “Brilla Schools Network has informed us that every child currently enrolled at Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception Schools will be guaranteed lottery preference in the new Brilla Charter Schools. While more information will be forthcoming from Brilla, we have been told families will need to enter the formal lottery process. In addition to currently enrolled students, the guaranteed lottery preference extends to students’ siblings. Please be aware, however, that this offer from Brilla Schools Network is exclusive to families of Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception Schools and does not apply to families of another Catholic parish, private or regional elementary schools, or former partnership schools in the Archdiocese of New York. “

Sister Mary Grace also stated that Catholic Schools will support faculty and staff and assist in placing teachers and others at other schools within the archdiocese.

Families of Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception Schools will soon receive more information from Brilla about the enrollment process for the new Brilla Charter Schools, as well as details about the Catholic extended day program. More information on Brilla Schools is available at www.brillaschools.org.

Families wishing to transfer their children to another Catholic school within the Archdiocese of New York, will receive guidance from the directors of enrollment for the Bronx region regarding enrollment and tuition. Updated information will be posted at www.catholicschoolsny.org/announcements.

Parents with questions may contact the Superintendent of Schools Office at super.intendent@archny.org.

Both Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart were formerly Partnership Schools operated by the Archdiocese of New York and the Partnership for Inner-City Education. That agreement ended on June 30, 2024, and the two schools, along with five others, are being directly administered by Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York.