The Diocese of Rockford announced Friday that St. Bernadette’s school will not open this fall, blaming a lack of student enrollment. 

As part of a previously announced plan, four Catholic schools in Rockford — St. Bernadette, St. Peter, Edward, and St. James — were due to be closed and consolidated into a new Catholic school on the campus of the current St. James School for the 2019-2020 school year.

However, according to an announcement by St. Bernadette Pastor Father Kenneth Stachyra, only 30 students registered for the 2018-2019 school year, prompting officials to close the school a year early.

“It was our hope that all our school families would use the 2018-19 school year to honor their schools while being a part of our exciting transition.  However, many St. Bernadette families have chosen other options for their children in this final year. Given registration numbers, St. Bernadette School cannot maintain the necessary resources to provide the optimum educational program and student experience for an additional year,” Father Stachyra announced.

Teachers were notified prior to the announcement and will be assisted in finding employment within the Catholic diocese. Letters were sent home to parents of students this weekend.