All Hallows Catholic High School Faces Critical Fundraising Effort to Preserve Legacy
Struggling to Stay Afloat
All Hallows Catholic High School, a 116-year-old institution located on East 164th Street and Grand Concourse, faces a critical fundraising effort to preserve its legacy and continue serving the Bronx community.
Financial Crisis
The school is on the financial brink, citing a decline in charitable giving, local population loss, and increased costs of maintaining the 95-year-old building. President Ron Schutté said in a fundraising flyer that the school is now facing a "critical period." The school aims to raise $2.5 million by January 15 and has already raised approximately $750,000.
Divided Funds
The school plans to divide the funds between five pillars, including tuition assistance and scholarships, coeducation, faculty and student support, Catholic identity, and general operations.
Co-Education and Recruitment Efforts
All Hallows has already made a major change this year in an effort to recruit more students, going co-ed with plans of absorbing former students from St. Barnabas, a now-shuttered girls’ high school in Yonkers. All Hallows now has 20 female students and is expecting to add more, and projected freshman enrollment numbers look strong, according to information from the school.
Decline in Population and Charitable Giving
The school has lost 70 students who moved out of New York amid a decline in Bronx population. The borough has seen a 6.3% population loss in the post-pandemic years, the highest rate among the five boroughs, according to a December 2023 report by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. The school also pointed to a drop in global charitable giving or "donor fatigue."
Not Alone in Struggle
All Hallows is not the only struggling Catholic school, as evidenced by a wave of recent closures in New York City and the surrounding suburbs. In the past year alone, St. Simon Stock School in Fordham Heights, St. Matthias Catholic Academy in Ridgewood, Queens, St. Catherine of Genoa-St. Thérèse of Lisieux in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, Salve Regina Catholic Academy in East New York, Brooklyn, and Transfiguration School in Tarrytown, Westchester County, have closed.
Conclusion
The future of All Hallows Catholic High School hangs in the balance, and the school’s leadership is counting on the generosity of donors to help preserve its legacy. With a "perfect storm" of challenges beyond its control, the school is confident that its positive results are well-proven, with all 2024 seniors accepted into four-year colleges and collectively awarded $32 million in scholarships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does it cost to attend All Hallows Catholic High School?
A: Tuition is $7,200 per year, plus an annual comprehensive fee of $1,000 ($1,200 for seniors) to cover a Chromebook, gym uniform, school sweater, yearbook, and more.
Q: How does All Hallows compare to other prominent Bronx Catholic high schools in terms of tuition and fees?
A: All Hallows’ tuition and fees are competitive, with some schools in the area charging more.
Q: Is All Hallows financially supported by the Archdiocese of New York?
A: No, All Hallows is a private school and is not financially supported by the Archdiocese of New York.
