SALINAS — Notre Dame High School in Salinas has announced it will be closing at the end of this academic year after recent years of declining enrollment.
The private all-girls Catholic school, which opened in 1951 and is run by the Diocese of Monterey, announced the decision to close on Thursday evening.
“This moment brings deep sorrow to our diocesan family,” said Rev. Ramon Bejarano, Bishop of the Diocese of Monterey, in a prepared statement.
Last year, enrollment at Notre Dame stood at 53 students. This year there were 60 students and only six applications were submitted for the upcoming year.
“There’s a lot of different things that play into declining enrollment,” said Dan Anderson, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Monterey. “I mean, we’re looking at a lot of this happening in a lot of (Catholic schools) across the country and in California.
“Maybe fewer people are going to Catholic churches and so, therefore, less interest in Catholic schools.”
Students may also be attending different Catholic schools in the area, as the enrollment decline at Notre Dame coincides with the decision by nearby Palma School, formerly an all-boys Catholic school, to open its doors to girls in 2024.
“Over the past two years, diocesan and school leadership worked diligently to sustain the school’s mission,” said Bejarano. “These efforts included dual enrollment opportunities, expanded electives and internships, international outreach, strengthened retreat life, athletics, drama productions and enhanced development initiatives.”
The school also utilized about $1.5 million from reserve funds to keep the school running while these new initiatives were introduced. Despite these efforts, the school saw no increase in enrollment.
According to a statement by the Diocese of Monterey, “though the school has savings that could subsidize a third year of low enrollment, the Diocese and Department of Catholic Schools recommended to Bishop Ramon that it would not be financially prudent to keep Notre Dame open with the potential for only 65 students in the fall.”
Notre Dame has developed a reputation locally for its consistent success in athletics.
For a 30- year period, no girls’ school has won more championships, with 19 league titles and 17 Central Coast Section crowns.
Notre Dame holds the CCS record for consecutive section titles in softball with nine titles, most recently capturing the CCS crown in 2023.
The school has also excelled in basketball and volleyball, this past fall winning the Pacific Coast Athletic League Santa Lucia Division volleyball title.
“They have a strong reputation for producing young women that become female leaders in our community,” said Anderson.
The school is now focused on working with students, families, faculty and staff during the transition, said Anderson
Anderson said that the Diocese of Monterey is currently working with the principals of nearby Catholic schools to expedite the application process for current Notre Dame students and to provide assistance securing financial aid. Bejarano hopes to make this “a smooth transition for students.”
“We remain firmly committed to Catholic education in Salinas and throughout the Diocese of Monterey,” Bejarano said.
Herald Staff Writer John Devine contributed to this report.
