New Psalmist Christian School in the Sandtown area of West Baltimore is shutting down after more than 20 years, school officials confirmed Tuesday.
“We are closing,” said Joy Thomas, a spokeswoman for the independent school. “It?s because of declining enrollments.”
Andrew Jones, president of the school?s board, said the institution will close in May.
The school ? which enrolls students in prekindergarten through fifth grade ? has not only boasted above-average standardized test scores, Jones said, but many of its students usually placed one to two steps above their regular grade levels.
Jones said the school, founded in 1986, has a capacity of 160 students but enrollment has gradually declined.
“In 2005-06 we had 155 students, then it dropped in 2006-07 to 92,” he said.
“This year enrollment went down to 64 students.”
The administration has suggested at least 10 Christian schools similar in value and principles where current students might enroll next year, he said.
“We certainly didn?t want to close,” Jones told The Examiner. “But there was an issue with class size. At one point we had to combine grades three, four and five. Then we had just four students in a class, which impacted socialization,” he said. In the end, “we felt we couldn?t survive and turn out the same type of students anymore.”
Jones added that because of the economy some parents weren?t able to pay the $6,700 yearly tuition.
During the past two school terms, he said, officials had tried to freeze the tuition but weren?t able to do so because of expenses.
Jones said if officials had decided to keep the school open, enrollment would have continued a downward spiral.
“We advertised all over the city for more students, but unfortunately a lot of people moved to homes and areas where they started sending their children to public schools.”
