Lower Valley Catholic School To Close This Year

The Diocese of El Paso announced that one of its schools will be closing for good at the end of this school year.

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School opened in 1947, but 2018 is the last year it will educate children in the Lower Valley. According to the school's website, when it opened classes were held at St. Margaret's Home for Orphaned Children and moved to it's current location in 1951.

Bishop Mark Seitz said several viability factors played a part in the decision to close Our Lady of the Valley school. Seitz said changing demographics, the financial health of the school, and a struggling student population all had a role in the closure.

In 2012, the school's student population was 257 and has dropped to 102 this year. Seitz said there was no way to turn things around at Our Lady of the Valley school.

If you have any questions about the closure, you can call the school at 915-859-6448.