Saint Francis School is discontinuing grades 7 to 12 after this school year and warns it may have to close entirely, the school’s chairman announced today.

The Manoa Catholic school’s chairman, Randall Yee, announced this afternoon the board’s decision to the school’s administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents and alumni.

“The Board’s decision to close the Middle and Upper Schools was a very difficult one made in the best interests of all of our students,” he said. “Every resource and opportunity was considered and discussed at length. Despite its best efforts, it became apparent that the school would not be able to continue to operate all grade levels at the same high-quality Catholic education after this academic year.”

Furthermore, Yee said in a letter to the school community that Saint Francis will set enrollment goals for its new pre-kindergarten-to-sixth-grade program, but he warned, “If enrollment targets are not met and we are forced to permanently cease operations for all grade levels, an announcement will be made by March 31, 2019. We are working to avoid this if at all possible.”

Saint Francis School said its high school tuition of $13,000 is the third-lowest rate in the state.

Tuition for grades 7 and 8 is $11,200. The school said in a news release that it provides tuition assistance for 60 percent of its students.

The school was founded for girls 95 years ago in memory of Mother Marianne Cope, Hawaii’s second saint.

It provided high school education until the early 1990s, expanding to prekindergarten through grade 12.

The school expanded in 2006 to include boys.

Closure letter by on Scribd