After more than seven decades of serving families in Northern New Mexico, Holy Cross Catholic School in Santa Cruz will close its doors, marking the end of one of the Española Valley’s longstanding faith-based educational institutions.
The announcement was shared publicly through the school’s Facebook page, where the post said, “With heavy hearts our only Catholic school in Española will be closing their doors after 76 years.” The post further noted that the closure decision came from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
Holy Cross Catholic School has served generations of families throughout the region. According to the school’s website, the campus provided Catholic education for students in Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade while emphasizing faith-based instruction, academics, leadership and community values.
It would appear the decision to close the school was abrupt because the week of May 18, the school’s website still contained open enrollment applications and admissions information for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year. The site continued encouraging prospective families to apply for enrollment despite the closure announcement.
The school has also used social media to invite alumni, grandparents and former families to participate in farewell events recognizing the school’s long history and impact on the community.
While school leadership has not shared specific reasons for the closure, Catholic schools across the nation have faced increasing financial and enrollment pressures in recent years. According to the National Catholic Educational Association, Catholic school enrollment nationally has declined from more than 5 million students in the 1960s to approximately 1.7 million students today. Nationwide, hundreds of Catholic schools have closed over the past two decades as they contend with declining enrollment, rising operational costs and staffing challenges.
New Mexico has experienced similar trends. Albuquerque’s Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School announced in 2023 that it would close after 74 years. According to reporting by KOB TV 4, school leadership cited projected enrollment concerns and financial sustainability challenges as contributing factors in that decision.
The Rio Grande SUN reached out to school leadership via email seeking comment regarding the closure, transition plans for students and staff, and factors contributing to the decision. No response was received as of presstime.