Holy Cross Regional Catholic School (Lynchburg, Virginia)
{{Short description|Private Catholic school in Virginia, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Holy Cross Regional Catholic School
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| streetaddress = 2125 Langhorne Road
| city = Lynchburg
| state = Virginia
| zipcode = 24501
| country = USA
| coordinates = {{coord|37|24|46|N|79|10|40|W|type:edu_region:US-VA|display=inline,title}}
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| religion = Roman Catholic
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| head_of_school = Doug Washington
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| chaplain = Father Jim Gallagher
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| type = Private, Coeducational
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| accreditation = Southern Association of Colleges and Schools{{cite web|url=http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=32573 |title=Institution Summary |publisher=AdvancED|accessdate=2015-06-02}}
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| team_name = Gaels
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| colors = Green and White {{color box|green}}{{color box|white}}
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| established = 1879
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| status = Defunct
| closed = 2020
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| homepage = {{URL|hcrs-va.org}}
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Holy Cross Regional Catholic School was a private, Roman Catholic school in Lynchburg, Virginia, for Pre-K through 12th grade. It was in association with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond, which permanently closed the school after years of declining enrollment led to financial exigency.
Background
Holy Cross Regional Catholic School was a college preparatory school for students in pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade. The school was founded in 1879 by the Daughters of Charity, an order of religious sisters begun by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Increased enrollment resulted in a move to in 1960 to a building located on Langhorne Road.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hcrs-va.org/AboutUs/Heritage/tabid/437/Default.aspx |title=Heritage |access-date=2009-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212182927/http://www.hcrs-va.org/AboutUs/Heritage/tabid/437/Default.aspx |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }}
On March 20, 2007, the schools of the Diocese of Richmond, which includes Holy Cross Regional Catholic School, were the first Catholic school system in the nation to receive District Accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI).{{Cite web |url=http://www.hcrs-va.org/AboutUs/SchoolMessage/tabid/85/Default.aspx |title=School Message |access-date=2009-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213130948/http://www.hcrs-va.org/AboutUs/SchoolMessage/tabid/85/Default.aspx |archive-date=2009-02-13 |url-status=dead }}
The diocese began allowing the school to get low interest financing in 2012.{{cite web|last=Tyree|first=Elizabeth|url=https://wset.com:443/news/local/lynchburgs-holy-cross-to-permanently-close-at-the-end-of-the-school-year|title=Lynchburg's Holy Cross to permanently close at the end of the school year|publisher=WSET-TV|date=2019-11-12|accessdate=2022-09-11}}
=Closure=
From 2002 to 2019, the number of students went to 39% of the previous level.{{cite web|url=https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2019/11/12/lynchburgs-holy-cross-school-to-close-in-june/|title=Lynchburg's Holy Cross school to close in June|publisher=WSLS|date=2019-11-12|accessdate=2022-09-11}} In 2019 the enrollment count was 156, with four of them in the 12th grade.{{cite web|url=https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2019/11/14/this-is-not-something-that-was-taken-lightly-diocese-of-richmond-explains-decision-to-close-holy-cross-school/|title='This is not something that was taken lightly': Diocese of Richmond explains decision to close Holy Cross School|publisher=WSLS|date=2019-11-13|accessdate=2022-09-11}}
In 2019 the school administration announced that effective the end of the school year in 2020, the school would close forever.{{cite web|last=Chumney|first=Richard|url=https://newsadvance.com/news/local/updated-holy-cross-regional-catholic-school-to-permanently-close-at-end-of-school-year/article_3091d2c1-ab6a-5994-80da-d4be224be4b6.html|title=Updated: Holy Cross Regional Catholic School to permanently close at end of school year|newspaper=News & Advance|date=2019-11-12|accessdate=2022-09-11}} In 2021 the diocese sold the property.{{cite web|url=https://richmonddiocese.org/catholic-diocese-of-richmond-completes-sale-of-holy-cross-regional-catholic-school-property/|title=Catholic Diocese of Richmond Completes Sale of Holy Cross Regional Catholic School Property|publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond|date=2021-12-23|accessdate=2022-09-11}}
In response to the closure of Holy Cross Catholic, a teacher announced plans to create a replacement K-8 school.{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=Laura|last2=Eaker|first2=Caroline|url=https://wset.com/news/local/holy-cross-academy-to-open-after-closing-of-holy-cross-catholic-school-in-lynchburg|title=Holy Cross Academy to open after closing of Holy Cross Catholic School in Lynchburg|publisher=ABC 13|date=2020-01-22|accessdate=2022-09-11}}
Academics
=Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten=
Full day programs were (8:10-2:50) Monday-Friday. In addition, an After School Program was available for all ages.
=Middle School, Grades 6-8=
=High School, Grades 9-12=
Holy Cross Catholic School offered a college preparatory curriculum.
- General, Advanced, and Honors Diplomas were available
- Over 60% of the seniors took one or more AP classes
- Dual Enrollment opportunities with Central Virginia Community College
- 100% of the graduating class was accepted into a college or university
- Athletic options included baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, tennis, and volleyball
- Over fifteen academic clubs, performing arts opportunities, and service organizations
Notes and references
{{reflist|2}}
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Category:Catholic secondary schools in Virginia
Category:Schools in Lynchburg, Virginia
Category:Educational institutions established in 1879