A final decision to close Drexel Catholic High School was announced Thursday by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan in a letter to parents of pupils attending the school.

The closing of the school which has 156 Negro pupils was first announced on Tuesday, March 21, but the decision was deferred for further study by the Archdiocesan Board of Education, the archbishop and representatives of the school.

In announcing the latest decision, the archbishop said the Board of Education has voted as follows:

All 9^th, 10^th and 11^th grade Drexel students who apply at Saint Pius or Saint Joseph at the appropriate time will be guaranteed admission.

The Drexel building will be retained by the Archdiocese as long as it is of advantage to the good of the people of the Church. There have never been plans to sell it.

Positive measures will be encouraged to expand the entire educational program for the community around Drexel and Saint Paul of the Cross parish. The present Drexel building will probably be used for this purpose.

“You will note that the three provisions are the outcome of the discussions between Drexel representatives and the archdiocesan staff. I am grateful to you for pointing out their advantages,” the archbishop said.

“With these provisions, Drexel High School will be closed at the end of the 1966-67 school year. With the help of all concerned, I take full responsibility for this difficult decision. The reasons are:

It is impossible to continue to provide a full quality education for your boys and girls at Drexel; it is possible at Saint Pius and Saint Joseph. The general standards of good high schools require an enrollment much larger than Drexel’s.

At least one community of Sisters, because of needs elsewhere, will withdraw from Drexel in June of 1968.

The financial reasons for closing Drexel have been of importance, but if improved quality-education had been possible, we would have made every effort to find the money, archbishop Hallinan said.

In the new arrangement, which you should see as part of our plan in a shifting educational picture, I pledge every effort we can make. This includes the work of our Board of Education, elected January, 1967 from all the parishes.

These efforts will be made especially by the faculties and school leaders of Saint Pius and Saint Joseph. Your sons and daughters will receive the variety, quality and extracurricular activity needed by the high school student in today’s society. To provide less is not fair to our pupils.”

“I ask the continued prayers promised by so many of you at our meetings and in your letters. May God bless you and yours,” he said.