Medford Catholic School to Close After Nearly 100 Years

Parents, teachers shocked by sudden announcement of Saint Joseph School's permanent closure

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Saint Joseph School in Medford, Massachusetts, a Catholic school that has been operating for nearly 100 years, will be closing its doors permanently at the end of the current school year. The sudden announcement has left parents, teachers, and students reeling, with many expressing sadness and disbelief at the loss of the longstanding community institution.

Why it matters

The closure of Saint Joseph School is a significant loss for the Medford community, which has relied on the school as an educational and religious anchor for nearly a century. The news has sparked an outpouring of emotion from families who have deep ties to the school and are now faced with the challenge of finding alternative schooling options for their children.

The details

The Archdiocese of Boston cited declining enrollment and the high costs of maintaining the school's aging building as the primary reasons for the decision to close Saint Joseph School. Despite efforts by the school and parish community in recent years to address these challenges, the archdiocese ultimately determined that the financial burden was too great to keep the school open. The announcement has left teachers, like 13-year veteran Lauren Fiore, grappling with the loss of their livelihood, while parents like Tom Janedy are concerned about the uncertainty facing their children.

  • Saint Joseph School has been operating in Medford, Massachusetts since 1929.
  • The school will close its doors permanently at the end of the current 2025-2026 school year.

The players

Saint Joseph School

A Catholic school that has been serving the Medford, Massachusetts community for nearly 100 years.

Archdiocese of Boston

The Catholic archdiocese that oversees Saint Joseph School and made the decision to close the school due to financial and enrollment challenges.

Trey Dickens

An 11-year-old student at Saint Joseph School who has attended the school since pre-kindergarten and expressed sadness at the news of its closure.

Earl Dickens

The 8-year-old brother of Trey Dickens, who is also a student at Saint Joseph School and will miss the community and memories he has made there.

Tom Janedy

A parent whose daughter and son attended Saint Joseph School, and whose grandchildren currently attend the school, expressing uncertainty and dismay at the sudden closure announcement.

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What they’re saying

“I love it because I met all my friends here been. I've been here since Pre-K, since I was four I think. And it's been here for almost 100 years.”

— Trey Dickens, Student (CBS News Boston)

“My daughter went here. My son went here. Now my grandkids and it's become a family here. It's the uncertainty that was thrown my daughter and my grandkids last Monday. It was kind of out of the blue, that's the problem.”

— Tom Janedy, Parent (CBS News Boston)

“As a parent I thought about my kids because that's all they know. And as a teacher, tears came to my eyes because it was my livelihood.”

— Lauren Fiore, Science Teacher (CBS News Boston)

What’s next

Parents have started a petition in a last-ditch effort to try and convince the Archdiocese of Boston to reconsider the decision to close Saint Joseph School. The petition has already garnered over 575 signatures, and the parents are hoping the archbishop will give them a chance to find a solution to keep the school open.

The takeaway

The closure of Saint Joseph School, a beloved community institution that has served Medford families for nearly a century, is a devastating loss for the local community. The sudden announcement has left parents, teachers, and students grappling with uncertainty and grief, underscoring the deep emotional ties that bind this school to the fabric of the Medford neighborhood. While the Archdiocese cites financial and enrollment challenges as the reasons for the closure, the outpouring of support from the community highlights the enduring value of Saint Joseph School and the irreplaceable role it has played in the lives of generations of Medford residents.