Burke Catholic in Goshen Opening  Middle School in the Fall

Posted

John S. Burke Catholic High School will welcome middle-school students to its Goshen campus for the first time when Burke Catholic Academy opens for the 2021-2022 school year, according to the school and the archdiocesan superintendent of schools office.

“The excitement level that we have, as a graduate of Burke Catholic and having had two boys go through here, to see this transformation and realignment is incredible. We are excited to be a part of this,” John Douthit, president of Burke Catholic, told CNY.

Burke Catholic, with an enrollment of 350 students in grades nine through 12, could house up to 550 students and expects between 75 and 90 new students in grades six through eight, many coming from St. John School in Goshen. 

Following the 2019-2020 school year, St. John’s welcomed students from Sacred Heart in Monroe and St. Stephen-St. Edward School in Warwick to its Goshen campus.

St. John students entering grades six through eight will have the option of attending Burke Catholic Academy for the 2021-2022 school year or remaining one more year at St. John, which will educate students in Pre-K through fifth grade beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. 

“As the office of the superintendent looks to reimagine Catholic education throughout the archdiocese, we’re looking for innovative ways that we can strengthen and expand Catholic education and this opportunity presented itself,” said Michael Deegan, superintendent of schools in the archdiocese.  

“What motivated me to make this decision in partnering with Burke, which was made with the support of Cardinal Dolan, are the enormous opportunities that this will provide our middle school children in that part of the county.”

Burke Catholic Academy students in grades six through eight will be in their own wing of the high school building with conference rooms, restrooms and entrances/exits to the building. Students will be permitted to participate in programs offered at the high school such as drama, art and music.

Burke Catholic Academy will hire three teachers and a guidance counselor to serve students in grades six through eight. 

Douthit and current Burke Catholic principal Janice Clark will serve as president and principal, respectively, of the high school and academy.

Tuition for the 2021-2022 school year will be $6,700 for the academy and $11,300 for the high school. St. John tuition rates will be honored for students transferring to Burke Catholic Academy for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.

“One of the big things we think is going to be really cool about it is the high school to middle school mentoring program with our great Burke Catholic students,” Douthit said. “We’re really excited about beginning that program.”

Deegan said he was excited to see the fruits that the partnership may bring for Catholic education.

“We are very optimistic this will benefit the families in that part of Orange County, and the archdiocese is monitoring this, and looking and learning from this experience,” he said.