Four Catholic elementary schools will close at the end of this school year, decisions that a diocesan official said were forced by the cycle of declining enrollment and escalating tuition.

This will be the last school year for St. Titus School in Aliquippa; St. Elizabeth Seton Regional Elementary School in Sheraden; Bishop John B. McDowell Regional Elementary in Baldwin Borough; and St. Valentine School in Bethel Park. The closings were announced at weekend Masses.

"Really, there are two factors pressing on all these schools. There's the demographic problem of fewer school-aged children [in the affected areas] and, as enrollment drops, the price of tuition climbs," said the Rev. Kris D. Stubna, diocesan secretary for education.

Father Stubna said the closings will result in layoffs at the schools, but "everyone will be given every chance to be placed elsewhere."

The decisions to close the schools have been emotionally difficult for those involved, he said, but the decisions ultimately were the consensus of the parish communities themselves.

"In each of these cases, the pastors, the parish councils and school [parent-teacher organizations] were involved. No one wanted to close these schools but, in the end, the hope is that the entire system will be strengthened," he said.

He said families can send their children other Catholic schools in their area. While some schools may have full enrollments in certain grades, he said, "every effort will be made to accommodate every [displaced] student."

A longtime donor to St. Titus and St. Elizabeth Seton schools withdrew his support. "In these times, he had to tighten up on what he was able to do and he wanted his [funding] to go to schools that have hope for long-term stability," Father Stubna said.

He explained that tuition fees were increasing because of declining enrollment, which contributed to a further enrollment decline.

Early registrations for next school year were coming in low, an indication that the dual difficulties of higher tuition and lower student enrollment would worsen.

According to statistics for this year provided by Father Stubna and the Official Catholic Directory of the Diocese of Pittsburgh for 2009:

• St. Titus has 85 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, 15 students in preschool and seven lay teachers.

• St. Elizabeth Seton has 170 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, 25 in preschool and 12 lay teachers.

• Bishop John B. McDowell has 62 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, 28 in preschool and nine lay teachers.

• St. Valentine has 84 students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade, 59 in preschool and nine lay teachers.

St. Valentine and Bishop McDowell will continue their preschool programs, with Bishop McDowell intending to expand its program, Father Stubna said.

The diocese oversees more than 100 schools in Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Lawrence, Washington and Greene counties. More than 24,000 students in preschool through 12th grade are enrolled and about 2,000 professionals are employed.

Father Stubna said the process of deciding to close the four schools has been "heartbreaking for everybody. Catholic schools are a family. But this is what needs to be done to make the other schools in the system stronger."