Monmouth County's Mater Dei Prep To Close Its Doors At The End Of The School Year

After 50 years of educating students in the Monmouth County area, Mater Dei Prep, a Catholic preparatory school located in Middletown, will close it’s doors in June of 2015.

Father Jeff Kegley, pastor of St. Mary Parish, cited a multi-year financial deficit as the reason behind the school’s closure in a press release sent out to parents this week.

“Over the many years, Mater Dei Prep has been running large financial deficits and enrollment numbers have not stabilized to the point of sufficiently supporting the school’s viability, said Father Kegley. It had been the hope of the Parish Finance Council and myself that these trends could be reversed. However, the 2014-2015 projected loss is close to one million dollars.”

NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, a 1977 graduate, told The Asbury Park Press he is heartbroken and “highly interested” in helping to save the school.

Mater Dei Prep was founded in 1964. According to nj.com, 340 students are currently enrolled in the school with a staff of 48 faculty and other employees.

“Our parish and diocesan assistance, fundraising and tuition can no longer meet the school’s financial obligation, he said. ”I want to assure you that the next year’s closure will not affect the current school year. Classes and activities will continue until the end of June as planned.”

Kegley thanked the staff of Mater Dei for their continued and devoted service to the school over the years. He also thanked Saint Mary Church parishioners and the Diocese of Trenton, who he said helped keep the school open.

A 50th Anniversary of the Mater Dei community is still scheduled for the weekend of May 29-31 and the high school’s last graduating class is scheduled to graduate on June 2.