It's the end of an era. A Catholic High School in Manchester is closing its doors after 49 years. Wednesday was the last day of classes at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School.
The student body of 180 said farewell in an assembly Wednesday afternoon.
Some students even took photos, posters and mementos right off the school walls as they left.
"I think it's unfortunate not everyone has a chance to go to a school like this. I wouldn't be the person I am today if I didn't go to Kennedy," said Jason Buehrig, a 2017 Graduate.
The decision to close was made after freshmen enrollment dropped by 50 percent in two years. Total enrollment is down by 43 percent since 2013.
School leaders also say the catholic population in this area, in addition to the population, has dropped, making it harder to stay open.
"When you look at the population of the area, and the population of the school, we were precarious and it was difficult to make it work," said Father Richard Wosman, President of John F Kennedy High School.
The majority of the students are headed to other catholic schools in the region.
Wosman says all of the staff have been placed in other positions in the private and public sectors.
