A long-standing catholic school in Schenectady will close this year. The announcement made Sunday, as parishioners meet for mass. Our Beth Croughan has more.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- "I kept my uniform. And I want other kids to have the same experience I did, having a good education and a good time," said Schenectady resident Emily Spencer.

Emily Spencer spent six years as a student at Saint John the Evangelist School. "I loved it here and this is terrible," she said.

The ninth-grader was extremely upset after learning it will close. Sunday, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany announced enrollment and money are the reasons. The almost 150-year-old elementary school will shut its doors at the end of the academic year.

In a statement, School Superintendent Sister Mary Jane Herb wrote "..Unfortunately, the anticipated low enrollment and the continued reliance on the parish for increased financial support does not support viability for the school."

Only 84 students have signed up for next year. Herb said the low numbers are affecting Catholic schools across the nation. But Sunday's news, affected former students in Schenectady.

"Devastated over it. I come from a family of ten who all attended here. My two children both went to Saint John's," said Tom Spencer, Emily's father.

In Sunday's statement, the Superintendent said the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany will work with each family to make sure the students can continue their Catholic education and added they will also work to help place affected teachers.

St. John is one of the Diocese's 20 elementary schools.