With demographic trends indicating continued growth in southern Gloucester County, the Diocese of Camden is considering locating a new Catholic high school on a 100 acre site off Route 77 in Mullica Hill, Harrison Township.
The diocese has a two-year option on the site which will allow for a five month due diligence period to ensure that the site will be able to accommodate a school facility. During this time, environmental studies will be conducted, sewer capacity questions will be considered and various permits and approvals obtained. The diocese is also evaluating funding issues, school size and projected enrollments if the school were to be built at the location.
In 2005 the diocese withdrew plans for a high school on a Deptford tract due to protracted legal proceedings initiated by an adjacent landowner and has been looking for an alternative site since that time.
“We know that there has been great population growth in Gloucester County over the last two decades. We know also that the area has been underserved and that there is a need for a Catholic high school in that area of the diocese. While we are in the very early stages of the process, we are excited to take these preliminary steps, steps that will help determine the suitability of this proposed location for a future high school,” said Andrew Walton, spokesman for the diocese.
There are ten Catholic high schools serving 6,700 students in the six counties of the diocese. At present, however, there is no Catholic high school in Gloucester County. The last Catholic high school built by the diocese was Paul VI High School in Haddon Township in 1965.