The principal cites a shortage of students and money.

NEW GLOUCESTER – Eastgate Christian Academy will close its 11-year-old high school by summer.

The tiny Christian school has too few students and can’t afford to keep the high school any longer, officials said.

“It’s economics and enrollment,” said Principal Ronald Giasson. “Our numbers have been declining for the last three, four years.”

Established in the mid-1980s, the co-ed private school originally served students from kindergarten through grade eight. It added grades nine through 12 in the early 1990s.

Although the first graduating class had only three students, officials said, the high school grew over time. At one point it had a senior class of 12. In recent years, though, enrollment has slowly dropped.

Last year, the school had seven seniors. This year, it has five. Only 21 students attend grades nine through 11.

The school’s Web site lists yearly tuition at $2,700. With so few students to support the high school, officials said they were having financial problems.

And with only 81 students from kindergarten through grade eight, school leaders held out little hope for a jump in high school enrollment any time soon.

“People could see the writing on the wall, so to speak,” said Glenn Anderson, a member of the school’s Board of Directors.

The school will stop offering grades nine through 12 at the end of this school year. Current high-schoolers will attend other area private schools or public schools. Some will be home-schooled.

Since learning about the closure two weeks ago, Tim Barclay and his wife have been trying to figure out which school will best suit their son, a sophomore who has been attending Eastgate since kindergarten.

Although the Auburn family is considering all of its options, including the local public school and home-schooling, Barclay believes it will be difficult to find the kind of quality teachers, Christian education and close-knit community his family has come to love at Eastgate.

“It’s unfortunate that we’re losing a school that has so many advantages,” Barclay said.

While younger students must find a new high school, some older students are preparing to graduate early.

Sarah VanderLinden, a junior at the school, said she needs only one English class to receive a diploma. She and other juniors plan to take that class at Central Maine Community College in the next several months so they won’t have to attend a new high school for only one year. After getting their final credits, some will take a year off or go to college early.

“It’s sad that the school’s closing,” she said. “But I think because of the lack of attendance, it will be healthier for the school in the long run.”

Seniors will graduate as usual in June.

After that, officials said they would concentrate on expanding and improving kindergarten through grade eight. Some high school teachers will be placed in new positions within the elementary school, Giasson said. Others will be let go. Giasson could not say how many teachers would lose their jobs.

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