METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) — A longtime Metairie prep school will close its doors for good this week, officials told parents on Monday.

According to an email sent to parents, Ridgewood Preparatory School will close down on Wednesday (Jan. 11). Headmaster Milton J. Montgomery cites persistent low enrollment for the closure, adding that all possible financial options have been considered but with no solution.

The school released a letter to parents and students in regard to the closing. Some prents and guardians say it was a shock.

“I thought it was a joke,” said Alton Oliver, an uncle to a student at the school. “I wish they would’ve let us know before, like during Christmas Break.”

Stephanie Figaro is a parent of two students at the school. She said she had heard the rumors about the school closing, but back in November those rumors were put to rest.

The headmaster sent out a letter to parents stating the school would not close before the end of the year. The email was dated back to November 30th, 2022.

“I was assured the school would not close so I wouldn’t have to worry about looking for another school for my child,” said parent of a 5th grade student Katrea Wilson.

Now, that worry is reality as parents are searching for a new school for their kids,

“It’s just such a short time frame,” said Figaro. “Now I’m at working freaking out so I got to figure out what I’m going to do next,” said Wilson. Oliver added that his niece wanted to graduate from the school. “Unfortunately that’s not going to happen.”

Students are now forced to start fresh without the friends that have grown to be like family.

“I’m going to miss my best friends the most I feel really sad just leaving I’ve been here a long time,” said 4th grade student Bella Figaro.

The private school, located on Pasadena Avenue, was founded in 1948 and enrolls students from Pre-K to high school. The school would have celebrated its 75th anniversary this year.

School officials declined to comment on Wednesday’s closing.