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Bronx Catholic girls school saved, bought by company that wants to build casino nearby
By
Samir Ferdowsi
Published Apr 23, 2025
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By
Samir Ferdowsi
Published Apr 23, 2025
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An all-girls Catholic college preparatory school in the Bronx was saved from permanent shutdown Tuesday after a casino operator that hopes to open a new location nearby bought it.
Bally’s Foundation will buy Preston High School’s Throggs Neck property for $8.5 million, leasing it back to the school for $1 per year for the next 25 years, according to an announcement by Attorney General Letitia James. The deal — which James brokered — heads off what would have been the latest in a rapid succession of New York Catholic school closures as religious schools struggle to make ends meet.
The planned closure had been announced earlier this year by the White Plains-based Roman Catholic institute that owns the property, the Sisters of Divine Compassion. In a video in February, the Sisters cited reasons including declined enrollment and the need for repairs. That set off waves of criticism from community members, alumni and elected officials who said the school seemed to be in good financial shape with strong enrollment, the Bronx Times reported — and pushback continued as the sisters shot down an earlier offer from Bally’s, prompting James to hold a community hearing earlier this month.
Bally’s Corporation Chairperson Soo Kim told Gothamist his time growing up in New York influenced the decision to get involved.
“We stepped in and intervened through our foundation, which has a mission to help our communities that surround our facilities,” Kim said. He said Preston was an "amazing school [that was] going to be closed for no good reason."
Bally’s owns a nearby golf course at Ferry Point Park, and is one of nearly a dozen would-be casino operators vying for approval throughout the city, with a proposal for a 3.1-million-square-foot complex at the park with a gaming hall, spa, hotel and 2,000-seat arena. Kim said while that proposal has been criticized by some people as a threat to property values, closing Preston would cause values to drop in itself.
“I’ll tell you one thing is most tied to property values in the community — and that's good schools,” he said.
The deal entails Bally’s funding an additional $1 million for capital improvements to the school facility and for the casino company to cover legal costs for the purchase, according to James and the company.
James credited the community advocacy and testimony submitted to her office for the deal to preserve the school.
“Preston High School raises young women to become strong leaders, and I am thrilled that many more generations will benefit from this treasured school,” she said in a statement.
Though it is currently still under the leadership of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, the deal also calls for the school to transition to independence from the Sisters, according to James’ office.
City Council Majority Leader Farías, a graduate of Preston High, helped spearhead the campaign to keep it open.
“As a proud Preston alumna, I’ve been deeply invested in this fight from day one — organizing, advocating, and working directly with stakeholders to ensure Preston had a future,” she said in a statement. “This outcome, including the historic agreement with the Bally’s Foundation to secure Preston’s home for the next 25 years, shows what’s possible when we lead with love, persistence, and unity.”
Farías said she was “proud to be at the negotiating table shaping a deal that protects not just a school, but a legacy.”
The Sisters of Divine Compassion did not answer a message seeking comment Tuesday.
Tagged
education
Politics
bronx
Samir Ferdowsi
Samir is a day-of reporter on the general assignment and breaking news desk. Previously Samir was a reporter, host and producer at VICE News.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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