MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — An MPS school board committee officially agreed Thursday, Nov. 12, to mutually end the contract with Assata High School, an alternative high school.

Assata will close its doors Nov. 30.

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For 34 years, Assata has educated students who were otherwise at risk of not graduating.

But like most schools, Assata gets its funding on a per-student basis. In order to survive, it needs 120 students enrolled, but it only has 62.

Tony Kearney is a founder and current president of Assata’s board of directors. He told the MPS board, “We understand the numbers. Which is why our board made the decision to close.”

Kearney said it was the decision no one wanted to have to make.

The alternative high school educates students who are at risk of not graduating for a variety of educational and social reasons.

Kearney told us, “Assata chose to show that they care.”

The current contract between MPS and Assata was to run through next summer. But declining enrollment slashed funding and forced the hard choice to close.

Both the Assata board and MPS board agreed to end the contract early.

MPS board director Darryl Jackson said, “It did what it was supposed to do. It truly did. But unfortunately, like anything else in business, if the money isn’t there to keep flowing and funding, it comes to an end.”

Educators raved about the school, its students and its decades of success stories.

Dr. Tamika Johnson taught at Assata for four years. She told the MPS board, “My biggest concern is what’s going to happen to the students who were already at risk of not graduating.”

Sixty-two students are currently enrolled at Assata. Seven students will graduate at the end of this trimester.

“The other students we’ve been working very closely with to find placements in another alternative school,” said Bridget Schock Anderson, MPS’ senior director of student services.

MPS has several alternative schools and an online program, but educators said Assata’s community was unique.

MPS has committed to placing current students and working with educators to possibly find new positions.

MPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius said, “Closing a school community is really hard on a whole community.”

And Kearney said despite closing, Assata will not walk away from its students or its educators. He’s hopeful MPS feels the same commitment.

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“I’m concerned. But guardedly optimistic,” Kearney told us.

At one time, MPS had partnerships with four alternative schools like Assata. But because of a widespread decline in enrollment, Grandview will be the only alternative partner school once Assata closes.