Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Even though it was in Cambridge, an awful lot of Somerville kids went to Matignon High School. The school is closed for good so I asked for peoples’ memories of Matignon. My own two sons graduated from there and we used to get involved with the social activities. I think it’s a shame that it’s closing. Each new comment is in quotes.

“Class of ‘63. It broke my heart to see the school close, but it was inevitable. Extremely high tuition meant fewer kids enrolling. Couldn’t keep it open with such low enrollment.”

“I think it was a damn shame. They gave kids, families and staff no notice. They found out three weeks before school ended. They had to know before that time that it was a possibility. It is too bad. I really wish Massachusetts let the money follow the student so we could have school choice. If it did, more would be in Catholic/private school. Especially with the condition of the schools in this city. This is the problem. Politicians know if they do that, public schools would be empty.”

“As demographics in the area changed over the last 30 years, the student population had dwindled to about 200 students. That included a foreign student program and classes for students involved in a hockey program. Couple those enrollment difficulties with the value of Matignon land and the question became not if but when it would close.”

I enjoyed the years that my two sons went to Matignon. It’s just a sad day due to another closing.

I went to St. Clements in grammar school. It also closed down.