It won’t be long before Saint Jerome Regional School officially moves into its new digs in Rush Township.

The Diocese of Allentown on Tuesday completed the purchase of a new building to house the growing school in Tamaqua.

After nearly 100 years at its current location at 200 West Broad Street, Tamaqua, Saint Jerome Regional School will open this fall in its new home, the former Rush Elementary school building, at 50 Meadow Avenue, Tamaqua.

“Enrollment for the new year is already up by 19 percent,” said Principal Amy Hannis-Miskar. “This new location allows our school even more space to grow.”

Currently, there are 260 students enrolled in grades Pre-K through 8, up from the 218 students that were enrollment when school ended in June.

“Catholic education is a top priority for the Diocese of Allentown,” said Bishop Alfred Schlert. “We are pleased to be able to make this investment in the continued strengthening of our education programs for the future of Carbon and Schuylkill counties.”

The new facility gives Saint Jerome more classrooms, a cafeteria/gymnasium, a spacious parking lot, and a playground and athletic fields on 11 acres, Hannis-Miskar said. In addition, the school will now be all under one roof, rather than in multiple buildings.

“It’s sad to leave our former location, which was our home for almost 100 years,” she said. “There are a lot of great memories there.”

Hannis-Miskar added, “At our school, we live fearlessly through faith.

We strive to instill family values while teaching superior academics. Saint Jerome Regional School teaches for life to create a community of conviction, respect and excellence.”

The Diocese purchased the 35,000-square-foot facility from the Tamaqua Area School District for $1.2 million.

A Meet the Teacher Event will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 23.

The first day of school will be Aug. 27.

Most recently a K-12 setting, the Rush building offered alternative education, regular education, special education and school-to-work programs.

The district entered into an agreement with Behavioral Health Associates of Lehighton in August 2015 to provide services for the students. The district has been affiliated with BHA for more than seven years.

Superintendent Ray Kinder said in March that students who need to stay in the program would be transferred to one of BHA’s other locations.

Kinder said BHA is also looking for a building.

The BHA lease expired June 30.

Kinder said the money from the sale would go into the district’s capital projects fund to help pay for large-ticket items in the district such as heating/cooling systems, roadwork, communication systems and roofs.

In March, a letter was read at the Masses at the two churches that make up St. John XXIII Parish confirming the decision that Schlert has approved the request of the Rev. John Frink and the parish pastoral council and finance committee to close the former St. Jerome Church building.

St. John XXIII was formed in 2014 by the merger of St. Jerome Church and SS. Peter and Paul Church. Services have been held in both churches since that time.

In January, The Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown paid $101,000 for a property at 225 Pine St. to create a new parking lot for those who attend Masses and other functions at SS. Peter and Paul in Tamaqua, which is less than a block away at 307 Pine St.

The district had previously used the school to educate students in kindergarten and first grade. Before that, students in kindergarten through fifth grades attended. Previously, kindergarten through sixth grades attended there.