After 51 years, one of the oldest Christian schools in Meridian and the surrounding area has closed.

Calvary Christian School officially announced this morning due to the lack of enrollment the 2016-2017 school year would be suspended. The school board, consultation with church deacons, recommended to the church Wednesday to suspend the upcoming school year, according to a news release.

School board member Becky Vance said goals were set for enrollment for different dates throughout the summer, but none of those were met.

“We hated to wait till the last minute, but we were trying to leave the doors open, we tried so hard, but it just didn’t work out,” Vance said. “To have a school you have to have teachers and students, but also tuition and a little money.

“We could do that, but you have to have students with tuition to have a school.”