Marist High School officials say that they are planning for the school to remain open next year despite financial hardships.

Students, parents and faculty members have been working to raise enough funds to keep the Catholic school in Bayonne open. The school had until 12 a.m. Tuesday to raise $1.5 million. Fundraising efforts have collected around $500,000 so far.

Head of Marist High School Alice Miesnik said in a letter that the fate of the school has not yet been decided. She says that the Marist High School Finance Committee had to review proposed budget projections and that those projections would then be sent to the Finance Committee of the Marist Brothers for review.

The Marist Brothers Provincial Council will ultimately make the final decision about the school.

Miesnik said that she was instructed to tell prospective students “We are planning to be open” when she attends Instant Decision Day at St. Anthony’s High School in Jersey City Tuesday evening. St. Anthony’s is another Catholic school that recently announced that it will close at the end of the year.

Marist officials have scheduled an informational meeting with parents and students about the school’s future on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.