HOUSTON -- The day that students and staff at Mount Carmel High School dreaded is finally here, KPRC Local 2, Your Education Station, reported.

Wednesday is the very last day of classes at the southeast Houston school. It will not reopen next year.

Students wept as they said their final goodbyes to the 52-year-old school they loved. They gathered for their last morning mass in the school's gymnasium.

Some students said it was hard to lose what has become a family tradition.

"My parents came here," sophmore Grace Baumann said. "My parents' parents came here. It was just really upsetting."

The Archdiocese of Galveston Houston said its decision to close the school was strictly based on finances.

"I'm angry a lot," student Veronica Amaya said. "I kinda already had my graduation speech and that dream of walking down the church."

Alumni were allowed to take trophies they won for the school as precious mementoes of their time at the campus.

Alumni and parents took action and are talking to the Houston Independent School District about creating a new charter school. They created a Web site, www.savemtcarmel.org to help in their effort.

"In essence, they'd serve HISD students on a contract basis," Superintendent Abelardo Saveedra said.

"It would be an option to keep kids together … at least a temporary solution," parent Renee McManus said.

Students said if HISD opens a charter school for them, something would still be missing.

"There would be something left," senior Laurie Lehohski said. "A lot of the teachers and a lot of the students are still going to be together, but it won't ever quite be the same."

Officials estimated it would cost $500,000 to get it the school up and running. If the plan goes through, students would still be allowed to pray before meals and theology classes would be an option.

A proposal must be submitted to school district by May 30 and its board would vote on the proposal on June 10. If the proposal is approved, the new school would be called Mount Carmel Academy. A time capsule and a crest from the old school would be moved to the new school.