A Rochester charter school sued to stay open. It lost, and 400 students are affected.

Urban Choice Charter School in Rochester is officially closed after a judge declined its request to intervene in the state Board of Regents' decision not to renew its charter.

There were about 400 students enrolled at Urban Choice in 2022-23. They will now need to work with the Rochester City School District or other charter or private schools to find a place for September.

The K-8 school on Maple Street was founded in 2005, making it one of the older charter schools in the city. It has had a rocky last three years, first being recommended for closure in 2020 but then pulled off the chopping block at the last moment because of COVID-19. It received one- and two-year renewals but, according to state authorizers, failed to improve enough to warrant a full five-year term.

The Board of Regents voted unanimously in April not to renew Urban Choice's charter, a step that usually ends the discussion. But the school sued, arguing the state's determination process had been flawed and asking a state Supreme Court judge in Albany County to stop the closure.

That intervention would have needed to come by June 30, when the school's charter expired. It did not, and so on July 1 Urban Choice formally lost its charter and had to admit defeat.

"We are grateful to our families and staff who have been unwavering in their belief in Urban Choice’s mission and dedication to our students," CEO Lynn McCarthy said in a statement. "In the coming days and weeks, we will work with each family to ensure we provide as much information as possible to receiving schools in support of successful transitions. We will also be supporting our amazing staff as they transition to their next endeavor."

Urban Choice's closure will do little to stem the increase in Rochester students attending charter schools. RCSD estimates that number at about 7,800 in 2023-24; meanwhile, the number of students in RCSD itself has fallen below 20,000 for the first time in 131 years.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Urban Choice Charter School in Rochester NY closes; what's next