St. Mary’s Academy

STUDENTS AT ST. MARY’S ACADEMY ARE INSPIRED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL CONTRIBUTORS IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY.

Founded and administered by the Sisters of the Holy Family, St. Mary’s Academy first opened Dec. 3, 1867 in the French Quarter. In the 1960s, the school moved from its 717 Orleans Avenue address to its permanent home on Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans East. Ever since its founding, St. Mary’s Academy has prepared its student population for college and beyond. In fact, St. Mary’s Academy has had 100-percent graduation and college acceptance rates for more than 10 years.

St. Mary’s Academy suffered a devastating blow during Hurricane Katrina, when five to six feet of water and sludge inundated the campus. In 2006, the school held classes at Xavier Prep for a few months and then moved classes to the former St. James Major School. At that time, St. Mary’s Academy also expanded its curriculum to help accommodate students and families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. While the student body had formerly been comprised of all girls, the elementary and middle schools, Pre-K through 7th, became co-educational, while the high school continued its legacy as an all-girls private school for grades 8 through 12.

“Being in an all-girl environment allows young ladies to focus, grow and develop with fewer distractions,” says Pamela Rogers, assistant principal at St. Mary’s Academy. “The girls are able to fully develop themselves academically and personally, enhance their self-discipline, sharpen their leadership skills and are positioned to compete with confidence academically. In addition, girls are empowered and groomed to become successful and achieve their full potential.” In 2007, St. Mary’s Academy moved into modular buildings on its permanent campus on Chef Menteur Highway. “We received funding from FEMA [after the hurricane] to replace the school building that had to be demolished,” Rogers says. “The new structure opened in 2011. The permanent campus is a state-of-the-art facility, built with input from the student body and designed to inspire learning. We will complete our permanent campus with a new elementary school, expected to be completed in the Fall of 2021.” A jewel in New Orleans East, St. Mary’s Academy is surrounded by a park-like setting. The average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, meaning students are given more individual attention than is possible in larger classrooms. In addition to providing a strong college preparatory foundation, the school offers an ideal mix of spirituality, academics and extracurricular activities. St. Mary’s Academy offers more than 45 clubs, organizations and outside programs. In addition, all students are encouraged to become a part of at least two extracurricular activities and required to participate in a community service projects on an annual basis.

“Students are provided with opportunities to enhance their leadership skills through participation in student council, organizational and extracurricular activities, mock trials and program development,” Rogers says. “All are encouraged to create and develop new organizations that are of interest to the student population.” In order to prepare students for the future, St. Mary’s Academy elevates its classes with modern technology. Students also are taught to live Christian values, think critically, give service and act responsibly in a global society. The importance of receiving a Catholic education, according to Rogers, is that the curriculum also includes daily prayer, strong Christian values, high academic standards and a safe school environment.

“We also teach compassion, liberation, healing and empowerment to all,” she says. “These are a strong part of the charism of the Sisters of the Holy Family and serve as a foundation for their work in the community and at St. Mary’s Academy.”