St. Mary's Academy (New Orleans)
St. Mary's Academy is a private Catholic K-12 school in New Orleans, Louisiana run by the Sisters of the Holy Family.[3] Founded in 1867, it is one of the oldest Black Catholic schools in the country.
| St. Mary's Academy | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
6905 Chef Menteur Boulevard , 70126 United States | |
| Coordinates | 30°0′49″N 90°0′27″W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, All-Girls |
| Motto | “No Excellence Without Hard Labor” |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Catholic Church |
| Founded | 1867 |
| Founder | Henriette DeLille |
| President | Pamela M. Rogers |
| Dean | Mrs. Pamela Greenwood |
| Teaching staff | 46.3 (FTE) (2019–20)[1] |
| Grades | PK–12 |
| Gender | Girls and boys (up to 7th grade) |
| Enrollment | 461[1] (2019–20) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 8.7 (2019–20)[1] |
| Language | English |
| Color(s) | Royal Blue and Gold |
| Sports | Softball, Volleyball, Track, and Basketball |
| Mascot | Cougar |
| Nickname | Maryites |
| Team name | Cougars |
| Accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[2] |
| School fees | $990 (2023-24, high school) |
| Tuition | $9,300 (2023-24, high school); year uncertain: $5,000 Pre-K $6,000 K-2 $6,700 3-7 |
| Communities served | The Sisters of the Holy Family |
| Alumni | SMA Alumnae Association |
| Athletic Director | Ernest Watson |
| Website | http://www.smaneworleans.com |
It admits girls and boys until grade 7, and admits only girls for grades 8-12. The academy has a long tradition as a private Catholic college preparatory co-educational elementary and a middle/high school for young women.
History
The school was founded in 1867 by the Sisters of the Holy Family, the second Black Catholic religious order in the United States, as a place where Black children could be educated during segregation. The founder, Venerable Henriette DeLille, was a Creole of color who has since become venerated within the Church.
The school has undergone two moves in its history, having started closer to the heart of the city (in the French Quarter).[3] It moved within the neighborhood shortly thereafter, and finally came to its present location in New Orleans East in 1965.
The school built a brand-new facility following Hurricane Katrina, which heavily damaged the previous structure. The new building, which began serving male students in the lower school, was completed in 2011.[4]
In September 2022, the school announced the hiring of its first-ever lay president, Pamela M. Rogers.[3]
Athletics
St. Mary's Academy athletics competes in the LHSAA.
Notable alumni
- Leah Chase, Louisiana Creole chef
- Tiffany Doss, College Softball Player, Class of 2014, First Player from SMA to ever receive a college softball scholarship.
References
- "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for St. Mary's Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on April 16, 2010. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- Faxio, Marie (2022-09-20). "St. Mary's Academy appoints first lay president: Pamela Moore Rogers". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- Esker, Fritz (2017-08-14). "St. Mary's Academy celebrates 150 years". Louisiana Weekly. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
