Mount de Sales Academy (Catonsville, Maryland) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Mount de Sales Academy

Address
700 Academy Road Catonsville , (Baltimore County) , Maryland 21228 United States
Coordinates	39°17′9″N 76°43′17″W / 39.28583°N 76.72139°W / 39.28583; -76.72139
Information
Type	Private
Denomination	Roman Catholic (Dominicans)
Patron saint(s)	Saint Francis de Sales
Established	1852; 173 years ago (1852)
Founder	Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary
Sister school	Mount Saint Joseph High School
Oversight	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore
NCES School ID	00578546
Principal	Sister Mary Raymond Thye, O.P.
Staff	30
Faculty	50
Grades	9–12
Gender	Girls
Enrollment	460 (2023)
Average class size	16
Student to teacher ratio	10:1
Hours in school day	6.5
Campus size	10 acres
Campus type	Suburban
Color(s)	Blue and White
Song	"Hail to you, dear Mount de Sales"
Athletics conference	IAAM
Mascot	Sailor
Team name	Sailors
Rival	Seton Keough (Closed 2017)
Accreditation	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Publication	The View from the Cupola
Newspaper	Anchor
Yearbook	Ionic Columns
Tuition	$17,675 (2023-2024)
Alumni	Audrey Powers
Website

Mount de Sales Academy
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

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Location	700 Academy Rd., Catonsville, Maryland
Area	10.3 acres (4.2 ha)
Built	1852
Architect	Curley, James & Son; Baldwin, E.F.
Architectural style	Classical Revival, Italianate
NRHP reference No.	86001187
Added to NRHP	May 30, 1986

Mount de Sales Academy is a private high school just for girls. It is located in Catonsville, near the city of Baltimore. The school is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore.

The school is connected to the Roman Catholic Church. Some of its staff are Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. Mount de Sales Academy was started in 1852 by the Visitation Sisters. It began as a boarding school for girls. Now, it helps girls get ready for college. It was the first school in Baltimore County to teach girls of all religions.

Why Mount de Sales Academy is Special
Exploring the Campus and Buildings
- The Main School Building
- Other Important Buildings
Brother School Connection
Successful Former Students
Gallery
See also

Why Mount de Sales Academy is Special

Mount de Sales Academy is known for being a great school. Since 2004, it has been named one of the top 50 Catholic schools in the country. This honor comes from the Catholic High School Honor Roll. They look at how good the school is in academics, Catholic identity, and teaching students to be good citizens. Mount de Sales is the only school in Maryland to be on this special list.

Exploring the Campus and Buildings

Mount de Sales Academy sits on about 12 acres of land. From here, you can see the Inner Harbor and the Baltimore city skyline. The school's backyard has a peaceful garden with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The campus also has a Center for Performing Arts and Student Life, sports fields, a convent, and a gym.

The Main School Building

Most classes are held in the original school building. It was started in 1852 and made bigger in the 1860s. This main building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It still shows parts of its design from the Visitation Order sisters who founded the school.

The chapel is in the middle of the main building. It is the oldest place of worship still used in Baltimore. The chapel's beautiful stained glass windows are original to the building. They were made using the same method as the famous stained glass in the Cathedral of Chartres, France. These windows are at the back of the building. This was done to protect them from damage during a time when Catholics faced challenges.

The main building also has the Music Hall. This hall features special paintings that trick the eye, called trompe-l'œil. Graduation ceremonies are held here each year. You can also find the Padre Pio library, which has special items from that saint. There are also computer labs, a large art studio, the Ramona Carrigan Science Center, and new STEM and robotics rooms.

Other Important Buildings

The Regina Keenan Knott Alumnae Hall used to be a place for sick students. It was once connected to the main building by a walkway. This walkway is no longer there. The front of this building faces away from the main building. This was so visitors would not see any sick students. Today, this building is used for school development and connecting with former students.

The Constance and Samuel Pistorio Sports Complex opened in 1999. Its design looks like the older buildings on campus. This sports facility is across from the main building. It is located on a plaza with gardens and a bronze statue of Saint Joseph the Worker.

The Center for Performing Arts and Student Life is a large building that opened in 2021. It has music and dance classrooms. There are also practice rooms for students who perform. The building includes a scene shop and storage for theater students. It has a 400-seat area for orchestras and a movable 200-seat space upstairs. There is also a control room for sound, lights, and visual equipment.

Brother School Connection

Mount de Sales Academy has a special connection with Mount Saint Joseph High School. This nearby school is an all-boys school. They share a long history together. Today, the two schools often work together:

They put on plays and shows together.
They share bus services for students.
Mount de Sales cheerleaders support Mount Saint Joseph's sports teams.
They have social events like dances together.
Many school clubs are shared between the two schools.

Successful Former Students

Many students from Mount de Sales Academy have gone on to do amazing things. Here are a few:

Nicolette Jennings, who was crowned Miss Florida USA in 2019.
Brigid Kemmerer, a popular author who writes books for young adults.
Audrey Powers, a Vice President at Blue Origin. This is an American company that works on space travel.