St. Mary's Academy (New Orleans) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Academy |
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| Address | |
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6905 Chef Menteur Boulevard
, 70126
United States
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| Coordinates | 30°0′49″N 90°0′27″W / 30.01361°N 90.00750°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) |
| Grades | PK–12 |
| Gender | Girls and boys (up to 7th grade) |
| Enrollment | 461 (2019–20) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 8.7 (2019–20) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
St. Mary's Academy is a private Catholic school in New Orleans, Louisiana. It teaches students from pre-kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. The school is run by the Sisters of the Holy Family. It was started in 1867, making it one of the oldest Black Catholic schools in the United States.
The academy welcomes both girls and boys up to the 7th grade. For grades 8 through 12, it is an all-girls school. It has a long history of preparing young women for college.
School History
St. Mary's Academy was founded in 1867 by the Sisters of the Holy Family. This group was the second Black Catholic religious order in the United States. They created the school so that Black children could get an education during a time when schools were separated by race. The school's founder, Venerable Henriette DeLille, was a Creole of color. She is now highly respected within the Catholic Church.
The school has moved two times since it first opened. It started near the center of New Orleans in the French Quarter. It moved again within that area soon after. Finally, in 1965, it moved to its current spot in New Orleans East.
After Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damage to the old building, the school built a brand-new facility. This new building was finished in 2011. It also started allowing male students in the younger grades. In September 2022, Pamela M. Rogers became the school's first president who was not a nun.
Amazing Math Discovery
In 2023, two students from St. Mary's Academy made a big splash in the world of math! Calcea Johnson and Ne'Kiya Jackson, working on their own, found new ways to prove the Pythagorean Theorem. What makes this so special is that people had thought it was impossible to find new proofs for this theorem using trigonometry for over 2,000 years. These talented students were even featured on popular news shows like 60 Minutes.
School Sports
St. Mary's Academy has a strong sports program. Their teams, known as the Cougars, compete in the LHSAA. Students can join teams for softball, volleyball, track, and basketball. The school colors are royal blue and gold.
Famous Graduates
Many successful people have graduated from St. Mary's Academy. Here are a few:
- Leah Chase: A famous chef known for her amazing Louisiana Creole cooking.
- Dana Douglas: A respected judge who works for the United States federal court system.
