Ursuline Academy (New Orleans)

Ursuline Academy is a private, Catholic, all-girls high school and elementary school (Toddler 2 through 12th grade) in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is located within the Archdiocese of New Orleans and under the trusteeship of the Ursuline Sisters of the New Orleans Community, part of the Ursuline Central Province of North America. Founded in 1727, the Academy is the oldest Catholic school and the oldest school for women in the United States.

Ursuline Academy
Address
Map
2635 State Street

,
70118

United States
Coordinates29°56′27.5″N 90°6′48.27″W / 29.940972°N 90.1134083°W / 29.940972; -90.1134083
Information
TypePrivate, All-Girls
MottoServiam
("I will serve")
Religious affiliation(s)Catholic
Established1727; 297 years ago (1727)
PresidentKaren Jakuback
Teaching staff53.0 (FTE) (2019–20)[1]
GradesT212
GenderFemale
Enrollment563[1] (2019–20)
Student to teacher ratio9.7 (2019–20)[1]
Color(s)Navy and White    
SportsBasketball, Volleyball, Softball, Golf, Swimming, Soccer, Cross Country, Dance, Cheer, Tennis, Track & Field, Indoor Track, Gymnastics
MascotLions
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools[2][3]
Tuition$12,585 + $1,850 fees = $14,435 (2023-24, high school)
Principal (ES)Judy Armstrong
Principal(HS)Judy Armstrong
Websitewww.uanola.org
Courtyard
Ursuline Academy main entrance

History edit

The Ursuline Academy was founded in 1727 by the Sisters of the Order of Saint Ursula, in New Orleans. It is the oldest continuously-operating school for girls, and the oldest Catholic school in the United States.[4]

The Academy included the first convent, the first free school, and the first retreat center for ladies. It offered the first classes for female African-American slaves, free women of color, and Native Americans.[4]

 
National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, on the Ursuline campus

Academics edit

An Ursuline education is based on the philosophy of Saint Angela Merici.[4]

Traditions edit

Rally began in 1948 as a way for classes to show their school spirit in the areas of volleyball intramurals, through skits, posters, songs, and cheers. Each class was given a name (Skip, Mac, Leprechaun or Sioux (now Phoenix)) to replace existing sororities on campus and carried them until they graduated and passed them on to a little sister class.[5][6]

Athletics edit

Ursuline Academy athletics competes in the LHSAA.

Notable alumnae edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for Ursuline Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Institution Summary [for Ursuline Academy Elementary School]". AdvancED. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  3. ^ "Institution Summary [for Ursuline Academy]". AdvancED. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Robenstine, Clark (Summer 1992). "French Colonial Policy and the Education of Women and Minorities: Louisiana in the Early Eighteenth Century". History of Education Quarterly. 32 (2): 193–211. doi:10.2307/368985. ISSN 0018-2680. JSTOR 368985. S2CID 147109780.
  5. ^ "Origins of Rally". Ursuline Academy. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  6. ^ "Message from the Academy President – Karen McNay". Ursuline Update. Ursuline Academy. October 29, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2014.

Notes edit

External links edit