Dominican Academy 125th Anniversary - A Catholic High School for Young Women

Sep 15, 2026

Upload by Sarah

Dominican Academy, founded by the Dominican Sisters in 1897, is a co-educational K-12 school that became a leading Catholic high school for young women in New York. Today it remains in a historic 1921 mansion on the Upper East Side. The school offers an all-honors curriculum with Honors and Advanced Placement classes, small learning communities, strong arts and STEM programs, and technology-supported instruction. It emphasizes Study, Community, Service, and Prayer, with extensive clubs, travel opportunities, and college outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Our Mission, Our Legacy

Established in 1897

125th Anniversary

Campus & Historic Mansion

Academic Excellence

Honors and AP Program

Personalized Learning

Graduation Requirements

STEM and Technology

Science Center & Collaborative Classroom

Research and Technology

Learning Resources and Tools

Study, Courses of Study & Opportunities

AP Courses

Electives, Clubs and Activities

Student Life and Support

OVER 125 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE Dominican Academy was founded by the Dominican Sisters in 1897 as a co-educational school for grades K-12 . In 1936, the Academy moved from its original location on Madison Avenue to 44 East 68th Street, where it remains today as one of the preeminent Catholic high schools for young women in the country. The building was constructed in 1921 as the private residence of Colonel Michael Friedsam, a notable philanthropist and art collector. Friedsam’s collection contained numerous masterpieces by artists such as Vermeer, Rembrandt, Van Eyck, and Botticelli. Many of the original architectural elements, including carved marble fireplaces, stained glass windows, and ornate wood-and ironwork, are still enjoyed today. The mansion underwent its first major enhancement in the summers of 2017 and 2018 which included the addition of two full-sized classrooms, reconfiguration of the library and dedicated chapel, and replacement of the building’s technology and security infrastructure. We celebrate our legacy and the countless individuals who have worked tirelessly for our success as we look forward to an even brighter future for our school and the young women entrusted to our care. MAKE D.A. YOUR DESTINATION. OUR MISSION, OUR LEGACY This past year, we celebrated Dominican Academy’s 125th anniversary! Since our founding in 1897, Dominican Academy has consistently ranked among the premier Catholic high schools in both New York City and the United States. Located in an historic mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Dominican Academy (D.A.) unites academic rigor with a warm, family-like atmosphere. Sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Peace, D.A. stands alone asthe only all-honors high school for young women in New York State. D.A. guides and challenges students to seek truth and justice in their world and to make meaningful contributions to society. Our students strive for excellence in all things, guided by the Dominican pillars of Study, Community, Service, and Prayer. WE INVITE YOU TO BECOME A PART OF OUR FUTURE AND TO SHAPE THE WORLD WITH INTELLIGENCE, COMPASSION, AND FAITH. STUDY Founded in 1897 by the Dominican Sisters 14+AP CLASSES 20+ ELECTIVES 35% of D.A. STUDENTS speak a LANGUAGE other than English at home Consistently ranked among the top Catholic Girls High Schools in New York State 100% of graduates attend four-year COLLEGES and UNIVERSITIES 80% of Students are ROMAN CATHOLIC BE PART OF OUR FUTURE 85% of each graduating class from 2016-2020 earned ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS $295,000 PER STUDENT PER YEAR 35+ CLUBS and ACTIVITIES STUDENTS TRAVEL from all 5 boroughs of NYC, Long Island, Westchester County, NJ & CT Total ENROLLMENT of 250 students 9:1 STUDENT to TEACHER ratio with over 80% of faculty holding at least one advanced degree ~~ ~~ 100% of Students engage in SERVICE LEARNING 9 VARSITY SPORTS Over 40% of D.A. students are athletes AVG. STUDY AT D.A., LEARNING IS PERSONAL. Dominican Academy challenges young women with a comprehensive and rigorous academic program. D.A. stands alone as the only all-honors school for girls in New York State. All of our classes are either Honors or Advanced Placement level. Small classes ensure personalized attention and foster opportunities for mentorship and personal growth. Electives and AP classes can have as few as 5 to 15 students. Our students enjoy a solid foundation in the Arts, History, Language, Literature, Theology, and STEM. A D.A. graduate is an engaged and informed citizen with a skill-set that extends beyond critical reading, writing, and thinking—she is a compassionate leader, a thoughtful advocate, and a prayerful policy-maker. In order to graduate from Dominican Academy, students must successfully complete at least 26 ½ credits of coursework as outlined below: 􀀟 English: 4 credits 􀀟 History: 4 credits 􀀟 STEM: 6 ½ credits 􀀟 The Arts: 2 credits 􀀟 The

FAQs

When was Dominican Academy founded and how has it grown over time?

Dominican Academy was founded in 1897 by the Dominican Sisters. In 1936, it moved to 44 East 68th Street, where it remains today, and it celebrated its 125th anniversary recently.

What academic structure does Dominican Academy offer for high school students?

The school provides a rigorous Honors and Advanced Placement curriculum, with small class sizes that support personalized attention and mentorship. Students can choose from 14+ AP courses and 20+ electives.

What technology and learning resources are provided to students?

Students receive Microsoft Office 365, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, TurnItIn, a New York Times all-access subscription, and Google Classroom. All students take a Research and Technology course to develop research, writing, citation, and basic programming skills.

Sep 15, 2026

Upload by Sarah