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. Founded in 1867, it is one of the oldest Black Catholic schools in the country.

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). 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.

In September 2022, the school announced the hiring of its first-ever lay president, Pamela M. Rogers.

Pythagorean Theorem proof
In 2023, students Calcea Johnson and Ne'Kiya Jackson each independently created new proofs for the Pythagorean Theorem using trigonometry. It had previously been thought to be impossible for 2,000 years. The students were featured on multiple news outlets including 60 Minutes.

Athletics
St. Mary's Academy athletics competes in the LHSAA.

Notable alumni

 * Leah Chase, Louisiana Creole chef
 * Dana Douglas, United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, former United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana