Mount Saint Mary Academy is a four-year private high school for girls, located in Watchung, in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen, the school operates financially independent of the Diocese.Secondary Schools, Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Accessed February 9, 2022.

As of the 2019–20 school year, the school had an enrollment of 298 students and 35 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.5:1. The school's student body was 70.1% (209) White, 11.1% (33) Hispanic, 8.4% (25) Asian, 5.7% (17) Black, 4.0% (12) two or more races and 0.7% (2) Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander.School data for Mt St Mary Academy, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 10, 2022.

Mount Saint Mary Academy has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1937;Mount Saint Mary Academy, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed September 24, 2024. The school's accreditation status was extended for ten years in Fall 2018.MSA-CESS Fall 2018 Accreditation Actions, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, Fall 2018. Accessed April 25, 2021. The school holds membership in the National Association of Independent Schools, the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools,List of Member Schools, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Accessed August 13, 2017. the National Catholic Educational Association, the National Coalition of Girls' Schools, the College Board and the Educational Records Bureau.

History The Academy was founded in 1908 by the Sisters of Mercy of New Jersey and opened with 77 students in elementary school through college. A fire destroyed the main building in 1911, but the school reopened in the following year and has grown steadily. A college division that had been part of the school when it was established was relocated to Lakewood Township, New Jersey in 1924 and became Georgian Court University. In the 1980s and 1990s it was a boarding school that housed local, out of state and international students.History, Mount St. Mary Academy. Accessed March 22, 2023. "In the spring of 1907, the cornerstone for the main building was laid and in less than two years, construction was completed. On September 28, 1908, Mount Saint Mary Academy opened its doors with a total enrollment of 77 students, including boys and girls in the elementary school, young women in the academy, and seven students in college."

Campus The campus is situated on a ridge of the Watchung Mountains, overlooking surrounding suburban towns and the skyline of New York City, which is to the east.

The school, a sponsored work of the Sisters of Mercy, is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of trustees. Its alumnae association, composed of about 4,100 graduates, provides support for a number of school functions. The school's physical plant is owned by the Sisters of Mercy of New Jersey.

Awards, recognition and rankings In 1984, Sister Mary Eloise Claire Kays became Directress of Mount Saint Mary Academy. Under the direction of Sister Mary Eloise Claire, the Academy enjoyed national recognition as an "Exemplary Private School" a designation bestowed on it by the US Department of Education. During the 1984–85 school year, Mount St. Mary Academy was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,National Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982 Through 2019 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed September 1, 2024. the highest award an American school can receive."CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department", Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006."Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test", The Washington Post, September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School."

In 1984–85, Mount Saint Mary Academy was one of 65 private schools in the United States to receive the Council for American Private Education's Exemplary Private School Recognition Project award.Staff. "1984-85 Exemplary Private School Recognition Project Honors 65 Schools", Cape Outlook of The Council for American Private Education, Number 112, June 1985. Accessed September 18, 2011.

Since 2011, the Academy's literary magazine, Echoes, has earned national awards in NCTE's Literary Magazine Competition.

Athletics The Mount St. Mary Academy Mount LionsMount Saint Mary Academy, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. compete in the Skyland Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools spanning Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties in northern New Jersey, operating under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 10, 2017. Prior to the NJSIAA's 2009 realignment, the school had participated in the Mountain Valley Conference, which included public and private high schools in Essex County, Somerset County and Union County.Home Page, Mountain Valley Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 2, 2011. Accessed December 15, 2014. With 528 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Non-Public A for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 381 to 1,454 students in that grade range (equivalent to Group II for public schools).NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.

The swimming team won the Non-Public Group B state championship in 2003, 2004, 2007-2009 and 2011, and won the Non-Public A title in 2005 (as co-champion with Immaculate Heart Academy) and 2006. The program's seven state titles are tied for fourth-most in the state.NJSIAA Boys and Girls Team Swimming History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. The swim team won the Non Public B state championship in 2007 with a 116–54 win vs. Pingry School.2007 Girls Team Swimming - Non Public - B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 4, 2007. In the 2013 finals at The College of New Jersey, the team defeated defending champion Mount Saint Dominic Academy 95–75 to win the Non-Public B title.Kelly, Carol J. "Mount St. Mary turns the tables a year later", Courier News, February 25, 2013. Accessed January 25, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Mount Lions, who advanced to the state final for the 12th consecutive season, faced Mount St. Dominic, a team that edged them 88-82 to snag the 2012 title. But Sunday's script was different. Mount St. Mary notched a 95-75 victory over the defending champions to capture the NJSIAA Non-Public B girls swimming team crown at The College of New Jersey." In 2020 and 2022, the team became the Raritan Division Skyland Conference Champions while also going on to become the NJSIAA A Division Champions and the NJSIAA Non-public “A” State Champions for the 2022 season.

The cross country team won the Non-Public B state championship in 2002, 2003 and 2012.NJSIAA Girls Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Notable alumnae

Angelou Ezeilo (born 1970 as Angelou Chiles, class of 1988), social entrepreneur and environmental activistDiBello, Diane. "Mount St. Mary's graduates 82", Courier News, June 5, 1988. Accessed February 9, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Commencement exercises for the 82 graduates of the Mount St. Mary's Academy followed a baccalaureate Mass at Immaculate Conception chapel yesterday.... Assistant Directress Margaret Shaw introduced the class and Directress Sister M. Eloise Claire gave diplomas to the following graduates:... Angelou Chiles..." Kim Komando (born 1967, class of 1981), host of radio shows about consumer technology"Campus Corner", Echoes-Sentinel, January 22, 1981. Accessed August 10, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Kim Komando of Watchung, has been elected by the Faculty and Administration of Mount Saint Mary Academy of Plainfield, New Jersey to the McAuley Chapter of the National Honor Society." * Corina Rodríguez López (1895–1982), Costa Rican educator, writer, feminist and occasional sculptorHilton, Ronald. Who's who in Latin America: Mexico, Central America, and Panama; Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Haiti; Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, p. 13. B. Ethridge, 1971. . Accessed August 10, 2025. Rodríguez López De Odin, Corina, teacher, writer; b. San Ramon, Costa Rica, Dec. 27, 1898; d. Joaquin Rodriguez and Juana López; ed. Colegio de Senoritas, 1910-14; Escuela Normal. 1914-15; Mt. St. Mary, NJ., U.S.A., 1916-20; Northwestern Univ., 1920-21" Janeen Uzzell, technology executive who is CEO of the National Society of Black Engineers and former COO of the Wikimedia Foundation"Steve Adubato goes One-on-One with Janeen Uzzell, Former Head of Women in Technology at GE, from the Amazon Alexa VOICE Summit at NJIT, to talk about the importance of diversity within the tech community.", One on One with Steve Adubato, September 28, 2018. Accessed February 2, 2020. "Janeen Uzzell, she is a former head of Women in Technology at GE, and currently emerging market and tech consultant.... Born and raised at the Beth? Beth Israel?... So, I grew up in Plainfield... It's a good town. Went to Mount St. Mary's"

References

External links School website Data for Mount Saint Mary Academy, National Center for Education Statistics