Academy of St. Elizabeth
Encyclopedia
The Academy of Saint Elizabeth is a private secondary school
for young women located in Convent Station
, New Jersey
, United States
. The college preparatory school has an enrollment of two hundred and thirty students. Established in 1860, the academy is the oldest secondary school for young women in New Jersey. It is operated independent of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
.
As of the 2006-07 school year, the school had an enrollment of 244 students and 25.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a Student–teacher ratio of 9.5.
The community of Convent Station
, which is adjacent to Morristown
, was named for the railway station constructed in the 1870s to accommodate the 200 acre (0.809372 km²) complex of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
that also includes the College of Saint Elizabeth
and Saint Anne's Villa. The religious order was founded in 1859 in Newark
, but in 1860 the motherhouse
of the new religious order and the academy were established on the site near Morristown.
The academy is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
.
. In 1859, Mother Xavier was commissioned by Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley to establish a school for young women in New Jersey, the first secondary school for young women in the state. The Academy was established in Madison in September 1860 in a white frame building that still stands. The renaming to Convent Station would come later when Mother Xavier provided funding in the 1870s for the Convent Station
train station just outside the school's gates.
When the religious order founded the academy, they moved their mother house and convent from Newark onto a parcel that was located on the developing "Millionaires Row" that stretched from Lonataka Parkway to the center of Morristown, described as the "inland Newport
" because of the many wealthy families who built grand homes along the route. In 1865, Morristown changed its incorporation to the new "town" category with a boundary that then excluded their large land holdings. Thirty years later, that boundary line officially delineated two governmental jurisdictions in 1895 when Morristown was formally set off from the rest of Morris Township.
The College of Saint Elizabeth
was founded in 1899 as part of the complex and, notably, it is the oldest women's college in New Jersey and one of the first Catholic colleges in the United States to award degrees to women. After the new boundary delineated the governmental jurisdiction of Morristown as a smaller area, a community eventually grew up between Morristown and Madison as a separate entity that eventually took its name from the railway station built on the extensive Saint Elizabeth's property
.
The first students entered in 1860; the Registration Ledger of September 1 still resides in the principal's office, as do the records of every succeeding year. In 1865, the new Academy building was completed and its first commencement exercises were held on the growing campus. By then, the school had gained a wide reputation for scholarship and was recognized and accepted throughout the state as an institution of strong academics, culture, and Catholic learning for young women. The Sisters continued to acquire land whenever it became available, allowing for a campus that is today over 200 acre (0.809372 km²) and also the home of the College of Saint Elizabeth
, founded in 1899.
Initially it served as a boarding school
, but in the 1970s it became strictly a day school. The dormitories were converted into classrooms.
The Academy's swim team won six straight Northern Hills Conference
Championships (2002-2007) and came second in the 2007 Morris County Championships.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
for young women located in Convent Station
Convent Station, New Jersey
Convent Station is an unincorporated area within Morris Township, Morris County, New Jersey, east of Morristown.-History:The community is named after, and contains, the railroad station established during the 1870s to serve the complex of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, a Catholic school operated...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The college preparatory school has an enrollment of two hundred and thirty students. Established in 1860, the academy is the oldest secondary school for young women in New Jersey. It is operated independent of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
The Diocese of Paterson is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, which includes three counties in northern New Jersey: Passaic, Morris, and Sussex. The city of Paterson, third-largest in the state of New Jersey, was chosen as the episcopal see, even though...
.
As of the 2006-07 school year, the school had an enrollment of 244 students and 25.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), for a Student–teacher ratio of 9.5.
The community of Convent Station
Convent Station, New Jersey
Convent Station is an unincorporated area within Morris Township, Morris County, New Jersey, east of Morristown.-History:The community is named after, and contains, the railroad station established during the 1870s to serve the complex of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, a Catholic school operated...
, which is adjacent to Morristown
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
, was named for the railway station constructed in the 1870s to accommodate the 200 acre (0.809372 km²) complex of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth are a Roman Catholic apostolic congregation of pontifical right, based in the Convent Station area of Morris Township, New Jersey. The stated purpose of the order is to show the love of Jesus Christ in serving those in need, especially the poor...
that also includes the College of Saint Elizabeth
College of Saint Elizabeth
The College of Saint Elizabeth is a private Roman Catholic, four-year, liberal arts college for women. It is located in an unincorporated community called Convent Station, in Morris Township, New Jersey...
and Saint Anne's Villa. The religious order was founded in 1859 in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, but in 1860 the motherhouse
Motherhouse
The term motherhouse is used by religious Orders and religious congregations to designate the principal house or community for that group. It can be either for the entire institute or for a region....
of the new religious order and the academy were established on the site near Morristown.
The academy is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
The New Jersey Association of Independent Schools serves independent elementary and secondary schools throughout the state of New Jersey. The Association consists of 70 member schools with a total enrollment of approximately 26,000 students...
.
History
The Academy of Saint Elizabeth was founded at Morristown in 1860 by the Sisters of CharitySisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth are a Roman Catholic apostolic congregation of pontifical right, based in the Convent Station area of Morris Township, New Jersey. The stated purpose of the order is to show the love of Jesus Christ in serving those in need, especially the poor...
. In 1859, Mother Xavier was commissioned by Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley to establish a school for young women in New Jersey, the first secondary school for young women in the state. The Academy was established in Madison in September 1860 in a white frame building that still stands. The renaming to Convent Station would come later when Mother Xavier provided funding in the 1870s for the Convent Station
Convent Station (NJT station)
Convent Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Morristown Line. It is located on the grounds of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station, Morris Township....
train station just outside the school's gates.
When the religious order founded the academy, they moved their mother house and convent from Newark onto a parcel that was located on the developing "Millionaires Row" that stretched from Lonataka Parkway to the center of Morristown, described as the "inland Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
" because of the many wealthy families who built grand homes along the route. In 1865, Morristown changed its incorporation to the new "town" category with a boundary that then excluded their large land holdings. Thirty years later, that boundary line officially delineated two governmental jurisdictions in 1895 when Morristown was formally set off from the rest of Morris Township.
The College of Saint Elizabeth
College of Saint Elizabeth
The College of Saint Elizabeth is a private Roman Catholic, four-year, liberal arts college for women. It is located in an unincorporated community called Convent Station, in Morris Township, New Jersey...
was founded in 1899 as part of the complex and, notably, it is the oldest women's college in New Jersey and one of the first Catholic colleges in the United States to award degrees to women. After the new boundary delineated the governmental jurisdiction of Morristown as a smaller area, a community eventually grew up between Morristown and Madison as a separate entity that eventually took its name from the railway station built on the extensive Saint Elizabeth's property
Convent Station (NJT station)
Convent Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Morristown Line. It is located on the grounds of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station, Morris Township....
.
The first students entered in 1860; the Registration Ledger of September 1 still resides in the principal's office, as do the records of every succeeding year. In 1865, the new Academy building was completed and its first commencement exercises were held on the growing campus. By then, the school had gained a wide reputation for scholarship and was recognized and accepted throughout the state as an institution of strong academics, culture, and Catholic learning for young women. The Sisters continued to acquire land whenever it became available, allowing for a campus that is today over 200 acre (0.809372 km²) and also the home of the College of Saint Elizabeth
College of Saint Elizabeth
The College of Saint Elizabeth is a private Roman Catholic, four-year, liberal arts college for women. It is located in an unincorporated community called Convent Station, in Morris Township, New Jersey...
, founded in 1899.
Initially it served as a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
, but in the 1970s it became strictly a day school. The dormitories were converted into classrooms.
Athletics
The Academy of Saint Elizabeth competes in the Suburban Division of the Northern Hills Conference.The Academy's swim team won six straight Northern Hills Conference
Northern Hills Conference
The Northern Hills Conference, was an athletic conference of nineteen private and public high schools located in Essex, Morris and Passaic County Counties in Northern New Jersey....
Championships (2002-2007) and came second in the 2007 Morris County Championships.
Curriculum
The Academy requires four years of mathematic, English, and theology courses, at least three years of the same foreign language (Spanish, French, or Latin), and two lab sciences. One art class is required. Juniors and seniors may take college prep, honors or AP courses, while freshmen and sophomores are limited to college prep and honors. The AP classes are offered are: Calculus AB and BC, Latin: Vergil, Spanish Literature, English Literature and Composition, English Language and Composition, US History, European History, Chemistry, and Biology.External links
- school website
- Data for the Academy of St. Elizabeth, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...