Catherine McAuley High School is an all-girls, private

Private school

Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...

, Roman Catholic high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

 in Brooklyn

Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...

, New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy

Sisters of Mercy

The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....

 in 1942, it is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn

Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes territory that was previously part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, was established as a separate diocese in 1853 when the City of Brooklyn was separate from New York City....

.

Background

A young woman named Catherine McAuley was dedicated to serving the poor, sick and uneducated in Dublin, Ireland. In 1827 she inherited the equivalent of 1 million dollars from a former employer. She founded the Sisters of Mercy to further her mission. Catherine McAuley High School is sponsored by The Sisters of Mercy and is dedicated to "preparing young Christian women for life."

Catherine McAuley High School is a small, all-girls' Catholic school in the diverse community of East Flatbush

East Flatbush, Brooklyn

East Flatbush is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 17 Though the borders of East Flatbush are highly subjective, its northern border is roughly at Empire Boulevard and East New York Avenue east of East 91st Street, its southern...

in Brooklyn, New York. The original name was Catherine McAuley "Commercial" High School, reflecting the fact that most graduates went directly to the workforce after high school. The success of McAuley's college preparatory curriculum is evidenced by annual graduation and college acceptance rates near 100%. McAuley grants an amazing amount of financial aid to many students. McAuley adheres to the New York State Curriculum guidelines. Numerous after school activities exist so young women can explore their hidden talents and pursue areas of interest.

In 2002, Catherine McAuley High School was the first in New York City to offer a boarding program for teenagers. The boarding program is administered in partnership with Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York, a nonprofit organization founded in 1977 which helps academically capable and motivated children from abuse, neglect or otherwise at-risk situations to meet their full potential by providing value-centered, family-like homes, opportunities, and education through college. McAuley Convent, home to many Sisters of Mercy from 1950 to 2001, now serves as a dormitory for up to 40 students, who live there five days per week. Students in the boarding program, referred to as "Scholars," are expected to maintain an 85 GPA and follow a disciplined course of study for their academic and moral development.