Ursuline Academy (New Orleans)

Ursuline Academy is a private, Catholic, all-girls high school and elementary school (Toddler 2 through 12th grade) in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is located within the Archdiocese of New Orleans and under the trusteeship of the Ursuline Sisters of the New Orleans Community, part of the Ursuline Central Province of North America. Founded in 1727, the Academy is the oldest Catholic school and the oldest school for women in the United States.

Ursuline Academy main entrance

Ursuline Academy
Location
2635 State Street New Orleans , Louisiana 70118 United States
Coordinates	29°56′27.5″N 90°6′48.27″W
Information
Type	Private, All-Girls
Motto	Serviam ("I will serve")
Religious affiliation(s)	Catholic
Established	1727; 298 years ago (1727)
President	Laurie Eichelberger Leiva
Teaching staff	53.0 (FTE) (2019–20)[1]
Grades	T2–12
Gender	Female
Enrollment	563[1] (2019–20)
Student to teacher ratio	9.7 (2019–20)[1]
Color(s)	Navy and White
Sports	Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Golf, Swimming, Soccer, Cross Country, Dance, Cheer, Tennis, Track & Field, Indoor Track, Gymnastics
Mascot	Lions
Accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[2][3]
Tuition	$12,585 + $1,850 fees = $14,435 (2023-24, high school)
Principal (ES)	Sue Heidel
Principal(HS)	Sue Heidel
Website	www.uanola.org

Courtyard

History

The Ursuline Academy was founded in 1727 by the Sisters of the Order of Saint Ursula, in New Orleans. It is the oldest continuously-operating school for girls, and the oldest Catholic school in the United States.^[4]

The Academy included the first convent, the first free school, and the first retreat center for ladies. It offered the first classes for female African-American slaves, free women of color, and Native Americans.^[4]

National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, on the Ursuline campus

Academics

An Ursuline education is based on the philosophy of Saint Angela Merici.^[4]

Traditions

Rally began in 1948 as a way for classes to show their school spirit in the areas of volleyball intramurals, through skits, posters, songs, and cheers. Each class was given a name (Skip, Mac, Leprechaun or Sioux (now Phoenix)) to replace existing sororities on campus and carried them until they graduated and passed them on to a little sister class.^[5][6]

Athletics

Ursuline Academy athletics competes in the LHSAA.

Notable alumnae

• Lurita Doan, administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration^{[citation needed]}
• Mary Landrieu, US Senator^{[citation needed]}

See also

• History of the Ursulines in New Orleans