The Mary Louis Academy: An Investment in Young Women's Futures

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, The Mary Louis Academy (TMLA) stands as a beacon of Catholic education for young women in Jamaica Estates, Queens, New York City. Rooted in the mission of Jesus, TMLA strives to create a reconciling and non-violent community, fostering unity and all-inclusive love. This college preparatory school is dedicated to academic excellence, leadership development, and spiritual growth, preparing its students to become confident and compassionate leaders in a rapidly changing world. TMLA's commitment to providing a strong foundational preparation for young women is further solidified by the opening of The Mary Louis Academy Middle School in September 2025, welcoming students in grades 6-8.

A Legacy of Academic Excellence and Holistic Development

Considered one of the most highly regarded college preparatory schools in the nation, TMLA focuses on academic achievement. The academy holds memberships in the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and other special emphasis associations. TMLA boasts a rigorous academic environment where students are encouraged to reach their maximum potential. The curriculum is designed to challenge and inspire, fostering leadership and personal development.

Advanced Academic Opportunities

Most TMLA students earn the NY State Regents diploma with Advanced Designation. This designation requires an additional two math assessments and one science assessment, for a total of 7-8 Regents exams, beyond the standard requirements. Each student is allowed to create their individualized program to ensure they are reaching their maximum potential. This includes allowing all-Honors/Advanced Placement courses or a mix of Regents curriculum and advanced courses. TMLA offers 18 AP courses, providing students with the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. The College Advantage Program further enriches the academic experience, allowing students to take college courses with St. John’s University.

Personalized Learning Environment

TMLA prides itself on small class sizes. Consequently, it has a student to teacher ratio of 13:1 as well as an average class size of 26. This allows each student to get the personalized education that they need. TMLA holds the distinction of being the first school in Queens to have SMART Boards in every classroom and to issue iPads to all new students. They even include computers throughout the school with high-speed internet and the ability for students to Skype/Zoom with fellow students throughout the country.

Tuition and Financial Aid: Making a TMLA Education Accessible

Understanding the financial commitment involved in private education, TMLA strives to make its exceptional education accessible to a diverse range of students.

Tuition Costs and Payment Options

Tuition is $9,300 and can be paid either as a full, upfront payment (with a discount of $200) or over several payment options. Students are able to split their tuition between four payments or ten payments, with the ten payment option including a premium of $100. New student registration fees and annual fees are each $450. This covers expenses such as textbooks, workbooks, guest speakers, and testing.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities

Approximately 40% of students receive financial assistance of some sort, with the average amount approximately $3,000. The school states that they provide the most scholarships to girls within the diocese with over $2.3 million awarded. TMLA offers a service-based scholarship. Students applying for the CSJ Scholar Incentive Award must showcase how they are committed to service in their neighborhood. This must be corroborated by an adult supervisor through evaluation of activities and involvement. To be considered for the academic scholarship requires that the student selects TMLA as her first choice on TACHS or CHSEE. The applicant must then also take the TMLA Scholarship Examination.

Fundraising Activities

There are required fundraising activities for students, such as a Walk-a-Thon.

Admissions: A Holistic Approach to Selecting Future Leaders

TMLA employs a selective admissions process, seeking students who demonstrate academic promise, leadership potential, and a commitment to service.

Entrance Requirements

Students must complete the TACHS/CHSEE Exam to gain entrance to TMLA. Admissions preference is given to those students who identify TMLA as their first choice school on the TACHS (using designation #16); however, all students who apply are considered. The selection process is based on academics as well as test scores and can be highly selective. Students must score above the 90th percentile on the TACHS to be considered for scholarships.

The Importance of Preparation

One of the best ways to improve your score is to take practice tests. The student can become much more familiar with the material and format. This will eliminate surprises on test day. TMLA’s high school admissions process gives strong preferences to girls who sit for an interview. Girls have the opportunity to show more than your daughter’s academics with which the admissions council are familiar.

Application Process for International Students

The I-20 is not a visa - it is a Certificate of Eligibility confirming your admission to a SEVP-certified school. Academic Approval - Admission is conditional upon I-20 and F-1 visa approval. New Grade 12 students not accepted in September. Grades 9-11 only. Grade 9 applicants by Dec. Please enter the name of the prospective student here. (Must contain a date in MM/DD/YYYY format). Valid range: Sep 1, 2025 - Sep 1, 2026Expected Graduation DaterequiredWrite in June of the year of your anticipated graduation; use mm/dd/yyyy format. (Must contain a date in MM/DD/YYYY format)Upload a notarized letter of financial support written (and translated into English, if necessary) by the guardian with a bank statement from a US Bank showing sufficient funds to cover the student's expenses for at least one year. guardian's identification, e.g.

Beyond the Classroom: A Vibrant Community

TMLA provides a well-rounded educational experience that extends beyond the classroom.

Extracurricular Activities

There are over 30 different clubs offered at TMLA, including activities like Adopt-A-Grandparent, cultural clubs, Book Club, CSJ Leadership Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Hellenic Society, Mariel, Medical Unlimited, and the National Honors Society.

Athletics

Alongside these clubs and organizations are 29 different athletic teams, the most extensive all-girls sports program in New York City. The school has won championships at all levels, and graduates of the school are in each college sports division.

Read also: William and Mary Law

Spiritual Development

Consistent with the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph, The Mary Louis Academy seeks to develop leaders who are rooted in Gospel values and committed to creating a just society. We are a community that celebrates cultural diversity. Overnight retreats are available to students at St. Joseph's Villa, the CSJ beachfront estate in the Hamptons. Annual full-day retreats for each grade level at St. Joseph's Renewal Center. There are two full Chapels on campus. Juniors each contribute 50 hours of volunteer service to a program they select that provides help to individuals in need.

A Launchpad for Future Success

Students who attend The Mary Louis Academy have a 100% success rate in attending college, and 86% of seniors receive one or more merit-based scholarships. The program to assist students with placement starts in the 9th grade when they meet with the college counselor to create their individualized college plan. Students tend to move on to colleges such as St. John’s University, New York University, and Stony Brook University.

A Historical Perspective

The Mary Louis Academy was founded in 1936 by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, New York, fulfilling their late General Superior, Mother Mary Louis',[2] dream to found an academy for young women in Queens. The Mary Louis Academy is chartered by the University of the State of New York, accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and sponsored by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. While traveling on the Long Island Rail Road in early 1932, Mother Mary Louis, the General Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph, selected the hilltop, the Fox/Adikes estate "Rose Crest," in the countryside of Jamaica Estates as her site for an academy;[4] however, Mother Mary Louis died on May 22, 1932.[5] Later, the hilltop was purchased by the Passionist priests of the neighboring Immaculate Conception Monastery with the intent to build a high school seminary for boys at that location. In 1935, the Sisters of St. Joseph officially acquired the Rose Crest estate, and the Mediterranean Revival white stucco mansion became the convent for the Sisters. Mother Mary Louis had intended the nascent academy to be named Mother Fontbonne Academy, in memory of Jeanne Fontbonne, the foundress of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Le Puy, France. Archbishop Molloy suggested that the Academy be named in memory of Mother Mary Louis herself. The architect of the academy's building, Henry Murphy, stated that he wanted to evoke the feel of the private prep schools found in New England. Murphy proceeded to model the building after the Sterling Law Building at Yale University. The building was built over a period of two years and finally opened its doors on October 16, 1938. The Collegiate Gothic, was known as the main building. James Nelson, the builder of TMLA, celebrated the birth of his daughter during the building's construction by naming her for the Academy. Nelson subsequently registered his daughter as TMLA's first prospective student. The first students were fifteen young women who were greeted by a faculty of eight sisters for the first day of school on September 14, 1936. Classes were held in the parlor of the mansion that presently adjoins the Academy (now known as The Mary Louis Convent), while plans for the permanent Academy building were formulated. During this time, two wings were also added to the mansion, housing a refectory and a Mission style chapel. In 1938, TMLA also opened the doors to The Mary Louis Kindergarten, a one-year preschool program for 5-year-old girls and boys. The kindergarten was housed in a cottage adjacent to the convent and later moved to Immaculata Hall, one of the larger cottages on the academy's campus (the present-day Formation Cottage). Mariel, the school newspaper, published its first issue in 1936. The Christmas Pageant, sponsored by the Sodality, became an annual event. Spirit Night also became an annual tradition. In 1940, the first Commencement Exercises of The Mary Louis Academy, with the introduction of the C.L.S. In 1955, work began on an extension, initially to be named DeChantal Wing, later known simply as "The Wing." When the wing was opened in 1957, the maximum capacity of the academy was effectively doubled. The original cafeteria, DeChantal Hall, was redesigned into a seven-room music complex; the original locker room became the ten-room guidance complex; the reception parlor became the general office; and a laboratory, a cafeteria, a locker room, and several classrooms were introduced. During the 1960s and 1970s, the academy's building layout and curriculum were overhauled in response to the revision of the secondary school curriculum by the New York Department of Education. Student resource centers were established, an art studio (the Art Cottage) was constructed on the campus, and the library was expanded. In the 1970s, The Mary Louis Kindergarten was closed in deference to the neighboring Immaculate Conception Elementary School opening a kindergarten program of its own. In the 1980s, a computer science class was made available, and a computer room was opened accordingly. The academy applied for and was granted accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The boardroom was renovated and consecrated. In the early 2000s, the auditorium was retooled with restored lighting, a refurbished stage, updated flooring, cushioned seats, and air conditioning.[6] The main staircase, constructed in 1937, underwent a restoration, and the general office was restored to its 1938 floor plan. Home Economics was removed from the New York State Regent's curriculum and, as such, was subsequently removed from the academy's curriculum. The now-defunct Home Economics Complex was repurposed into three additional classrooms. In 2004, TMLA renovated the adjacent wing of the convent. In 2011, the number of Sisters residing in The Mary Louis Convent had diminished; as a result, the remaining Sisters relocated to neighboring convents, and the Convent building was turned over to TMLA. In the summer of 2014, TMLA renovated the former Convent Building (the original Rose Crest Mansion). At the recommendation of the New York City Council, the Office of Mayor Michael Bloomberg approved the naming of Wexford Terrace between Edgerton Boulevard and Dalny Road, Mother Mary Louis Way, in honor of Mother Mary Louis Crummey CSJ, founder and namesake of The Mary Louis Academy.

The All-Girls Advantage: Empowering Young Women

TMLA's commitment to all-girls education provides a unique and empowering environment for young women to thrive. Research shows that such an environment fosters academic success, boosts confidence, provides individualized attention, and offers many other benefits.

Testimonials: Voices of the TMLA Community

Ava Thomas '26, TMLA Student“My favorite part of being a student at The Mary Louis Academy is the school community. There are so many exciting activities that really bring the student body together such as TMLA Christmas, spirit week, and walk-a-thon. Additionally, I chose to come to Mary Louis because of the vigorous academic experience and competitive opportunity in the CHSAA varsity basketball program. I get to play basketball, involve myself in community events, and participate in the music program.

Aoibhe Gallagher '26, TMLA Student"The Mary Louis Academy is the perfect place to find your voice and to challenge yourself to become a better person. Being on our Swim and Lacrosse teams help me to push myself out of my comfort zone but also teach me how important teamwork is. As an ambassador I’m given the opportunity to show the next group of Mary Louis women what it’s like to be a part of this amazing school.

Mr. Tom Cordero, English Department Chair, Teacher & Music Minister“Teaching at TMLA allows me the opportunity to stretch my creative muscles and professional skills to their fullest extent. This reflects our students, each of whom discovers herself at TMLA to be a Renaissance Woman.

Mrs. Gina Popp P'26, TMLA Parent“My favorite aspect of The Mary Louis Academy is the all-girl education. Research shows that such an environment fosters academic success, boosts confidence, provides individualized attention, and offers many other benefits. This school has proven these advantages to be true, empowering young women to become strong, independent leaders of the future!

Nithya Nair '26, TMLA Student“The Mary Louis Academy has given me countless opportunities to learn and grow. Participating in a wide range of extracurricular activities has helped me make new friends, develop valuable skills, and explore new interests. Whether it's badminton, book club, or speech and debate, each experience has truly enriched my life. The best part of the TMLA community is the strong sense of sisterhood and support that fills the school.

Paola Torres '27, TMLA Student"When I first arrived at Mary Louis, I felt instantly at home. Whether it’s eating the delicious food in the cafeteria or connecting with my peers, there is never a moment I regret at this school. The community is extremely inclusive and I know that I can reach out to anyone anytime. When I was an 8th grader and came to the open house, I instantly knew that the opportunities offered here are amazing and great for me.

Mrs. Laura Antzoulis '09, Dean of Students: Grades 10 & 12"As Dean of Students, it is my privilege and responsibility to help raise the young women of tomorrow. The culture at The Mary Louis Academy is designed to challenge and inspire, fostering leadership and personal development. I felt this firsthand when I was a student at TMLA. By emphasizing collaboration over competition, the TMLA community empowers young women to be their most authentic and hard-working selves.

Mr. Tom Carty P'25, TMLA Parent“The Mary Louis Academy has provided both of my daughters with an outstanding high school experience. The academic rigor, wide variety of extra-curricular offerings, and strong social emotional support led each to thrive in a warm, caring environment.

Mrs. Vanessa Gecewicz '94, P '22, Music Teacher"Being a member of the faculty for twenty years, as well as being a graduate myself, and a part of a family with many TMLA alumnae - including my mother, my aunts, and my daughter - TMLA has been my second home for much of my life. I can say from experience that the education that our students receive, along with the support and opportunities that they are provided, is unparalleled.

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