{{short description|Catholic high school in Bergen County, New Jersey, US}} {{for|the school in [[Richfield, Minnesota]]|Academy of Holy Angels}} {{Use American English|date=September 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox school | name = Academy of the Holy Angels | image = Holy_Angels.JPG | caption = | motto = ''Vitae Via Virtus'' | motto_translation = "Let virtue be your way of life" | address = 315 Hillside Avenue | city = [[Demarest, New Jersey|Demarest]] | county = [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]] | state = [[New Jersey]] | zipcode = 07627 | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|40|56|34|N|73|56|42|W|type:edu_region:US-NJ|display=inline,title}} | type = [[Private school|Private]], [[Single-sex education|all-female]], middle school and high school | religious_affiliation = [[Roman Catholic]] | denomination = | established = 1879 | founder = Sister Mary Nonna Dunphy, SSND | oversight = [[School Sisters of Notre Dame]] | ceeb = 310-390 | principal = Jean Miller<ref>[https://www.holyangels.org/about-us/principal Our Principal], Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed March 12, 2022.</ref> | grades = [[Sixth grade|6]]–[[Twelfth grade|12]] | enrollment = 519 (as of 2023–24)<ref name=NCES/> | faculty = 63.4 [[full-time equivalent|FTEs]]<ref name=NCES/> | ratio = 8.2:1<ref name=NCES/> | us_nces_school_id = 00864242<ref name=NCES/> | avg_class_size = 19 | song = [[Academy of the Holy Angels#Alma Mater|AHA Alma Mater]] | athletic_conference = [[Big North Conference (New Jersey)|Big North Conference]] | team_name = Angels<ref name=NJSIAAprofile/> | rival = [[Immaculate Heart Academy]], [[Paramus Catholic High School]] | accreditation = [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]]<ref name=MSA-CSS/> | publication = ''Blueprint'' (literary magazine)<br>''AHA International'' (international events newsletter) | newspaper = The AHA Voice | yearbook = Echoes<ref>[https://www.holyangels.org/clubs-activities Clubs & Activities], Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed March 12, 2022.</ref> | affiliation = [[School Sisters of Notre Dame]] | president = Melinda A. Hanlon<ref>[https://www.holyangels.org/about-us/our-president Our President], Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed March 12, 2022.</ref> | tuition = $23,950 (2025–26)<ref>[https://holyangels.org/admissions/tuition-and-financial-assistance/ Tuition and Financial Opportunities], Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed January 22, 2022.</ref> | campus_size = {{convert|25|acre|m2}} | campus_type = [[Suburban]] | colors = {{Color box|Royalblue}} Royal Blue and<br>{{Color box|White}} white<ref name=NJSIAAprofile/> | free_label = Dean of Students | free_text = Andrea Beyer | free_label1 = Admissions Director | free_text1 = Stephanie Dowling | free_label2 = Athletic Director | free_text2 = Lisa Musico | website = {{URL|https://www.holyangels.org/}} }}
The '''Academy of the Holy Angels''' is an all-female private middle school and college preparatory [[secondary education in the United States|high school]] located in [[Demarest, New Jersey|Demarest]], in [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]], serving students in sixth through twelfth grade.<ref>[https://holyangels.org/about/ About], Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed September 3, 2025. "The School Sisters of Notre Dame established the Academy of the Holy Angels in 1879 to educate and empower young women.... AHA is rooted in Catholic tradition, yet serves a diverse student body in Grades 6-12 where all are welcome."</ref> The school is a sponsored work of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.<ref>[https://catholicschoolsnj.org/bergen-county-1 Bergen County Catholic High Schools], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark]]. Accessed September 3, 2025.</ref> The Academy of the Holy Angels draws students from [[North Jersey]], [[Rockland County, New York]], and surrounding areas.
As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 519 students and 63.4 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a [[student–teacher ratio]] of 8.2:1. The school's student body was 52.4% (272) White, 23.7% (123) Asian, 11.4% (59) Hispanic, 7.9% (41) two or more races, 4.0% (21) Black, 0.2% (1) American Indian / Alaska Native and 0.4% (2) Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander.<ref name=NCES>[https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&ID=00864242 School data for Academy Of The Holy Angels], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed September 1, 2025.</ref>
The Academy of the Holy Angels is a member of the [[National Catholic Educational Association]] and the [[New Jersey Association of Independent Schools]].<ref>[http://www.njais.org/page.cfm?p=365 List of Member Schools], [[New Jersey Association of Independent Schools]]. Accessed November 12, 2016.</ref>
==History== The Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private school in Bergen County. Founded in 1879 by [[Religious sister|Sister]] Mary Nonna Dunphy, one of the [[School Sisters of Notre Dame]], the school was opened in [[Fort Lee, New Jersey|Fort Lee]], New Jersey as a boarding and day school for girls from kindergarten to twelfth grade. In 1890 it was incorporated as Holy Angels, Collegiate Institute for Young Ladies and Preparatory School for Little Girls. Its motto was then and remains now "Vitae Via Virtus." The Holy Angels Board voted to change the name of the school to the Academy of the Holy Angels in 1934 when Sister M. Angeline Hughes was Principal. The school accepted a developer's offer for the school's location in Fort Lee and purchased a large property in Demarest. The school had operated a grammar school in addition to the high school for decades and many graduates were known as "12 year Angels." The grammar school was discontinued completely in 1964 prior to the move from Fort Lee. Building commenced and the school relocated to its current location in Demarest in 1965.<ref>[http://www.holyangels.org/s/152/holyangels.aspx?sid=152&gid=1&pgid=877 "Holy Angels - History"], Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed April 2, 2009.</ref> The former site was replaced by Mediterranean Towers South at 2000 Linwood Avenue, on the northeast corner of Main Street and Linwood Avenue.
==Awards and recognition== During the 1999–2000 school year, the Academy of the Holy Angels was awarded the [[National Blue Ribbon Schools Program|Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence]] by the [[United States Department of Education]], the highest award an American school can receive.<ref>[https://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf#page=52 Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002], p. 52, [[National Blue Ribbon Schools Program]]. Accessed November 8, 2020.</ref><ref>[http://www.holyangels.org/s/152/holyangels.aspx?sid=152&gid=1&pgid=1054 "Holy Angels - Blue Ribbon School of Excellence"], Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed April 10, 2009.</ref>
The [[Corporation for National Service]] selected the Academy of the Holy Angels as a National Service-Learning Leader School, due to its excellence in service learning. Holy Angels is one of two Catholic high schools nationwide to receive this honor.<ref>[http://www.holyangels.org/s/152/holyangels.aspx?sid=152&gid=1&pgid=1055 "Holy Angels - National Service-Learning Leader School"], Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed April 10, 2009.</ref>
===Middle States accreditation=== The school is accredited by the [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]] Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools.<ref name=MSA-CSS>[https://www.msa-cess.org/school-profile/?oId=0065e00000B8S59&typ=school-profile Academy of the Holy Angels], [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]] Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed July 14, 2022.</ref> AHA chose Accreditation for Growth, a strategic planning method in which diverse constituent groups participate in discussions, which are then used as a method for growth and improvement, both academically by the students, as well as by the institution.<ref>[http://www.holyangels.org/s/152/holyangels.aspx?sid=152&gid=1&pgid=1957 "Holy Angels - Middle States"], Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed April 9, 2009.</ref>
==Technology== {{unreferenced section|date= February 2025}} Since 2005, upon entering the school, each student is required to buy a Fujitsu Tablet. Students use these tablets during school and at home to complete assignments, access the internet for research, take notes, and communicate with the faculty. Equipped with a pen and with a screen that can function as a notebook, students are able to use these tablets for all subjects such as History and Math. Features such as the Dropbox and Student Commons allow students to access notes and papers from the teachers on the school network, as well as place their own completed assignments within the folders on the network and, in effect, decrease the amount of paper used.
In addition, AHA is currently using [[Turnitin]], a website that scans finished papers and assignments for plagiarism and helps prevent it as well. Beginning with the class of 2011, AHA began to use LiveText, an online storage site in which each student is able to upload their best papers and projects, ultimately creating their own 'online resume.'
==Art== AHA facilities include four art studios and a lab for digital media. Winter and Spring Art Shows are held annually to feature artists. The school also has an active chapter of the National Art Honor Society, Art Club, and Photography Club.
The AHA Dance Team competes annually at the UDA National Dance Team Championship, hosted at the [[ESPN Wide World of Sports]] in Orlando, FL. The squad has won five National Titles in Small Varsity Hip Hop as well as placed in the top 3 in Small Varsity Pom for the past three years.<ref>[https://catholicschoolsnj.org/news/ahas-varsity-dancers-sign-with-top-collegiate-teams "AHA’s varsity dancers sign with top collegiate teams"], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark]], June 2, 2021.Accessed July 14, 2022. "These senior dancers have earned three Universal Dance Association national championships in small varsity hip-hop (2018, 2019, and 2021), and narrowly missed a fourth in 2020."</ref>
==Activities== The Academy of the Holy Angels provides a range of clubs and organizations that students can join based on their own interests and availability. In addition to after-school activities, the schedule of AHA allows a 45-minute activity period at the end of the day once a cycle, during which students can participate in in-school clubs and organizations. There are two cycles that alternate, and students can, therefore, choose two in-school activities to participate in.
===In-school activities=== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * AHAnime * Armenian Club * Art for the Community * Asian Cultural Society * Black and Hispanic Cultural Society * Blueprint Literary Magazine * Book Club * Comic Book Heroes on Film * CSI Angels * Deep Relaxation * Diversity Club * Drama Club * Echoes Yearbook * Embroidery Club * French Club * French for Travelers * Go Green * History Society * I'm Puzzled * Instrumental Ensemble/Orchestra * International Students Club * Italian Club * Japanese Club * Latin Dancing * Lean In * Literature on Film * Math Club/3D Design * Math Tutoring * M.E.D.S. * Music Makers * [[Outreach]] * Pen Pals * Project Greenhouse * Quillow 101 * Quick and Easy Crafts * Real Life 101 * Roman Personalities on Film * [[Students Against Destructive Decisions|SADD]] * [[Scrabble]], [[Checkers]], [[Chess]] * Spanish Club * Student Athletic Association * [[Student Council]] * Study Period * Ultimate Frisbee * Yoga * Young Entrepreneur {{div col end}}<ref>[https://www.holyangels.org/file/school-life/HandbookActivitiesClubsTeams.pdf "Clubs & Teams Activities Handbook"] Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed October 5, 2016.</ref>
===After-school activities=== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * Academy Chorus * Advisory Council * AHA Dance Team * AHA Voice (newspaper) * AHAnime * Angel Ambassadors * Angels for Animals * Angels For Life * Angels over Africa * Art Club * Asian Cultural Society * Big/Little Sister * Black & Hispanic Cultural Association * Blueprint Literary Magazine * Book Club * Bridges * Chess * CSI Angels (Forensics) * Dean's Council * Debate * Drama Club * Drawing from Model * Echoes (yearbook) * Embroidery * E-portfolio * Equality Now * Equestrian * Eucharistic Ministers * French Club * Gaelic Society * GO Green * Habitat for Humanity * [[Handbell]] * Hellenic Angels * Honduras Club * Instrumental Ensemble * Italian Club * Jazz Band * Jeweled Angels * JOY (Joining Old & Young) * Just Angels * Knitwits * Korean Club * Liturgical Ministers * Math Club * MEDS * Middle Eastern Club * Mock Trial * [[Model UN]] * Music Makers * [[Operation Smile]] * Orchestra * [[Outreach]] * Photography * [[Quidditch]] * Quiz Bowl * Retreat Leadership Teams * SADD * Service Organizations * ScoliAngels * Space Angels * Spanish Club * Stress Busters * Student Athletic Association * Student Council * Theater Productions * Vocal Ensemble * Walking for Fitness * Watercolor Painting * Writers' Club {{div col end}}
==Honors Societies== * [[National Honor Society]] * [[Mu Alpha Theta]] (National Mathematics Honor Society) * [[International Thespian Society|Thespian Honor Society]] (Performing Arts) * [[Science National Honor Society|National Science Honor Society]] * Società Onoraria Italica (Italian Language) * Societas Latina Honoris (Latin Language) * [[Société Honoraire de Français]] (French Language) * [[Spanish National Honor Society|Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica]] (Spanish Language) * [[Tri-M|Tri-M Honor Society]] (Music) * Rho Kappa (National Social Studies Honor Society) * NBEA (National Business Honor Society) * [[National Art Honor Society]]
==Athletics== The Angels of the Academy of the Holy Angels<ref name=NJSIAAprofile>[https://www.njsiaa.org/schools/academy-holy-angels Academy of the Holy Angels], [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. Accessed October 20, 2020.</ref> compete in the [[Big North Conference (New Jersey)|Big North Conference]], which is comprised of public and private high schools in Bergen and [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic]] counties, and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]].<ref>[https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-10/2020-2021-lc-officers-schools.pdf League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021], [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. Accessed October 20, 2020.</ref> Prior to realignment in 2010, the school competed in the [[North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League]], which consisted of public and private high schools located in Bergen County.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110724142847/http://www.njsiaa.org/NJSIAA/09leagueaffiliations.pdf New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association League Memberships – 2009-2010], [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]], backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of July 24, 2011. Accessed August 14, 2017.</ref> With 866 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 I for public schools).<ref>[https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/general-classifications-2018-2020.pdf NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020], [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. Accessed November 20, 2020.</ref>
The Academy of the Holy Angels has a long-standing rivalry with fellow Catholic school, [[Immaculate Heart Academy]] in [[Washington Township, Bergen County, New Jersey|Washington Township]]. In 2018, the varsity soccer team beat the Eagles 1-0 for the first time in history.<ref>Chessari, Joe. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110516205616/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22451154.html "AHA, IHA Ready To Rekindle Budding Rivalry"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', February 14, 1999. Accessed October 26, 2007. "It's a friendly rivalry, this one between the girls' basketball teams of Academy of the Holy Angels and Immaculate Heart Academy."</ref>
The cross country team won the Non-Public A state titles in both 2006 and 2009.<ref name=NJSIAAGirlsCrossCountry>[https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-xc-group-team-champions.pdf NJSIAA Girls Cross Country State Group Champions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326103502/https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-xc-group-team-champions.pdf |date=March 26, 2023 }}, [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>
Basketball coach Susan Liddy was recognized in fall 2008 for having reached a milestone 600th win.<ref>[https://issuu.com/academyoftheholyangels/docs/wintertidings_09 "Hall of Fame: Inductee Susan Liddy reached milestone."] ''Tidings'' 2 (Winter 2009): 15. Accessed September 23, 2020.</ref>
The tennis team won the Non-Public A state championship in 2015 (defeating [[Eustace Preparatory School]] in the final match of the tournament) and in 2018 (vs. [[Pingry School]]).<ref name=NJSIAAGirlsTennis>[https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2023-10/Girls%20Tennis.pdf Girls Tennis Championship History: 1971–2023], [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]], updated November 2023. Accessed September 1, 2024.</ref> The 2015 team ran their record for the season to 16–0 after winning the Non-Public A state title over Bishop Eustace 4–1 in the tournament finals at [[Mercer County Park]].<ref>[https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/article/holy-angels-girls-tennis-beats-bishop-eustace-in-non-public-a-for-first-title/ "Holy Angels girls tennis beats Bishop Eustace in Non-Public A for first title"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], October 15, 2015, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed March 3, 2021. "For the first time in school history, the Holy Angels girls tennis team, No. 11 in the NJ.com Top 20, is a state champion after a 4-1 victory over Bishop Eustace in the Non-Public A final at Mercer County Park.... Holy Angels is now 16-0 on the season and beat No. 12 Oak Knoll and No. 16 Pingry in the North Jersey, Non-Public A sectional tournament just to make it to the Non-Public A state championship match."</ref>
The bowling team won the Group II state championship in 2015.<ref>https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/20-bowling_0.pdf History of NJSIAA Girls Bowling Championships, [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. Accessed November 1, 2020.</ref>
Sports offered to students at AHA include:<ref name=NJSIAAprofile/><ref>[http://www.holyangels.org/s/152/holyangels.aspx?sid=152&gid=1&pgid=870 "Holy Angels - Athletics"], Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed April 12, 2009.</ref>
;Fall sports * [[Cross country running]] * [[Gymnastics]] * [[Soccer]] * [[Tennis]] * [[Volleyball]] * [[Bergen Catholic High School|Bergen Catholic]] Varsity Cheer * [[Saint Joseph Regional High School|St. Joseph's]] Varsity Cheer
;Winter sports * [[Basketball]] * [[Bowling]] * [[Fencing]] * [[Indoor track]]
;Spring sports * [[Golf]] * [[Lacrosse]] * [[Softball]] * [[Track and field]]
== Alma mater == The official alma mater for Holy Angels was written by Margaret Mary Powers Gidez (Class of 1942). The original lyrics of the first two lines were, "With stately dome arising high and golden cross above." When the Academy relocated to Demarest in 1965, the lyrics were changed to reflect the move.<ref>[https://www.holyangels.org/alma-mater, "AHA Alma Mater"] Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed December 6, 2014.</ref>
==Notable alumnae== * [[Greta Kiernan]] (born 1933), politician who served in the [[New Jersey General Assembly]] from the [[New Jersey's 39th legislative district|39th Legislative District]] from 1978 to 1980.<ref>Lynch, James F. [https://www.nytimes.com/1979/01/14/archives/new-jersey-weekly-interview-a-practical-pragmatic-assemblywoman.html "Interview: A Practical, Pragmatic Assemblywoman"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 14, 1979. Accessed April 26, 2020. "Born Greta Spier in New York City in 1933, she attended the Academy of the Holy Angels in Fort Lee and the Berkeley School of Business."</ref> * [[Nita Naldi]] (1894–1961), stage performer and silent film actress<ref>[https://walkoffame.com/nita-naldi/ Nita Naldi], [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]. Accessed December 17, 2024. "She was named for her great aunt, Mary Nonna Dunphy, who founded Academy of the Holy Angels in Ft. Lee, New Jersey. She would attend the school in 1910."</ref> * [[Susie Wiles]] (born 1957, class of 1975), political consultant who was selected by Donald Trump to serve as the 32nd [[White House Chief of Staff|White House chief of staff]] in his [[Second presidency of Donald Trump|second administration]]<ref>Zimmer, David M. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2024/11/13/susie-wiles-first-woman-white-house-chief-staff-nj/76228225007/ "Susie Wiles, the first woman White House chief of staff, is from New Jersey"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', November 13, 2024. Accessed December 17, 2024. "As a teenager, Wiles attended the Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, a private all-girls school founded in 1879. She graduated from the academy in 1975 before moving on to the University of Maryland."</ref>
==Notable faculty== * [[Herbert Cohen (fencer)|Herb Cohen]] (born 1940), fencing coach, two-time Olympian<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/holyangelsnj/p/B7_ncMYB5qt/ "At yesterday's meet, the fencing team honored fencing official, Herb Cohen,"] Instagram.</ref>
==In popular culture== In the 1947 noir film ''[[Kiss of Death (1947 film)|Kiss of Death]]'' the Academy, then located in Fort Lee, was the setting of an orphanage where main character Nick Bianco (played by [[Victor Mature]]) visits his daughters. The film was directed by [[Henry Hathaway]] and the nun in the orphanage was portrayed by [[Eva Condon]].<ref>Meyers, Tom. [https://patch.com/new-jersey/fortlee/a-date-with-the-angels-at-the-mediterranean-towers "A Date With The Angels At The Mediterranean Towers"], Fort Lee, NJ Patch, June 22, 2012. Accessed January 22, 2022.</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.holyangels.org/ Academy of the Holy Angels] *[https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolID=00864242&ID=00864242 Data for the Academy of the Holy Angels], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]
{{Bergen County, New Jersey High Schools}} {{Big North Conference}} {{NJAIS}} {{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark}} {{Girls' schools in New Jersey}} {{Girls' schools in New York City suburbs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Academy Of The Holy Angels}} [[Category:1879 establishments in New Jersey]] [[Category:Demarest, New Jersey]] [[Category:Girls' schools in New Jersey]] [[Category:Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools]] [[Category:New Jersey Association of Independent Schools]] [[Category:Private high schools in Bergen County, New Jersey]] [[Category:Catholic secondary schools in New Jersey]] [[Category:Educational institutions established in 1879]] [[Category:Archdiocese of Newark]] [[Category:School Sisters of Notre Dame schools]]