Villa Walsh Academy is a private Catholic college preparatory school for girls in seventh through twelfth grades located in Morristown, New Jersey, United States, conducted by the Religious Teachers Filippini. The school is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson, operating on an independent basis.[8] Its brother school is Delbarton School,[citation needed] with which it shares a transportation system.
| Villa Walsh Academy | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
455 Western Avenue , , 07960 United States | |
| Coordinates | 40°47′7″N 74°30′38″W / 40.78528°N 74.51056°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, all-girls |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Founder | Religious Teachers Filippini |
| NCES School ID | 01655307[7] |
| Principal | Elaine Bebyn[1] |
| Faculty | 27.3 FTEs[7] |
| Grades | 7–12 |
| Enrollment | 199 (as of 2021–22)[7] |
| Average class size | 40 - 60 girls in grades 9-12 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 7.3:1[7] |
| Color(s) | Green and white[4] |
| Athletics conference | Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference |
| Sports | Tennis, soccer, cross-country, volleyball, basketball, winter track, swimming, lacrosse, softball, track & field |
| Team name | Vikings[4] |
| Accreditation | Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools[3] |
| Publication | Innervisions (literary magazine)[5] |
| Newspaper | The Towerette[6] |
| Tuition | $24,000 (2023–24)[2] |
| Website | www |
Villa Walsh Academy is overseen by the New Jersey Department of Education and has accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1987; the school's accreditation expires in May 2023.[3] The school is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools.[9][10]
Villa Walsh Academy characterizes itself as one of the most selective in the state of New Jersey, with 50 students enrolled from 210 applicants.[9] As of the 2021–22 school year, the school had an enrollment of 199 students and 27.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.3:1. The school's student body was 80.4% (160) White, 7.0% (14) Hispanic, 5.5% (11) two or more races, 4.5% (9) Asian, 2.0% (4) Black and 0.5% (1) American Indian / Alaska Native.[7]
Mission statement
edit"The Mission of Villa Walsh Academy, a college preparatory Catholic school, is to inspire our young women to expand their intellectual breadth and depth and to enhance their sense of local and global concern, empowering them to influence their world in a Christian manner." [11]
Curriculum
editVilla Walsh Academy coursework covers theology, mathematics, the sciences, including computer science, humanities, social sciences and the fine arts; presenting a rigorous challenge and solid preparation for a college-bound population. Also offered are Advanced Placement preparation, honors sections, independent study, and academic accommodation for gifted and musically talented students. However, special arrangements for gifted students not capable of being fulfilled within the existing offerings of the academy should be seriously discussed with the administration prior to enrollment.
The school offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in AP English Language and Composition, AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP French Language, AP Italian Language and Culture, AP Spanish Language, AP United States History, AP European History and AP Computer Science.
Awards and recognition
editIn 2010, graduates received almost $5 million in scholarships and grant money. Between 2006 and 2010, 11 students were National Merit Scholar Finalists and 62 were National Merit Scholar Commended Students.[9]
In 2006, two students had a perfect 800 in the SAT on critical reading; one had a perfect 800 in math, two had a perfect 800 in writing.[9]
Athletics
editThe Villa Walsh Academy Vikings[4] participates in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Morris, Sussex and Warren counties and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[12][13] Before the NJSIAA's 2010 realignment, the school had competed in the Northern Hills Conference an athletic conference comprised of public and private high schools located in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.[14] With 304 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Non-Public B for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 37 to 366 students in that grade range (equivalent to Group I for public schools).[15]
Villa Walsh Academy won the ShopRite Cup Group B title in 2013–14, with first-place finishes in indoor relays and third-place finishes in cross-country, swimming (tied), indoor track and spring track and field, plus bonus points for having no disqualifications across all three athletic seasons.[16] The school was recognized as the winner of the 2015-16 ShopRite Cup in Group B, behind first-place finishes in soccer, cross-country, winter track relays and spring track and field, second-place finishes in winter track, and swimming, plus bonus points for having no disqualifications in the fall, winter and spring seasons.[17] The team won the Group B ShopRite Cup in 2016–17.[18]
The swimming team won the Non-Public B state championship in 2006.[19]
The tennis team won the Non-Public B state championship in 2008 and 2009, defeating Ranney School both years in the final match of the tournament.[20] The 2009 team repeated as Non-Public B champion, defeating Ranney School 5-0 in the finals at Mercer County Park.[21]
The cross-country team won the Non-Public B state title in 2009 and 2014–2017 and 2019.[22]
The track team won the indoor relay championship from 2013 to 2016.[23]
The soccer team won the Non-Public B state championship in 2014 and 2015, defeating Moorestown Friends School both years in the tournament final.[24]
The spring track team was Non-Public Group B state champion in 2016.[25]
Notable alumni
edit- Kathryn Tappen (born 1981), sportscaster who works on NBC Sports Group's coverage of hockey and football.[26]
References
edit- ^ Directory, Villa Walsh Academy. Accessed December 27, 2023.
- ^ Tuition, Villa Walsh Academy. Accessed May 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Villa Walsh Academy, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary Secondary Schools. Accessed January 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c Villa Walsh Academy, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 22, 2017.
- ^ Clubs & Ministries 2021-2022, Villa Walsh Academy. Accessed December 27, 2023.
- ^ Towerette, Villa Walsh Academy. Accessed December 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e School data for Villa Walsh Academy, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 1, 2023.
- ^ Morris County Schools, Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Accessed July 21, 2016.
- ^ a b c d 2010-11 Profile, Villa Walsh Academy. Accessed June 17, 2011.
- ^ List of Member Schools, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Accessed July 21, 2016.
- ^ "Mission Statement".
- ^ Home Page, Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. Accessed August 27, 2020. "The Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference prides itself on being one of New Jersey's premier high school conferences and is comprised of 39 high schools located in Northwest New Jersey."
- ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- ^ Home Page, Northern Hills Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 28, 2011. Accessed November 25, 2014.
- ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
- ^ Eleventh Annual ShopRite Cup 2013-2014 Final Standings, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- ^ 13th Annual ShopRite Cup 2015-2016 Final Standings, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- ^ 14th Annual Shop Rite Cup 2016 - 2017 Final Standings, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- ^ NJSIAA Boys and Girls Team Swimming History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- ^ Girls Tennis Championship History: 1971–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed September 1, 2024.
- ^ Seegers, Sandy. "Villa Walsh repeats; Non-Public B to advance to Tournament of Champions", Daily Record, October 22, 2009. Accessed February 24, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Last season, the Villa Walsh girls tennis team went on an uncharted journey, taking everything as it came and keeping its goals modest. That approach worked perfectly for the Vikings, who took their 2008 campaign to the limit, capturing conference, Morris County Tournament, sectional and group titles before landing in the Tournament of Champions.... On Wednesday, the Vikings, already winners of multiple championships, added another, repeating in Non-Public B with a 5-0 victory over Ranney at Mercer County Park and earning a berth in the TOC."
- ^ NJSIAA Girls Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- ^ History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- ^ NJSIAA History of Girls Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- ^ NJSIAA Girls Spring Track Summary of Group Titles, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- ^ Havsy, Jane. "Morristown native to work Notre Dame sideline for NBC", Daily Record, September 4, 2015. Accessed January 4, 2018. "Tappen grew up participating in many Morristown rec leagues and watching the NFL on Sundays with her family. A distance runner and basketball player at Villa Walsh, Tappen set the Rutgers record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase."