Academy of Holy Angels - History

History

The Academy of Holy Angels was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 15, 1931, when the newly constructed building was opened. The initial enrollment of 107 students in grades 1-12 grew to 182 by the end of the 1931-1932 school year. The original grounds included a formal English garden in the courtyard, tennis courts, a 9 hole golf course, and an ice skating rink during the winter.

The school was accredited in 1932, and that same year the school had its first graduating class of 13 members. In 1935 the Alumnae Association was established with most of its efforts directed toward communication, reunions, special events for alumni and the annual alumni phonathon. In 1946, after St. Peter's Parish opened next door and established an elementary parish school, Holy Angels closed their elementary grades. The 1952-1953 school year was the last year for boarders to live at Holy Angels, and 1953 marked the beginning of Holy Angels solely as a day school.

In September 1972, the Academy became a coeducational school. The class of 1976 was the first full four-year co-ed class. Because the school was now co-ed, the Angies became the co*Stars and varsity athletics began. Today the athletic program has grown to 33 teams representing 18 varsity sports for both girls and boys. In 1989 a middle school and theater school were established. In 1996, to enhance the campus and revenues, Holy Angels built the StarDome; a $2 million, year-round athletic facility (the first high school in the United States to have a facility of this type). The complex includes bleachers, a concession building and a playing field for Holy Angels sports and activities. The playing surface consists of Field Turf and features a removable dome to make the field playable during the winter months. The field is uncovered during the summer.

In 1998 Holy Angels was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. That same year, the last group of 8th graders graduated middle school. The school chose to focus instead on just educating high school students. But, despite this closing, the high school was still growing, expanding their classroom space by 15%. In 2003 Holy Angels purchased the 26-acre (110,000 m2) campus from its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, at a substantial discount. In that same year, they built and dedicated a new 70,000-square-foot (6,500 m2) addition that included a Convocation Center and classrooms.