Friday, November 15, 2013

Preston High School


Preston High School is a Catholic girls' high school on the picturesque shoreline between the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge and the Throg's Neck Bridge, at 2780 Schurz Avenue, Bronx NY 10468.  Its telephone number is 718-863-9134, and its website is linked here.  In the above photo, at left is the mansion once the residence of Collis Huntington.  



In New York City, several MTA bus routes have branches that serve high schools.  This is a branch of the crosstown Tremont Avenue bus.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Elementary school statistics

With the recent publication of the 2013 Official Catholic Directory, it is possible to look at some statistics of the Catholic elementary schools in The Bronx. Please realize that the data was probably collected more than a year ago, and some of the numbers may include pre-kindergarten enrollment.  Also, fourteen of the forty-three schools are listed with the same exact enrollment three years running, unlikely, and therefore suspect. The forty-three schools open in September, 2013, are listed in the directory as having 15,111 students.  The 2012 directory listed 17,380.
---
The following analysis ignores schools with suspect numbers.  The four elementary school with the highest enrollments are St. Raymond (given as 880), Immaculate Melrose (491), Sacred Heart (466), Holy Rosary (430) and St. Helena (415). At the median are St. Angela Merici (315), St. Benedict (301), and Sts. Peter and Paul (300). Lowest numbers were St. John Kingsbridge (226), St. Simon Stock (207), Visitation (196).

Friday, July 26, 2013

Partnership and three elementary schools

On July 24, 2013, the Superintendent of Schools issued this press release.  Please read the release, as my interpretation may not correctly describe what has been done.
Three Bronx parish elementary schools are involved.  Each displays a fresh website, which refers to new management by The Partnership for Inner-City Education.
Immaculate Conception School, 378 East 151 Street, Melrose.  The link states that enrollment from PreK4 to Grade 8 is 491.
Sacred Heart School, 1248 Nelson Avenue, Highbridge.  The link states that enrollment from PreK4 to Grade 8 is 465.
St. Athanasius School, 830 Southern Blvd. The link, obviously by the same designer as the above two, states the enrollment from PreK3 to Grade 8 is 275.
---
Three Manhattan schools are also included in the press release.  The non-profit organization, The Partnership for Inner-City Education, will assume financial responsibility for the schools and seems to have pledged $6 million dollars to the six schools.
---
I find no mention of grade-by-grade enrollment at these schools.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Academy of Mt. St. Ursula


The Academy of Mount St. Ursula is the newer building above.  To the left, and joined to it is the older building, the former convent, with several educational uses. Each photo may be enlarged by clicking on it.


See page 357 for the arrival of the Ursulines in The Bronx in 1855. They established an academy on Westchester Avenue, east of Eagle Avenue, Morrisania. In 1892, they moved the academy and convent to Mount St. Ursula in Bedford Park, between Marion and Valentine Avenues, where the staff of the academy in 2013 continues to educate girls of high school age. The mailing address and school entrance is 330 Bedford Park Boulevard, NY 10458.
-----
The website of the Academy of Mount St. Ursula is here. The international website of the Ursulines is here.
---





South of the high school, Serviam Heights is constructing more senior apartments, with some facilities apparently also within the 1892 building. Please see this article in the Norwood News dated 1.26.2016.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Elementary school tuition chart

Because some Catholic elementary schools are closing this June, and parents have to enroll their children in other schools, the Archdiocese has posted a series of detailed charts of the tuition in each remaining elementary school, plus what clubs, activities, and classes are available.  The charts are linked here, under the title of Placement Counselor Information.  Because these are 2012-2013 rates, I suspect that the link may be broken by September, so (I suggest) print now.  As far as The Bronx is concerned, there is quite a spread in rates.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Seven elementary schools to close in June, 2013


The Archdiocese issued a press release on 1.22.2013 titled "Local Boards and Reconfiguration Committees Issue Final Decisions." Rather than interpret the document, I ask you to read it here.
The seven Bronx elementary schools on the list are:
Blessed Sacrament, Beach Avenue
St. Anthony
St. Mary, Star of the Sea, City Island
Holy Spirit, University Avenue
Our Lady of Angels, Kingsbridge Heights
Our Lady of Mercy, Fordham
St. Jerome, Mott Haven