Villa Walsh Academy


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. Its brother school is Delbarton School, with whom it shares a transportation system.
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 Secondary Schools since 1987; the school's accreditation expires in May 2023. The school is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools.
Admissions at Villa Walsh Academy is one of the most selective in the state of New Jersey, with 50 students enrolled from 210 applicants. As of the 2015-16 school year, the school had an enrollment of 238 students and 26.8 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 8.9:1. The school's student body was 88.2% White, 6.7% Asian, 2.1% Hispanic, 0.4% Black and 2.5% two or more races.

Mission statement

"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."

Curriculum

Villa 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 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

In 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.
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.

Athletics

The Villa Walsh Academy Vikings participates in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Before the NJSIAA's 2010 realignment, the school had competed in the Northern Hills Conference an athletic conference made up of private and public high schools located in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.
Villa Walsh Academy won the Grop B final in 2013-14, with first-place finishes in indoor relays and third-place finishes in cross-country, swimming, indoor track and spring track and field, plus bonus points for having no disqualifications across all three athletic seasons.
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.
The team won the Group B ShopRite Cup in 2016-17.
The cross-country team won the Non-Public B state title in 2009 and 2014-16.
The track team won the indoor relay champions in Non-Public B in 2013 and 2014.
The soccer team won the Non-Public B state championship in 2014 and 2015, defeating Moorestown Friends School both years in the tournament final.

Notable alumni