Saint Dominic Academy (SDA) is a private college-preparatory for girls in seventh through twelfth grades, located in Jersey City, in Hudson County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The school, which is situated within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, and is administered by the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, New Jersey, has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1991.Saint Dominic Academy, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed June 16, 2022.

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 189 students and 20.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9:1. The school's student body was 32.3% (61) White, 25.4% (48) two or more races, 18.0% (34) Hispanic, 16.4% (31) Asian and 7.9% (15) Black.School data for St Dominic Academy, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed September 1, 2025.

History The school was founded in 1878 by a community of nuns from New York, with the objective to educate children of immigrants, primarily German, before moving to a sire on Bergen Avenue in 1915 and then on Bentley Avenue in 1929."Knights to Present Flag To St. Dominic Sunday", The Jersey Journal, February 27, 1942. Accessed November 13, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Originally the academy was located on 1st St., where its cornerstone was laid in 1878. In 1915, it was transferred to 669 Bergen Av., where it continued its educational activities for 14 years. The increasing number of pupils necessitated another change, and was moved in 1929 to a more favorable site on Bentley Av." On March 7, 1942, SDA moved to its present location on Kennedy Boulevard. In 1994, a new wing was open with new computer labs, science and language labs.History, Saint Dominic Academy. Accessed November 20, 2016. The school celebrated its 135th birthday in the 2013–14 school year with the addition of grades 7 and 8."School marks its 135th year, adds 2 grades", The Jersey Journal, August 7, 2013. Accessed November 13, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "When school opens on Sept. 5, Saint Dominic Academy in Jersey City will be celebrating the beginning of its 135th anniversary year and the opening of a 7th and 8th grade program." In 2015, Saint Dominic Academy received a generous donation of a building located on Fairmount Avenue in Jersey City. This building was once the Jersey City Women's Club and is now known as Siena Hall, which opened in April 2016 and is used for school-related events.Siena Hall, Saint Dominic Academy. Accessed November 5, 2017. "In March of 2015, Saint Dominic Academy was so pleased to accept the transfer of the property known as the Jersey City Woman’s Club to the Academy. Founded in 1894, shortly after Saint Dominic Academy opened its doors, the former Women’s Club was housed in a beautiful, old building on Fairmount Avenue, just steps away from the SDA campus."

Saint Dominic Academy is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools.Member School Directory, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Accessed November 20, 2016.

Academics Certain minimum requirements have been established by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Saint Dominic Academy for graduation. These are expressed in terms of successful completion of specific courses and credits.

Graduation requirements: 4 years of English 4 years of Math (exceeds the NJ State standards) 3 years of History 3 years of Science 2 years of a World Language (Spanish and French) 4 years of Religious Studies 4 years of Physical Education and Drivers Education 1 semester of Art and Music 1 semester of Computer Literacy 4 electives Community service hours vary per grade level and are required for graduation

Academic Levels - College Preparatory/Honors/Advanced Placement:

68 College-preparatory (CP) courses 18 Honors level courses 14 Advanced Placement courses 200 Virtual High School courses 50 College Level courses earning credit from Saint Peter's University 4 College Level courses earning credit from Seton Hall University School Profile, Saint Dominic Academy. Accessed November 20, 2016.

Physical education

Physical education courses are conducted at Saint Peter's University located just a few blocks away from the high school. Students have use of the university's gym/athletic facilities including fitness center, basketball and tennis courts, jogging track, and a competitive swimming pool.

Athletics The Saint Dominic Academy Blue DevilsSaint Dominic Academy, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. compete in the Hudson County Interscholastic League, which comprises public and private high schools in Hudson County and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.Home Page, Hudson County Interscholastic League. Accessed November 20, 2016. With 340 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 II for public schools).NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.

The school's interscholastic sports include: Cross Country Soccer Tennis Volleyball Basketball Dance Track & Field Swimming Softball

The track team won the winter / indoor track Non-Public state championship in 2016.Girls Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1981-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.

The track team won the indoor relay Non-Public B title in 2018.History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.Koob, Andrew. "Hail to the Victors: Your 2018 NJSIAA Indoor Relay Champions", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 23, 2018, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed February 8, 2021. "Non-Public B Girls: St. Dominic St. Dominic, Hudson Catholic and Pingry kept the team standings close throughout the night with each team recording at least 40 points. Yet it was the Blue Devils who emerged with their first ever indoor state relay title with 48 points."

Extracurricular activities SDA hosts a range of after-school clubs. These clubs consist of a moderator and an executive board made up of seniors (normally) and are elected by the fellow members of that club. It is encouraged to join as many clubs as possible by the school. Some of the clubs that are run are:

Anime Club Asian Interest Club Dominican Youth in Action Club Drama Club Glee Club and Dominoes Hospitality Club Liturgical Choir Math Club Metropolitan Club Mock Trial Club Multicultural-World Languages Club National Honor Society Peer Ministry Program Publications: Elan Literary Magazine The Trumpet (Newspaper) Domenica (Yearbook) Student Council SOFAR (Student Organization for Animal Rights) Student Ambassador Club

Notable alumni Dolores Lee (1935–2014), former pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.Heaphy, Leslie A.; and May, Mel Anthony. Encyclopedia of Women and Baseball, p. 168. McFarland & Company, 2016. . Accessed November 5, 2017. "Dolores Lee grew up in the Garfield section of New Jersey and was discovered while still attending St. Dominic's Academy."

References

External links Saint Dominic Academy website Data for Saint Dominic Academy, National Center for Education Statistics