State of the School 2024

STATE OF THE SCHOOL

January 2024

About Immaculate

Mission Statement

In the Roman Catholic tradition, Immaculate High School fosters the development of the whole student by nurturing individual spiritual, moral, intellectual, physical and social growth through an academically rigorous college preparatory curriculum that encourages respect, responsibility, reverence, creativity and leadership.

Overview

Immaculate High School, a Diocesan-sponsored Catholic college preparatory school, provides a challenging academic education in a wholesome and disciplined environment. Because Immaculate High School values character formation, moral development and spiritual direction, religious education is an integral part of the curriculum. Immaculate High School welcomes students from all religious and cultural traditions.

Immaculate is proud to be ranked as the #1 Co-Ed Catholic Day School by Niche, a national organization that ranks elementary through college schools based on key statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Education and parent/student reviews. With a counselor-student ratio of 1:95 and a teacher-student ratio of 1:12, our academic program offers a diverse college-preparatory program that includes 30 Advanced Placement, nine dual enrollment courses with colleges and universities – plus professional certifications in nursing, graphics arts and technology. In 2024, Immaculate moved up four spots to become #4 Best Catholic High Schools in the state, according to Niche, placing it in the top 2.5 percent of schools in the country. Immaculate was also honored as #8 Best High Schools for Athletes.

Wendy Neil Acting President/Principal

With the retirement of longtime President Mary R. Maloney in 2023, Principal Wendy Neil also serves as the Acting President of Immaculate High School. The school is actively searching to fill the open president position. In 2004, the President-Principal model was established to strengthen meeting the goals and objectives of the school mission. The roles of both positions interface in the area of programs, school policies and school improvement. In an effort to ensure that annual SMART goals and strategic goals are met, the Leadership Team meets weekly to provide an opportunity for the principal and staff to collaborate, identify and resolve any matters relating to academics, daily routine, teacher performance and student affairs with the President. On a daily basis, the President reports to the School Board of Directors and is responsible for managing non-teaching/non-athletic personnel, specifically the Business Office, Admissions Office, Facilities Manager, School Communications Team, Alumni Office and Advancement Office. The school Chaplain Father Philip Phan and Board of Directors Committee Chairperson Monsignor Robert E. Weiss assist the President in ensuring that the school maintains its strong Catholic Identity.

Board of Directors School Leadership

The Immaculate High School Board of Directors was established in July 2021. Its fiduciary role and responsibilities have been instrumental in assisting with strengthening the implementation of the strategic plans set forth for the school. The Board consists of volunteer members who are charged with using their professional expertise to assist in the following areas: Spiritual Life, Finance, Development, Alumni, Athletics Enrollment Facilities and Technology.

The Board meets monthly with the school administration to review operational procedures, facility planning and finance as well to create ongoing goals and objectives that are focused on school improvement.

Members of the Board report to the Most Rev. Frank J. Caggiano, who serves as the Member of the Board. The current Executive Officers of the Board include Mr. Joseph T. Draper, Chairperson, Mr. John Capilli, Vice Chairperson and Mr. Anthony Cirone, Treasurer. A complete listing and biography of the 2023-24 Board of Directors and the mission of the Board may be found on our school website www.immaculatehs.org/boardofdirectors.

Joseph T. Draper Chairperson

John Capilli Vice-Chairperson

Curriculum

Immaculate High School’s academic program is exclusively college preparatory. Our courses are designed for students who are preparing to continue their studies post our secondary education. They are taught with high expectations for depth and comprehension, including independent work. Honors courses are designed to be rigorous, challenging, fast-paced and with an expectation of extensive work outside the classroom. IHS features 50 honors level courses in English, Social Studies, World Language, Mathematics, Science, Business and Fine Arts.

Immaculate offers an Advanced Placement Program that is administered by the College Board and consists of standardized high school courses that are equivalent to undergraduate college courses. They are designed to prepare the annual average of 118 enrolled students for the rigors of college level work. Immaculate offers 17 AP courses in the traditional classroom setting, which include Biology, Calculus AB, Chemistry, Computer Science A, English Language & Composition, English Literature & Composition, Macroeconomics, Physics Part 1, Physics Part 2, Psychology, Spanish Language & Culture, Studio Art: Drawing, Studio Art: 2-D Design, U.S. Government & Politics, U.S. History (college level) and AP Statistics. Immaculate also collaborates with Virtual High School, allowing the school to offer another 22 virtual online Advanced Placement courses. All AP classes have prerequisites that must be met for students to participate in the class. Immaculate offers nine dual enrollment college level courses in partnership with Quinnipiac University, University of Connecticut and Western Connecticut University.

Our Class of 2024 has reported the following college acceptances!

CONGRATULATIONS MUSTANGS!

Albertus Magnus College

• Alvernia University

• American University

• Arizona State University (Tempe)

• Auburn University

• Ave Maria University

• Belmont Abbey College

• Benedictine College Bentley University

• Binghamton University

• Boston College

• Boston University

• Brandeis University

• Bryant University

• Bucknell University

• Caldwell University

• Carnegie Mellon University Catholic University of America

• Central Connecticut State University Chaminade University of Honolulu

• Champlain College

• Chatham University

• Clark University Clarkson University

• Clemson University

• Colgate University

• College of Charleston Culinary Institute of America

• Denison University

• DePaul University

• Drexel University Duquesne University

• Eastern Connecticut State University

• Elizabethtown College Elmira College

• Elon University

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

• Endicott College Fairfield University

• Flagler College

• Florida Atlantic University

• Florida Institute of Technology

• Fordham University

• Franciscan University of Steubenville

• Franklin & Marshall College

• George Mason University

• Georgetown University

• Georgia State University

• Gettysburg College

• High Point University Hillsdale College

• Hofstra University

• Indiana University

• Iona University Ithaca College

• James Madison University

• Johnson & Wales University (Providence)

• Keene State College Lehigh University

• Louisiana State University

• Loyola University Chicago

• Loyola University Maryland Lynn University

• Manhattan College

• Marist College

• Marywood University

• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

• Merrimack College

• Miami University (Oxford) Mitchell College

• Moravian University

• Mount Saint Mary College

• Mount St Mary’s University

• Muhlenberg College New England College

• New Jersey Institute of Technology

• New York University North Carolina State University

• Northeastern University

• Norwich University

• Oklahoma State University (Main Campus)

• Pace University (New York City)

• Pacific University Penn State University

• Providence College

• Purdue University (Main Campus)

• Quinnipiac University Regis College

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

• Rhodes College

• Rider University Rochester Institute of Technology

- Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell

• University of Memphis

• Roger Williams University

• Rutgers University Sacred Heart University

• Saint Joseph’s University

• Salve Regina University

• Savannah College of Art and Design Seton Hall University

• Siena College

• Southern Connecticut State University St. Bonaventure University

• St. John’s University

• St. Lawrence University

• St. Thomas Aquinas College Stevens Institute of Technology

• Stonehill College

• Stony Brook University SUNY at New Paltz

• SUNY College at Cortland

• SUNY Oneonta

• SUNY Polytechnic Institute

• Susquehanna University Syracuse University

• Temple University

• The Ohio State University

• The University of Alabama The University of Tampa

• The University of Texas at Austin

• Trinity College

• Tufts University Union College

• University of Arizona

• University of Bridgeport

• University of CaliforniaDavis, Irvine, San Diego

• University of Colorado

• University of Connecticut

• University of Dallas

• University of Delaware

• University of Florida

• University of Hartford

• University of Hawaii at Manoa

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• University of Maryland University of Massachusetts

• University of Miami

• University of New Hampshire (Main Campus)

• University of New Haven

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of North Dakota

• University of Northern Colorado

• University of Notre Dame

• University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)

• University of Rhode Island

• University of Richmond

• University of Rochester University of Saint Joseph

• University of Scranton

• University of South Carolina

• University of South Florida (Main Campus)

• University of Southern Maine

• University of Utah

• University of Vermont University of Virginia (Main Campus)

• University of Washington

• (Seattle Campus)

• Villanova University

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Wake Forest University Washington College

• Wentworth Institute of Technology

• Wesleyan University Western Connecticut State University

• Western New England University

• Westminster College Wilkes University

• Wingate University

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Xavier University

SAT & ACT Scores

SAT Reasoning Test Scores

Top 10% SAT Reasoning Test Scores

Class of 2022 Average

Three-Year Rolling Average

ACT Scores

*All students take the District ACT Test as juniors.

*Due to Covid-19 the District ACT was not administered in the Spring of 2020.

Advanced Placement (AP) Program

In May of 2023, 118 Immaculate High School students took 231 AP Exams. Seventy-eight exam test takers earned a score of “3” or better. It is important to note that all AP students are required to sit for the AP Exam.

On September 1, 2023,

Bishop Frank J. Caggiano visited Immaculate to celebrate Mass for our students and bless the new turf field in Mustang Valley. The blessing ceremony was attended by all students, faculty and staff as well as Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito and members of the IHS Board of Directors.

Celebration Briefs

For the sixth year in a row The Brave Engineers Team from Immaculate High School won the Real World Design Challenge State Competition for Connecticut and is now invited to compete in the RWDC National/International Competition in April. This year the team was tasked with designing an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for wildfire monitoring and mitigation.

Three Immaculate seniors were awarded prestigious STEM scholarships from The Angeles T. Arredondo Foundation. (Note: to be considered, candidates had to take at least six advanced STEM courses in the first three years of high school.)

Maximillian Fleming, earned a perfect score of 1440 on the PSAT 8/9.

Only 5% of students across the country are invited to take the American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME) –and Immaculate High School is proud to have one of them. Senior Yipeng Simon Zhao has qualified for two years in a row!

Niche released their Best Schools for 2024 rankings and Immaculate is ranked #4 out of 19 Catholic High Schools in Connecticut, while maintaining its position as the #1 Catholic Co-Ed Day School in the state. We are pleased to announce that Immaculate has also been recognized as a 2024 Best School by Niche.com, achieving an A+ rating which represents the top 2.5% of all high schools in the country! Immaculate was also ranked #8 best for athletes out of 249 schools in Connecticut.

Freshman

SPORTS Celebration Briefs

Celebration of Student Life

Beyond textbooks and tests, the halls of Immaculate High School echo with the hum of young hearts passionate about making a difference in their community. From Candy Cane Gram sales for people dealing with a cancer diagnosis to numerous collections for local shelters, the philanthropic spirit of our students shines brightly. This school year alone, their tireless efforts have supported dozens of diverse charities including The Hillside Food Pantry, Ann’s Place, Dorothy Day Hospitality House, Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child, Candace Lee Williams Memorial Scholarship, Regional Hospice of Danbury and a local veterans charity.

Through the uplifting voices of our Inspire Choir, our students have brought joy and holiday spirit to many nursing homes in our area like St. John Paul, Hancock Hall and Filosa Nursing Homes, Ridgefield Crossings and the Elmwood Hall-Danbury Senior Center. Whether it’s organizing clothing drives, making sandwiches or delivering wrapped holiday gifts, their commitment to building a better world extends far beyond the classroom walls, leaving a lasting impact on countless lives. Their dedication serves as a powerful reminder that even the youngest hands can hold the power to change the world.

Chelsea’s Charity, founded by Immaculate freshman Chelsea Phaire, was featured on Nickelodeon in December. Chelsea’s Charity collects and gives art supplies to children in need so that they can creatively express their emotions and overcome challenging times! For more info visit her website at www.chelseascharity.org.

Thank you to our Mustang community for donating almost seven dozen boxes of cereal in December to the Hillside Food Pantry in Danbury. The pantry supplies food for over 300 individuals and families in Westchester and Fairfield Counties.

Our Girls Varsity Basketball Team, in cooperation with Key Club, organized a toy drive at the basketball game on December 18. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped to brighten Christmas for so many children in our community!

She’s the First organized a drive collecting personal care products to support local high school students. She’s the First is a national club that helps to make sure girls everywhere are educated, respected and heard. The club also raised over $150 through Candy Cane Gram sales before the holiday break. They donate to charities like Ann’s Place throughout the year.

Theology class adopted a family in need this holiday season and today students made and wrapped gifts for the children in the family. This is a wonderful way to give back to those in need during the holiday season and we are so proud of their efforts!

Neil Sarkar ‘25, Max Fleming ‘27, Katie Carrasquillo ‘26, Alina Budzynski ‘26 and Olivia Chila ‘25 were selected to be a part of the 2023-3024 “Western Regional Choir.”

Our volleyball teams were proud to present Regional Hospice of Danbury a check for $400 raised through bake sales at recent games.

An annual tradition and a bonding opportunity, the ATI Football Team completed an afternoon of community service at both Abbott Tech and Immaculate, completing various tasks from weeding to cleaning and organizing. The community service benefited people on both campuses from sports teams/fellow classmates to the athletic trainer to teachers and staff.

Our Class of 2027 spent some of their first day at IHS giving back to the community by making sandwiches for Dorothy Day Hospitality House. The organization has been feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless since 1982.

Our students were busy over the holiday break making and serving meals for Dorothy Day Hospitality House. Freshmen Hope McGovern and Shayla Illescas, along with alumna Olivia Heineken and junior Ava Heineken, gave of their time to help others in need.

The IHS Key Club wrapped, filled and delivered dozens of shoe boxes stuffed with gifts to Samaritan’s Purse! Operation Christmas Child provides presents to children around the world during the Christmas season.

Enrollment

Immaculate’s strong partnership with its feeder schools combined with new branding from constituent focus groups, a refreshed admissions viewbook and marketing videos, and an increased focus on storytelling via online reviews, press releases, blogs, podcasts and social media, have led to an increased interest in Immaculate. Specifically, the school saw a 17% increase in 2024-2025 domestic priority admission applications and a 21% increase in freshman enrollment year-to-date. The 2023-2024 total enrollment numbers dipped slightly, largely due to a higher than normal tuition increase resulting in a lower acceptance to enrollment yield.

International enrollment has remained stable as compared to last year, with slightly higher projections for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Endowment

ROBERT E. GERWIEN ENDOWMENT

To secure the school’s financial health and its ability to provide an exemplary college-preparatory Catholic school education that is rated as exceptional by NICHE (A+), parents and students, the Board of Directors and school administration continuously analyze its annual and projected financial plan and programming.

To respond to its 2021-2024 Strategic Plan, the Board of Directors established the Robert E. Gerwien Scholarship Endowment with a purpose to create a perpetual fund that matches or exceeds deserving student financial need. The presentation of the endowment fund purpose was shared mutually with our communications for the capital campaign project in 2022-23. The capital campaign goal was achieved for the refurbishing of the athletic fields in May 2023 and enabled the school to strengthen its focus on partnering with generous donors to begin funding the endowment.

A breakfast in honor of beloved principal Mr. Robert E. Gerwien, Sr. launched a campaign to partner with endowment donors. The Board of Directors appointed an Executive REG Endowment Board, which includes a member of the Gerwien family, to manage promoting and monitoring fund investments, distribution policies and with increasing the fund $500,000 annually for the next five years.

Meeting its directive, the REG Executive Board established an investment portfolio with the Vanguard Group LLC creating individual named scholarships accounts with the general Gerwien scholarship fund investment. The expected annual money market annual growth of 5.2 % will assist with asset growth and increasing scholarship distributions without using the principal account balances. The Board of Directors and the REG Executive Board members agreed to use the projected interest earned from the fund investments to support new students for the 2024-25 school year. The growth investment of $260,896 provided the ability to award a total of $12,000 scholarships for the first REG endowment distribution year. Since December, additional donations have been secured increasing the balance of the MMF fund portfolio to $326,218.68.

For additional information about the REG Endowment, please visit our website immaculatehs.org or contact Advancement at advancement@myimmaculatehs.org.

In order to maintain a legacy of excellence, the Board of Directors and school administration have made purposeful tactical financial decisions to ensure that quality teachers are retained plus program resources and professional development align to implement a rigorous inclusive college-preparatory curriculum. We also provide an extracurricular program that cultivates respect, responsibility and reverence for all students – and ensure that the safety and health of staff and students is exceptional.

The school is bringing to a close the capital campaign, Empowering Our Legacy Beyond Today, which addressed the immediate needs of our sports complex and long-term needs in the establishment of a scholarship endowment. The investment of our current resources and obtaining additional support through the campaign, grants and our advancement programs are foundational to reaching some very important short-term and longterm strategic goals.

To demonstrate transparency as well as review internal financial management and operations, the school conducts an annual audit with PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP. As reported in June 30, 2023, the school’s net assets total $7,778,454.00 which represents a continued growth in the investment portfolio of restricted donor assets as well as a reduction in notes payable for long-term loans since 2012.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION YEAR ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2023

$4,784,223.00

Our Advancement Team completed outreach for the Empowering Our Legacy Beyond Today capital campaign which provided funding for the new turf field and fencing in Mustang Valley as well as kicked off fundraising for the Robert E. Gerwien, Sr. Scholarship Endowment.

The annual golf and gala events and Immaculate Fund giving continue to support operating costs not covered by tuition.

Capital Campaign

Golf Outing

Alumni Engagement

Our alumni engagement has been increasing year to year. Currently, we have 582 alumni who donate to the school’s programs and events. Our Mustangs on the Road alumni receptions resumed in the Fall of 2022 with visits to the Boston, New York, Washington D.C. areas and Houston.

Alumni Giving Trends

• 2019/20 Total Alumni Giving -17.7% compared to prior year (+9.7% over 2017/18).

• 2020/21 Total Alumni Giving -6.5% compared to prior year.

• 2021/22 Total Alumni Giving +68.27% (Capital Campaign gifts account for 32.5% of total giving)

• 2022/23 Total Alumni Giving +55.2% compared to prior year

Alumni Giving Trends

• 2019/20 Immaculate Fund Alumni Giving +16.5%

• 2020/21 Immaculate Fund Alumni Giving +1.1%

• 2021/22 Immaculate Fund Alumni Giving +1.7%

• 2022/23 Immaculate Fund Alumni Giving +18.1%

First-Time Alumni Donors

• 138 first-time donors for 2019/20

• 90 first-time donors for 2020/21

• 131 first-time donors for 2021/22

• 111 first -time donors for 2022/23