At Lacordaire, every student finds success
inspiration to confidently learn & lead
and motivation to make the world a better place
We live our mission
Empoweringstudentstogrow intoconfidentdecisionmakers andresponsibleleadersina communityofbelonging,rooted intheCatholicDominican tradition
We celebrate our history
Lacordairewasfoundedin1920bytheDominican SistersofCaldwellasaselectFrench-English boardingschoolforgirls.
In1923,toaccommodateagrowingstudent population,theAcademyshifteditsfocusfrom boardingtoadaymodelandopeneditsdoorsto girlsandboysinpre-Kthrough8thgrade.Tothis day,Lacordaireproudlymaintainsitstraditional all-girlsUpperSchoolin9th-12thgrade.
Ourlandmarkcampusbuilding,JamesHall,wastheoriginal schoolbuildingandaconventfortheDominicansisters.Builtin 1894,itisalovinglypreservedexampleofQueenAnne& shinglestylearchitecture.Thegrandestateiscompletewith originalJacobeanwoodwork,finespindlework,stainedglass, carvedplaster,andanexquisitebrownstoneturret.
We build bright futures
100%ofLacordairegraduates areacceptedintoatleastone oftheirtopthreecollegechoices. Buttheprocessisaboutmorethangettingintoanivy, nailingtheinterview,oracingthebigtest.It'saboutfinding yourself;understandingandhoningyourstrengths;selecting adisciplinethatwillbothchallengeandexciteyou;and pursuingameaningfulandfulfillingpathbasedonyour individuality.Together,wewillgetyouthere.
Placement & Counseling
Thecollegecounselingprocessbeginsassoonasstudentsenterthe UpperDivision.
OursmallclasssizesallowtheDeanofStudentAffairs,inconjunction withthestaffandfaculty,toworkindividuallywitheachstudentto curateatranscriptandhighschoolexperiencethatwillpreparethem forasuccessfulcollegeadmissionsprocess.
Conversationsareconductedbothindividuallyandduringguidance classes,wherestudentslearnabouttheimportanceofnotonly achievinghighgrades,butalsodemonstratingthattheychallenge themselvesacademically,takeonresponsibilitiesandleadershiproles, andparticipateinawidevarietyofextracurricularactivitiesbothinside andoutsideofschool.
Beyond Lacordaire
Our graduates go on to study at a diverse group of colleges across the world. This is an overview of select college acceptances from 2019-2024.
AmericanUniversity
AmherstCollege
ArizonaStateUniversity
BardCollege
BarnardCollege
BostonCollege
BostonUniversity
BrownUniversity
BrynMawrCollege
BucknellCollege
CarletonCollege
CarnegieMellonUniversity
ClemsonUniversity
ColgateUniversity
CollegeoftheHolyCross
CornellUniversity
CulinaryInstituteofAmerica
DrexelUniversity
ElonUniversity
FairfieldUniversity
FordhamUniversity
GeorgetownUniversity
GeorgeMasonUniversity
GeorgeWashingtonUniversity
HarvardUniversity
HaverfordCollege
HofstraUniversity
HowardUniversity
IthacaCollege
Johnson&WalesUniversity
LiceoClassicoDellaValleD’Acosta
LoyolaUniversityMaryland
MaristCollege
MichiganStateUniversity
NewJerseyInstituteofTechnology
NewYorkUniversity
NortheasternUniversity
NorthwesternUniversity
NovaSoutheasternUniversity
PaceUniversity
ParsonsTheNewSchoolforDesign
PennStateUniversity
PurdueUniversity
RensselaerPolytechnicInstitute
RochesterInstituteofTechnology
RutgersUniversity
SacredHeartUniversity
SalveReginaUniversity
Getting there
Coming soon: View a detailed breakdown of the Lacordaire high school and college application process.
SarahLawrenceCollege
SavannahCollegeofArtandDesign
SetonHallUniversity
SmithCollege
StevensInstituteofTechnology
SyracuseUniversity
TheCollegeofNewJersey
UniversityofArizona
UniversityofDelaware
UniversityofMaryland
UMassAmherst
UniversityofMiami
UniversityofMichigan
UniversityofPennsylvania
UniversityofPittsburgh
UniversityofRochester
UniversityofTampa
UniversityofVermont
UniversityofWashington,St.Louis
UniversityofWisconsin,Madison
VillanovaUniversity
WellesleyCollege
WilliamsCollege
YaleUniversity
Veritas Latin:Truth
I04yearsago,theDominicansisterschoseVeritastobe placedatthecenterofLacordaire’sschoolcrest. Theadministration,faculty,andstudentbody throughouttheyearshaveascribedtothebeliefthatithas neverbeenenoughtoechotheteachingsoftruth.Each generationmustreviewknowledge,assimilateit,restateit –hopefullywithbeautyandemotion,selectivityand discipline.Thisistheroleoftheartsineducation.
QuickFacts
Averagetotalclasssizeis20-25,whichprovides anurturingenvironment,opportunitiesfor mentorship,andabilitytodeliverahighly personalized,values-basedcurriculum
100%ofgraduatesareacceptedintoatleast1 outoftheirtop3choicecolleges
100%offacultyholdteachercertifications and/oradvanceddegrees(Master’sor Doctorates)fromaccrediteduniversitiesand colleges
100%offoreignlanguagefacultyarenative speakersofthelanguagetheyteach
100%ofadministratorshavedirect relationshipswithstudentbody;100%of facultyeithercoachasportormoderateaclub
MiddleStatesAccredited;MemberofNAIS andNJAIS
MemberoftheNationalHonorSociety& NationalJuniorHonorSociety,National EnglishHonorSociety,andMuAlphaTheta MathHonorSociety
HarknessConferenceMethodusedingrades 5-12
JuniorInternshipProgramintheUpper School
A Lacordaire education takes you places.
Outside of the classroom
Whetherit’satriptotheartmuseum; toaforeignlanguagefilmviewing;into NewYorkCity;orawholeplaneride away,learningatLacordaireextends beyondtheclassroom.
Assorted places that students visited, 2022-2024:
AlstedeFarms•AmericanDream•AsburyParkBeach
Belfast,NorthernIreland•BronxZoo•CarnegieHall
ClairidgeCinemas•Dublin,Ireland•EagleRockReservation
Glasgow,Scotland•GlacierNationalPark,Montana•Liberty ScienceCenter•MetropolitanMuseumofArt•MontclairArt Museum•MontclairPostOffice• MontclairHistoricalSociety Philadelphia,PA•Reykjavík,Iceland•SanJuan,Texas•Sandy HookBeach•TheOutsidersonBroadway•TopGolf•Turtle BackZoo•UnitedNationsHeadquarters•Washington,D.C.
On the field
TheAthleticDepartmentatLacordaireprovides athletesofallskilllevelswithprogramsthat encouragegrowthasindividualsandleaders.
Studentathleteswilllearnthevaluablelessonsof sportsmanship,teamwork,leadership, commitmentanddetermination.
Current Athletic Offerings
Varsity Volleyball
JV Volleyball
Soccer
Basketball
Winter Rowing
Softball
Tennis (Club)
And in the studio
Thefineartsteachstudentstoexpressandevaluate ideas,tothinkcriticallyandimaginativelyinproblem solving,tointerpretimagesandcreativework,to understandtheartisticachievementsofothers,andto developself-disciplineandfocus.Lacordaire’sVisual Artscurriculumexploressculpture,photography (traditionalanddigital),painting,drawing,and ceramics.
Studentsexhibittheirworksinthehallsattheschool andinlocalgalleries,invitingawideraudiencetosee theirwork.
Anadvancedportfoliotrackisavailableforstudents whoareinterestedinpursuingvisualartincollege.
A Lacordaire student’s journey
All About the Upper School
TwentyeightUpperSchoolfacultyteachinquirybasedclasseswithan averagesizeof tentotwelveyoungwomen.Inordertodeliverourhighly personalizedhighschoolexperience,theUpperSchoolcapsenrollmentatno morethantwentyfivetotalgirlspergraduatingclass.
Coursesaretaughtonasemester-longoryear-longbasis.Eachstudentis assistedbydedicatedfacultyandstaffinthedevelopmentofcriticalthinking.
Inaddition,aestheticvaluesareencouragedthroughculturalexperiences withintheschoolandcommunity.Leadershipandthepowerofthefemale voicearealsoemphasizedwithstudent-ledandcenteredcourses.The educationatLacordaireleadsthestudentinpursuitoftruththroughan integratedcurriculumconsistentwithcollegedemands,theneedsofthe students,andthechallengesofanevolvingsociety.
Lacordaireoffersadvancedcoursestostudentsstartingintheirsophomore year.WeareabletoofferAPCoursesforstudentstotakeoverthecourseof theirentirefouryears.Inaddition,wehaveanhonorsprogramthat challengesmanyofourstudentsandistaughtatahighlyadvancedlevel. StudentsalsohavetheopportunitytotakeonlinecoursesthroughOne Schoolhouse,takeadvancedelectivestaughtatthecollegelevel,and participateinindependentstudies.
StudentLife &Community
HereatLacordaire,wealsoplaceaserious emphasisongraduatingastrong, independent-minded,andrespectfulfemale studentandareveryproudofour“lifeskills” curriculum.Lacordairehasavibrantand activecommunityandstandsbehindthe ideathatmuchofastudent’slearning continuesoutsideoftheclassroom.Thatis whyLacordairehasmanyandvaried extracurricularactivities.
Allextracurricularactivities,clubsandsports areintendedtoenhancethecurriculumand provideopportunitiestolead,learnskills, enhancefriendships,andbuildacloser communityoflearners.Majorstudent organizationswithsignificantleadership opportunitiesincludeStudentGovernment, NationalHonorsSociety,NationalMath HonorsSociety,NationalEnglishHonors Society,LacoVoicesSocialJusticeClub, EnvironmentalClub,MissionClub,and MockTrial.Lacordairealsooffersanumber ofsportsteamsandopportunitiesfor internshipsandcommunityservice.
Curriculum,Electives &APOfferings
APOfferings2024-2025
APLiteratureandComposition
APLanguageandComposition
APCalculus
APBiology
APStatistics
APMicroeconomics
APUSHistory(2yearcourse)
APEnvironmentalScience
AdvancedElectiveCourseOfferings 2024-2025
AdvancedActing inancialLiteracy ntroductiontoImprov
AdvancedArtPortfolio orensicScience ntroductiontoPsychology
AdvancedPhotography renchCulture
MockTrial
ArtificialIntelligence
IntroductiontoComputerScience
Neuroscience
CreativeWriting
IntroductiontoEducation
SpanishCulture
GraduationRequirements
yearsReligiousStudies
yearsHealth/PhysicalEducation
4yearsScience
4yearsMathematics
4yearsEnglish
3yearsHistory
3yearsForeignLanguage
1YearIntroductiontoComputers
1YearCommunications
1yearFineArts/Music/Theater
6fullyearElectives
ProjectJustice(comm.service)
Open to Grades 9-12 by application only
TheLacordaireAdvancedScienceAcademyisanelectivesciencecoursethatoffersstudentsachanceto explorescienceandscientificcareersoutsideoftherequiredsciencecurriculum.
Thiscoursewillbefocusedonactivelearning-labs,fieldtrips,casestudiesandopportunitiestomeetwith scientistsinmanycareerfields.Thecourseconcludeswitha7-daytravelcapstoneprogram.The2025 capstoneprojectwilltakeplaceattheBermudaInstituteforOceanSciencesinSt.George's,Bermuda.
Classesmeettwiceaweekafterschoolfortwohourspersessionforatotaloffourhoursaweek.Mostclass activitieswillbecompletedduringclasstime Thecoursewillbeonyourtranscriptasanelective Wework withtheartsandathleticsprogramstoensureanystudentwilltakingthecoursewillbeabletoparticipatein otherafterschoolopportunities.
Allstudentsingrades9-11(includingincoming9th-graders)areinvitedtoapply.
UpperSchool QuickFacts
Collegecounselingserviceswithproven results:100%ofUpperSchoolgraduatesare acceptedintoatleast1oftheirtop3college picks.
Internationaltravelopportunitiesforall UpperSchoolstudents
MandatoryJuniorInternshipprogram; StudentsplacedwithinternshipsatMontclair ArtMuseum,TheKesslerFoundation, HarbourviewEquityPartners.NewJersey HillsMediaGroup,KrissandFeursetinLLC. BirdandAnimalClinicofNutely,Salesforce, Verizon,AffiliatesatGastroenterology,Clara MaassMedicalCenter,andmore
Big/Littlesistermentorshipprogram
9:1averagestudenttoteacherratio;Total freshmanclasssizecapsat25students
Extensiveleadershipopportunities
Regularcommunityserviceopportunities; local&out-of-state
Collegeapplicationworkshopsforstudents andparents
UpperSchool AdmissionFAQ
Whatarethetestscoresorgradeaveragesthat youlookforfromanapplicant?
Whilewemaintainhighacademicstandards,wedo notmakeadmissionsdecisionsbasedsolelyontest scoresandgradeaverages Wewanttoselectstudents whowillmakepositivecontributionstoour community.Therefore,welookatallpartsofthe applicationinordertounderstandeachapplicantas astudentandaperson.Seeacademicscholarship FAQbelowforspecificscholarshipparameters
Whoqualifiesforamerit-basedacademic scholarship?
Studentswhosubmitmiddleschooltranscripts showingmostlyAsandsomeBs,and/orwhohave anHSPTscoreplacingtheminthe80thpercentile orabove,willbeconsideredforacademic scholarships.
Howisneed-basedfinancialaiddetermined?
Financialaidisavailabletoincoming9thgrade studentsonly TheFinanceofficeatLacordaireuses aneed-basedfinancialapplicationthatanalyzesand determineswhatafamilycanafford,takinginto accountsuchimportantfactorsasincome,assets, familysize,andsiblingsintuitionbasedschools. Thisapplicationislocatedonourwebsiteinthe "Apply"section
Isthereawaitlist?
Yes.Becausewehavelimitedspotsavailable,some qualifiedapplicantswillbeplacedonourwaitlist.If astudentisplacedonthewaitlistandisnot acceptedbythestartofschoolinSeptember,she mayreapplyforadmissionthefollowingschoolyear
What is a Dominican school?
A tradition of helping people
ServicetoothersisatthecoreoftheDominicanmission.At LacordaireAcademy,weproudlypartnerwithlocalandnational communityserviceandsocialjusticeorganizationssuchas:
CatholicCharitiesoftheRioGrandeValley
HumanitarianRespiteCenter,Mcallen,TX
DeLaSalleBlackfeetSchool,Browning,MT
AppalachianServiceProject,Appalachia,VA
LaSalleEducationalCenter,Homestead,FL
FirstCerebralPalsyCenter,Belleville,NJ
MagnificatHouse,JerseyCity,NJ
MotherTeresaHouse,Montclair,NJ
Toni’sKitchen,Montclair,NJ
HumanNeedsFoodPantry,Montclair,NJ
St.John’sSoupKitchen,Newark,NJ
TheSalvationArmy,Montclair,NJ
St.Catherine’sHealthCareLlc,Caldwell,NJ
BridgesOutreach,Summit,NJ
PassaicValleySewerCommission
MontclairAnimalShelter
CommunityFoodBankofNJ
DominicanYouthMovementUSA
Strengthening important relationships
IntheCatholicreligion,importantrelationshipsareto God,family,friends,andtoone’sfellowneighbor.
OurDominicanapproachtoeducation,regardlessofyour faithbackground,willhelpyoudevelopacloser connectiontowhatorwhomattersmostinyourlife.
Weoffertraditionalfaithformationprogramsforour Catholicstudents,whomakeupapproximately50%of ourpopulation.Ournon-Catholicstudentsparticipatein thereligionprogramandserviceswithoutreceivingthe sacraments.Ournon-Catholicstudentsandfamiliesare stronglyencouragedtoleadclassroomactivitiesand/or celebrationsoftheirownholidaysandcustoms.Allare welcomeinourschool.
Developing a love of learning
“ALacordairestudentissomeonewho wantstobesuccessful,andhasthedrive tobesuccessful,butisalsowillingtostep outoftheircomfortzoneandmakethis placetheirhome.”
Mrs.Andreula EnglishTeacher,ForensicsCoach,SoftballCoach
The parent experience
Theinvolvementofparentsandguardiansisintegralto theLacordairestudentexperience,ascommunityplaysa significantrole.Throughouttheyear,parentswillhave ampleopportunitiestoengagewiththeschool community,whetherthroughtheParentAssociationor byparticipatinginsomeorallofourvariousevents.
Parentswillcultivaterelationships,gainconsistentinsight intotheirchild'seducationalenvironment,andjoininon allthefunthattheLacordaireexperiencehastooffer.
MorningCeremony(daily)
TheannualGala
Halloweendecoratingnight
LowerSchoolHalloweenParty
UpperSchoolfamilypicnic
Christmastreelighting&party
Grandparent/specialpersonbreakfast
LowerSchoolValentine’sDayparty
CatholicSchoolsWeekvisits
Wintercocktailparty
ParentAssociationsocials
Specialsomeonedance
Allperformancesandceremonies
Decembermovienight
Thanksgivingfeast
All-schoolmass&prayerservices
ChalktheWalksidewalkdecorating
Donorleadershipcircledinner
Andsomuchmore!
Want to apply?
Welookforwardtomeetingyouand learningmoreaboutyourinterestin LacordaireAcademy.
We’veoutlinedtheadmissionsstepshere foryourconveninece.
CompletedOnlineApplicationforAdmission (LacordaireAcademy.com/apply)
$75.00applicationfeeisnon-refundable
SubmissionofRecentStandardizedTests(ifapplicable)
UpperDivision:SSATPreferred.TerraNova/NJAsk/COOPHSPTExam/Parcc/ISEEarealsoaccepted AcademicTranscripts
SeeLacordaireAcademy.com/applyforfurtherinformation.
SubmissionofTwoTeacherRecommendations
SeeLacordaireAcademy.com/Applyfordetailsandforalinkto thedigitalteacherrecommendationforms.Note:werequestthat atleastonerecommendationisfromacoresubject(math,science, languagearts,orhistory)teacher.
StudentInterview
Allapplicantsareaskedtoparticipateinashadowdayandstudent interview.Pleasecall973-744-1156x12oremail admissions@lacordaire.nettorequestashadowdayandinterview withtheAdmissionsOffice.
ParentInterview
Theparent,parents,orguardian(s)ofallapplicantsarerequiredto participateinabriefparentinterviewwiththeadmissionsoffice.In lieuofaformalparentinterview,parents/guardiansmayattenda privateschooltour.
Current Tuition
UpperSchool
$18,900 MiddleSchool
$15,500
LowerSchool
$14,500 Kindergarten
$14,900 Pre-K
$14,900
Tuitionmaybepaidannually, quarterly,ormonthly.
Lacordaireiscommittedtomaintaining itsdiversesocioeconomicpopulation. Inkeepingwiththemissionofthe DominicanSisters,ourtuitionremains atamodestpricepointcomparedwith mostotherNewJerseyindependent privateschools.Thisistoencouragea varietyofapplicantsfromdifferent economicbackgrounds. Financialassistanceisnotavailablein theLowerandMiddledivisions.
Lacordairereservesamodestmeritand need-basedscholarshipbudgetfor qualified9thgradeapplicantswho applybytheprioritydeadlinein December.
General FAQ
What are the school day hours?
School begins at 8:00 am and dismisses at 3:15 pm.
When are applications due?
Upper School applications are due by Tuesday, December 10, 2024.
Does the Academy provide transportation?
No. Lacordaire does not provide transportation to or from school. We are located four blocks from the Upper Montclair train station and NJ Transit bus stops.
Is there a wait list?
Yes. Because we have limited spots available, some qualified applicants will be placed on our wait list. If a student is placed on the wait list and is not accepted by the start of school in September, she may reapply for admission the following school year.
What are the test scores or grade averages that you look for?
While we maintain high academic standards, we do not make admissions decisions based solely on test scores and grade averages. We want to select students who will make positive contributions to our community. Therefore, we look at all parts of the application in order to understand each applicant as a student and a person. See academic scholarship FAQ below for those specific parameters.
Who qualifies for a merit-based academic scholarship?
Students who submit middle school transcripts showing mostly As and some Bs, and/or who have an HSPT score placing them in the 80th percentile or above, will be automatically considered for academic scholarships. Such scholarships range from $500 to $3,000.
Does Lacordaire offer financial assistance?
Yes. Financial aid applications are open for 9th grade applicants only. Applicants MUST apply for financial aid by the priority application deadline of December 10, 2024.
How is financial aid determined?
The Finance office at Lacordaire uses a need-based financial application that analyzes and determines what a family can afford, taking into account such important factors as income, assets, family size, and siblings in tuition based schools. Due to our small size, we cannot guarantee to meet 100% of a family’s need.
Lacordaire Hall
Carriage House
Lacordaire’s 3-Acre Green Space
