Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.
Aerial view of Dominican Academy
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

Catholic high school

Dominican Academy

  • LocationNew York, NY
  • Type and sizeIndependent Catholic school · Grades 9–12 · 240 students
  • Catholic80% Catholic

Sponsor: Dominican Veritas Ministries · All-female

Official website

Dominican Academy is a Catholic high school for girls on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, sponsored by Dominican Veritas Ministries. Its official pages describe school-wide liturgies on feast days and Holy days, weekday Mass and reconciliation opportunities, daily prayer, and a retreat each year for every grade. Theology is required in all four years, and seniors must complete thirty hours of community service.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Dominican Academy, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 mi0.5 mi1 miSaint Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church: 0.2 mi1Church Of Our Lady Of Peace: 0.4 mi2Saint Jean Baptiste Catholic Church: 0.4 mi3Saint John Nepomucene Catholic Church: 0.5 mi4Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church: 0.6 mi5Saint Monica - Saint Elizabeth of Hungary - Saint Stephen of Hungary Catholic Church: 0.8 mi6Campus Ministry, Dominican Academy: 0.0 miDominican Academy (campus)N0.25 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church — 0.2 mi · 885 Lexington Avenue
  2. Church Of Our Lady Of Peace — 0.4 mi · 239 East 62nd Street, New York
  3. Saint Jean Baptiste Catholic Church — 0.4 mi · 184 East 76th Street, New York
  4. Saint John Nepomucene Catholic Church — 0.5 mi · 411 East 66th Street
  5. Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church — 0.6 mi · 411 East 68th Street
  6. Saint Monica - Saint Elizabeth of Hungary - Saint Stephen of Hungary Catholic Church — 0.8 mi · 409 East 79th Street

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Faith scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

CSacramental life: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Sacramental life

55 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearA few times a year
    Sources (1)
    1. Academic & Wellness Counseling - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/counseling · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “D.A. gathers regularly for school-wide liturgies on feast days and Holy days”
      The school holds school-wide liturgies on feast days and Holy days.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily Mass available to students on campusYes (The page states that weekday Mass is offered throughout the year.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Academic & Wellness Counseling - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/counseling · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Opportunities for Reconciliation and weekday Mass are also offered throughout the year.”
      Weekday Mass and reconciliation are offered throughout the year.
  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Confession offered to students during the school yearSeasonally (Advent, Lent) or a few times a year (Opportunities for reconciliation are offered throughout the year.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Academic & Wellness Counseling - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/counseling · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Opportunities for Reconciliation and weekday Mass are also offered throughout the year.”
      Weekday Mass and reconciliation are offered throughout the year.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolVisiting or shared priest (Masses are confirmed; the pages name no priest as chaplain.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Academic & Wellness Counseling - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/counseling · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “D.A. gathers regularly for school-wide liturgies on feast days and Holy days”
      The school holds school-wide liturgies on feast days and Holy days.
    2. Spirituality & Service - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/spirituality-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The students spend the night at Dominican Academy before travelling to service centers the next day”
      Sophomores spend a retreat night at the school, with Mass at the school after their service day.
N/ATheology and curriculum: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Theology and curriculum

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Years of theology or religion requiredFour years (One full-year theology course is required in each grade: Sacred Scripture (grade 9), Church History, Sacraments and the Church Today (grade 10), Christian Ethics (grade 11), and Catholic Social Teaching and World Religions (grade 12).)
    Sources (1)
    1. Departments & Courses - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/departments-courses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Theology: 4 credits”
      Theology is a four-credit requirement.
      “Sacred Scripture (1 Credit)”
      Sacred Scripture is a required one-credit theology course in grade 9.
      “Church History, Sacraments, and the Church Today (1 Credit)”
      A required one-credit theology course is taken in grade 10.
      “Christian Ethics (1 Credit)”
      Christian Ethics is a required one-credit course in grade 11.
      “Catholic Social Teaching & World Religions (1 Credit)”
      Catholic Social Teaching and World Religions is a required one-credit theology course in grade 12.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Theology courses follow the USCCB Curriculum FrameworkNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredYes (Christian Ethics is a required grade 11 course, a moral-philosophy and ethics course.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Departments & Courses - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/departments-courses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Christian Ethics (1 Credit)”
      Christian Ethics is a required one-credit course in grade 11.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in the program of studies or mission)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
ACampus culture: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Campus culture

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    RetreatsA retreat for every grade (Every student takes part in a retreat each year: a freshman retreat, a sophomore retreat, the junior In Via retreat and a senior retreat.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Spirituality & Service - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/spirituality-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Students participate in a retreat each year during their time at Dominican Academy.”
      Students take part in a retreat each year.
    2. Academic & Wellness Counseling - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/counseling · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Each grade also participates in a class retreat designed to match their stage of growth”
      Each grade has a class retreat.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Campus ministry staffNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsTwo or more (Campus Ministry and Dominican Academy Preachers (DAPs) are both listed as student clubs.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Clubs & Activities - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/clubs-activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Campus Ministry organizes school-wide events throughout the year”
      Campus Ministry is a student club that organizes school-wide events.
      “ADVOCACY & SERVICE: Campus Ministry D.A. Preachers (DAPs)”
      Campus Ministry and Dominican Academy Preachers are listed as clubs.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayYes
    Sources (2)
    1. Academic & Wellness Counseling - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/counseling · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Each day includes prayer, setting a thoughtful tone for learning and life.”
      Each school day includes prayer.
    2. Clubs & Activities - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/clubs-activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Members also lead the school in prayer and the pledge at the beginning and end of the school day and give the 'DAPs Welcome' at the beginning of school liturgies.”
      Dominican Academy Preachers lead the school in prayer at the start and end of the day.
BService and Catholic social teaching: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Service and Catholic social teaching

81 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Required service hoursFewer than 40 hours (Seniors must complete thirty hours of community service. This is fewer than 40 hours, and the pages state no other service hours.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Spirituality & Service - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/spirituality-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “All students are required to complete thirty hours of community service at a site of their choosing.”
      Seniors must complete thirty hours of community service.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesYes (Catholic Social Teaching and World Religions is a required grade 12 theology course.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Departments & Courses - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/departments-courses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Catholic Social Teaching & World Religions (1 Credit)”
      Catholic Social Teaching and World Religions is a required one-credit theology course in grade 12.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes (Students travel to Washington, DC for the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, and seniors take part in Social Justice Seminars.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Service in the U.S. and Abroad - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/international-travel-and-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice: D.A. student representatives travel to Washington, DC to advocate for social justice issues”
      Student representatives attend the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, DC.
    2. Spirituality & Service - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/spirituality-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “On Tuesday afternoons in the spring, Dominican Academy seniors join Regis High School seniors for Social Justice Seminars.”
      Seniors take part in Social Justice Seminars with Regis High School seniors.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • Theology is required in every grade, four credits in all.
    Sources (1)
    1. Departments & Courses - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/departments-courses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Theology: 4 credits”
      Theology is a four-credit requirement.
      “Sacred Scripture (1 Credit)”
      Sacred Scripture is a required one-credit theology course in grade 9.
  • Every grade has a retreat, and students take part in a retreat each year.
    Sources (2)
    1. Academic & Wellness Counseling - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/counseling · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Each grade also participates in a class retreat designed to match their stage of growth”
      Each grade has a class retreat.
    2. Spirituality & Service - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/spirituality-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Students participate in a retreat each year during their time at Dominican Academy.”
      Students take part in a retreat each year.
  • Justice programs include the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice and Social Justice Seminars.
    Sources (2)
    1. Service in the U.S. and Abroad - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/international-travel-and-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice: D.A. student representatives travel to Washington, DC to advocate for social justice issues”
      Student representatives attend the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, DC.
    2. Spirituality & Service - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/spirituality-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “On Tuesday afternoons in the spring, Dominican Academy seniors join Regis High School seniors for Social Justice Seminars.”
      Seniors take part in Social Justice Seminars with Regis High School seniors.

Concerns

  • No chaplain is namedthat can be read.
    Sources (1)
    1. Spirituality & Service - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/spirituality-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The students spend the night at Dominican Academy before travelling to service centers the next day”
      Sophomores spend a retreat night at the school, with Mass at the school after their service day.
  • Seniors must complete thirty hours of community service, fewer than 40 hours over four years.
    Sources (1)
    1. Spirituality & Service - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/spirituality-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “All students are required to complete thirty hours of community service at a site of their choosing.”
      Seniors must complete thirty hours of community service.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Campus Ministry, Dominican Academy

  • Address: 44 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: dedicated chapel

View on map ↗

Source: dominicanacademy.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, dominicanacademy.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

14 groups and regular activities · 2 on campus, 3 off campus, 9 location not published

Retreats 4

  • Senior retreatOff campus
    Seniors spend a night at a retreat house with classmates, led by senior leaders.
  • Freshman retreatOn campus
    Held at Dominican Academy over one school day, moderated by faculty and led by upperclasswomen.
  • Sophomore Retreat ExperienceOn campus
    Students spend the night at Dominican Academy, serve at local centers the next day, and return to the school for Mass.
  • In Via junior retreat
    The 11th grade capstone retreat. The location and content are kept private.

Service 4

  • Urban Plunge service dayOff campus
    Freshmen spend a day at a local community center serving the homeless, elderly or disabled.
  • Ignatian Family Teach-In for JusticeOff campus
    Student representatives travel to Washington, DC to advocate for social justice issues.
  • Service Learning Program
    A four-year program of service linked to classroom reflection, with junior advocacy projects and a senior service requirement of thirty hours.
  • Social Justice Seminars at Regis
    Tuesday afternoons in the spring
    Dominican Academy seniors join Regis High School seniors for talks and discussion on social justice.

Clubs and groups 1

  • Campus Ministry
    The largest club at the school. Students serve a meal once a month at New York Common Pantry, screen documentary films and run awareness campaigns.

Liturgy and prayer 5

  • Dominican Academy Preachers (DAPs)
    Juniors and seniors who plan and lead the freshman retreat, lead the school in prayer and the pledge, and coordinate a toy drive for children in Haiti.
  • School-wide liturgies
    Feast days and Holy days
    School-wide liturgies with student roles in readings, music and service.
  • Weekday Mass and reconciliation
    Throughout the year
    Weekday Mass and opportunities for reconciliation are offered throughout the year.
  • Eucharistic Ministers
    Interested seniors are ordained as Eucharistic Ministers at the start of the school year, after working with the theology department.
  • Liturgical Ensemble and Liturgical Dance Club
    Students share music and dance in the school's Masses and celebrations.

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Campus ministry

Sources (4)
  1. Clubs & Activities - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/student-life/clubs-activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Campus Ministry organizes school-wide events throughout the year”
    Campus Ministry is a student club that organizes school-wide events.
  2. Academic & Wellness Counseling - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/academics/counseling · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “D.A. gathers regularly for school-wide liturgies on feast days and Holy days”
    The school holds school-wide liturgies on feast days and Holy days.
  3. Visit Us - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/admissions/visit-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Dominican Academy is located at 44 East 68th Street in Manhattan, between Park and Madison Avenues.”
    The school is located at 44 East 68th Street in Manhattan.
  4. Our Legacy - Dominican Academydominicanacademy.org/about/legacy · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “reconfiguration of the library and dedicated chapel”
    The school has a dedicated chapel.

Reach out

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Academic Excellence

AAcademic Excellence: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
97 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduates going to four-year colleges 75% of scoreThis measure counts for 75% of the Academic Excellence score.100%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.9.6 to 1

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed. Federal data on private high schools is limited to these two measures.

Source: NCES Private School Survey (2023–24 school year)

School facts

TypeIndependent Catholic school
DioceseArchdiocese of New York, NY
Grades9–12
Students (all grades)240
Students in grades 9–12240
Coed or single-sexAll-female
Student–teacher ratio9.6 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges100%
SettingCity

Source: NCES Private School Survey 23-24 public-use file (school year 2023–24). The college-going rate and student–teacher ratio feed Academic Excellence; nothing here changes the faith grades.

Local Church

Archdiocese of New York

The Most Reverend Ronald A. Hicks, Archbishop of New York

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Cathedral: St. Patrick's Cathedral

Source: archny.org, archny.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Dominican Academy a Catholic high school?
Yes. Dominican Academy is a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of New York. Its sponsor is Dominican Veritas Ministries.
What is Dominican Academy’s Compass Score?
83 out of 100 (grade B). It combines faith (75%) and academics (25%), each rated from official sources.

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