Our Mission and History

St. Jean Baptiste High School, a Catholic community located in the heart of Manhattan, provides a liberating college preparatory education to young women of diverse strengths and backgrounds. Rooted in the spirit of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, St. Jean’s empowers its members to participate actively in the transformation of society for a more just world.

St. Jean Baptiste High School was founded as a parish high school in the Archdiocese of New York in 1929 and is directed by the Fathers of the Blessed Sacrament and administered by the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame. The staff is comprised of religious sisters and dedicated lay men and women.

St. Jean Baptiste High School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and registered with the State Department of Education.

Profile of the Graduate

The goal of the faculty and administration is to nurture in each student the following qualities and characteristics of womanhood. Our mission is to empower each student to become:

• A Woman of Personal Strength and Courage
A young woman coming to St. Jean Baptiste High School has already exhibited considerable strength and courage because of the demands of urban life. By graduation we want to ensure that these qualities have been developed and refined.

•A Woman of Academic Achievement
The graduate of St. Jean's recognizes that her high school education is NOT an end in itself, but rather, a stepping stone to what lies beyond.

•A Woman of Faith
The young woman who comes to St. Jean's has already begun her faith journey. By graduation we want her to have deepened her faith and to have grown spiritually.

• A Woman for Others
By graduation we want to ensure that the qualities necessary for living and interacting effectively and respectfully, with a view to justice and peace, are an integral part of her personal attributes.

• A Woman Oriented to the Future
By graduation we hope that the student will have developed attitudes and behaviors that enable her to live a life of continuing commitment to educational growth.