User:Sam.duanee/Our Lady of Mercy Academy (New York)

In 1927, the Sisters of Mercy of Brooklyn began plans to build a boarding school in Syosset. Its location was set to be in the Town of Oyster Bay, the cornerstone of colonial settlement of the North Shore. In keeping with these early roots, the sisters envisioned a Georgian structure whose main entrance on Syosset-Woodbury Road would be enhanced by a tall-pillared portico with graceful Doric columns. Georgian influence would be seen in paneling, lighting fixtures and windows throughout the building.

The distinguishing feature of the building is the colonial tower rising 117 feet which was patterned after Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

The school's Athletic Department offers 6 Fall Sports, 3 Winter Sports, and 7 Spring Sports. The Science and Art Departments use the grounds for extended classroom instruction and experimentation, including our Arbor Day ceremony of planting memorial trees.^[1]

Although the academy was built as a boarding school, there was always room for the few day students that applied in the school's early days. By 1964, however, with increased population growth on Long Island, it became obvious that there was not so much a need for a boarding school as there was for day students. Dormitories were converted into classrooms, and dining rooms into cafeterias. The parlors still remain for meeting parents and guests, and providing meetings for special events. As of 2022, the graduating class averages about 82 girls with 91% of the graduates earning scholarships to their selected schools. ^[2]

The Catholic all-girl's school unfortunately announced its closing in February of 2024. The decision announced that the final class graduating from The Academy would be the class of 2024 with the closing following their graduation. There are currently no plans for what will operate on the school's grounds, however, it has been made clear that there are no plans to sell. ^[3]

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