The Academy of the Holy Angels is an all-female private middle school and college preparatory high school located in Demarest, in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in sixth through twelfth grade.About, Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed September 3, 2025. "The School Sisters of Notre Dame established the Academy of the Holy Angels in 1879 to educate and empower young women.... AHA is rooted in Catholic tradition, yet serves a diverse student body in Grades 6-12 where all are welcome." The school is a sponsored work of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.Bergen County Catholic High Schools, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed September 3, 2025. The Academy of the Holy Angels draws students from North Jersey, Rockland County, New York, and surrounding areas.
As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 519 students and 63.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.2:1. The school's student body was 52.4% (272) White, 23.7% (123) Asian, 11.4% (59) Hispanic, 7.9% (41) two or more races, 4.0% (21) Black, 0.2% (1) American Indian / Alaska Native and 0.4% (2) Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander.School data for Academy Of The Holy Angels, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed September 1, 2025.
The Academy of the Holy Angels is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association and the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools.List of Member Schools, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Accessed November 12, 2016.
History The Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private school in Bergen County. Founded in 1879 by Sister Mary Nonna Dunphy, one of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the school was opened in Fort Lee, New Jersey as a boarding and day school for girls from kindergarten to twelfth grade. In 1890 it was incorporated as Holy Angels, Collegiate Institute for Young Ladies and Preparatory School for Little Girls. Its motto was then and remains now "Vitae Via Virtus." The Holy Angels Board voted to change the name of the school to the Academy of the Holy Angels in 1934 when Sister M. Angeline Hughes was Principal. The school accepted a developer's offer for the school's location in Fort Lee and purchased a large property in Demarest. The school had operated a grammar school in addition to the high school for decades and many graduates were known as "12 year Angels." The grammar school was discontinued completely in 1964 prior to the move from Fort Lee. Building commenced and the school relocated to its current location in Demarest in 1965."Holy Angels - History", Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed April 2, 2009. The former site was replaced by Mediterranean Towers South at 2000 Linwood Avenue, on the northeast corner of Main Street and Linwood Avenue.
Awards and recognition During the 1999–2000 school year, the Academy of the Holy Angels was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002, p. 52, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed November 8, 2020."Holy Angels - Blue Ribbon School of Excellence", Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed April 10, 2009.
The Corporation for National Service selected the Academy of the Holy Angels as a National Service-Learning Leader School, due to its excellence in service learning. Holy Angels is one of two Catholic high schools nationwide to receive this honor."Holy Angels - National Service-Learning Leader School", Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed April 10, 2009.
Middle States accreditation The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools.Academy of the Holy Angels, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed July 14, 2022. AHA chose Accreditation for Growth, a strategic planning method in which diverse constituent groups participate in discussions, which are then used as a method for growth and improvement, both academically by the students, as well as by the institution."Holy Angels - Middle States", Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed April 9, 2009.
Technology
Since 2005, upon entering the school, each student is required to buy a Fujitsu Tablet. Students use these tablets during school and at home to complete assignments, access the internet for research, take notes, and communicate with the faculty. Equipped with a pen and with a screen that can function as a notebook, students are able to use these tablets for all subjects such as History and Math. Features such as the Dropbox and Student Commons allow students to access notes and papers from the teachers on the school network, as well as place their own completed assignments within the folders on the network and, in effect, decrease the amount of paper used.
In addition, AHA is currently using Turnitin, a website that scans finished papers and assignments for plagiarism and helps prevent it as well. Beginning with the class of 2011, AHA began to use LiveText, an online storage site in which each student is able to upload their best papers and projects, ultimately creating their own 'online resume.'
Art AHA facilities include four art studios and a lab for digital media. Winter and Spring Art Shows are held annually to feature artists. The school also has an active chapter of the National Art Honor Society, Art Club, and Photography Club.
The AHA Dance Team competes annually at the UDA National Dance Team Championship, hosted at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, FL. The squad has won five National Titles in Small Varsity Hip Hop as well as placed in the top 3 in Small Varsity Pom for the past three years."AHA’s varsity dancers sign with top collegiate teams", Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, June 2, 2021.Accessed July 14, 2022. "These senior dancers have earned three Universal Dance Association national championships in small varsity hip-hop (2018, 2019, and 2021), and narrowly missed a fourth in 2020."
Activities The Academy of the Holy Angels provides a range of clubs and organizations that students can join based on their own interests and availability. In addition to after-school activities, the schedule of AHA allows a 45-minute activity period at the end of the day once a cycle, during which students can participate in in-school clubs and organizations. There are two cycles that alternate, and students can, therefore, choose two in-school activities to participate in.
In-school activities
AHAnime Armenian Club Art for the Community Asian Cultural Society Black and Hispanic Cultural Society Blueprint Literary Magazine Book Club Comic Book Heroes on Film CSI Angels Deep Relaxation Diversity Club Drama Club Echoes Yearbook Embroidery Club French Club French for Travelers Go Green History Society I'm Puzzled Instrumental Ensemble/Orchestra International Students Club Italian Club Japanese Club Latin Dancing Lean In Literature on Film Math Club/3D Design Math Tutoring M.E.D.S. Music Makers Outreach Pen Pals Project Greenhouse Quillow 101 Quick and Easy Crafts Real Life 101 Roman Personalities on Film SADD Scrabble, Checkers, Chess Spanish Club Student Athletic Association Student Council Study Period Ultimate Frisbee Yoga Young Entrepreneur "Clubs & Teams Activities Handbook" Academy of the Holy Angels. Accessed October 5, 2016.
After-school activities
Academy Chorus Advisory Council AHA Dance Team AHA Voice (newspaper) AHAnime Angel Ambassadors Angels for Animals Angels For Life Angels over Africa Art Club Asian Cultural Society Big/Little Sister Black & Hispanic Cultural Association Blueprint Literary Magazine Book Club Bridges Chess CSI Angels (Forensics) Dean's Council Debate Drama Club Drawing from Model Echoes (yearbook) Embroidery E-portfolio Equality Now Equestrian Eucharistic Ministers French Club Gaelic Society GO Green Habitat for Humanity Handbell Hellenic Angels Honduras Club Instrumental Ensemble Italian Club Jazz Band Jeweled Angels JOY (Joining Old & Young) Just Angels Knitwits Korean Club Liturgical Ministers Math Club MEDS Middle Eastern Club Mock Trial Model UN Music Makers Operation Smile Orchestra Outreach Photography Quidditch Quiz Bowl Retreat Leadership Teams SADD Service Organizations ScoliAngels Space Angels Spanish Club Stress Busters Student Athletic Association Student Council Theater Productions Vocal Ensemble Walking for Fitness Watercolor Painting Writers' Club
Honors Societies National Honor Society Mu Alpha Theta (National Mathematics Honor Society) Thespian Honor Society (Performing Arts) National Science Honor Society Società Onoraria Italica (Italian Language) Societas Latina Honoris (Latin Language) Société Honoraire de Français (French Language) Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish Language) Tri-M Honor Society (Music) Rho Kappa (National Social Studies Honor Society) NBEA (National Business Honor Society) National Art Honor Society
Athletics The Angels of the Academy of the Holy AngelsAcademy of the Holy Angels, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. compete in the Big North Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Bergen and Passaic counties, and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. Prior to realignment in 2010, the school competed in the North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League, which consisted of public and private high schools located in Bergen County.New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association League Memberships – 2009-2010, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 24, 2011. Accessed August 14, 2017. With 866 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Non-Public A for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 381 to 1,454 students in that grade range (equivalent to Group I for public schools).NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
The Academy of the Holy Angels has a long-standing rivalry with fellow Catholic school, Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township. In 2018, the varsity soccer team beat the Eagles 1-0 for the first time in history.
The cross country team won the Non-Public A state titles in both 2006 and 2009.NJSIAA Girls Cross Country State Group Champions , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
Basketball coach Susan Liddy was recognized in fall 2008 for having reached a milestone 600th win."Hall of Fame: Inductee Susan Liddy reached milestone." Tidings 2 (Winter 2009): 15. Accessed September 23, 2020.