Kennedy Catholic Prep To Open Middle School

SOMERS, NY — Beginning next fall, John F. Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School will offer grades six through eight in an academy setting and Kennedy Catholic.

The Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York and Kennedy Catholic announced that St. Mary's Academy will open for the 2022-23 school year with a limited capacity of one class per grade with possible expansion planned for the future.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan said this was great news for Catholic families in northern Westchester County as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

"The Catholic Church in New York introduced organized education to New York more than 200 years ago," he said, "and the academy's formation is a move towards preserving and growing Catholic educations in this area for generations."

The academy will offer the same Catholic school curriculum and education available at all Catholic schools across the region, according to a spokesperson.

Father Mark Vaillancourt, principal and president of Kennedy, said the new St. Mary's Academy will expand the tradition of academic excellence for future generations in the county.

"Our strength and commitment to excellence position us well to align with the Archdiocese of New York in this exciting alternative for public school students in grades six, seven and eight," he said.

While only public school students may apply to St. Mary’s Academy for the 2022-23 school year, wider application opportunities will be available in the future. Families with fifth through seventh grade students in public schools can visit the John F. Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School website for more information about eligibility and required admissions testing.

This article originally appeared on the Yorktown-Somers Patch