Frequently Asked Questions

CSJ stands for Congregation of Saint Joseph, the official name of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who founded TMLA in 1936 and continue to operate the school today. As a CSJ-sponsored school, we are part of a rich Catholic heritage that blazed a path from France to St. Louis to New York. For more than 350 years, the Sisters of St. Joseph have been recognized around the world as leading educators of young women.

College admissions officers recognize TMLA’s name and stellar reputation. They respect our academic curriculum and feel confident accepting our students. TMLA’s college program includes a full-time college counselor, individual faculty interviews, school-sponsored campus visits, and a college fair—which helps students and their families through the search and application process and ensures that our graduates are admitted to highly regarded colleges and universities.

ALL of our graduates—100 percent—go on to college.

The New York Board of Regents set 65 as the passing grade. TMLA, however, requires all students to take Regents Level classes on the track to obtain a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation, New York State’s highest academic standard.

Yes! Our history-making graduates include the first woman president of a major television network (ABC), the first woman admitted to Harvard Law School, the first woman staff director in the U.S. Senate, the first Hispanic vice president of a prominent financial institution, and the first woman named partner of a major U.S. law firm—to name a few.

Among other illustrious alumnae are a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, two justices of the New York Supreme Court, a senior advisor in the Library of Congress, chief of staff for the U.S. vice president, a director of neuroscience at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, assistant secretaries of State and Commerce for the U.S., executive vice president of Twentieth Century Fox, winners of the National Book Award and Newbery Medal, a Fulbright/Guggenheim-recognized sculptor, and author of the Star Wars prequels.

TMLA students who are interested in art may apply to be an Art Major at the end of the ninth grade. If selected, they enjoy a structured Fine Arts program that includes enrollment in either AP Studio, AP Art History or college-level Graphic Design.

Our Conservatory is a wing of the school designed to encourage the love of and passion for music. It was constructed and dedicated in memory of one of our graduates who had been selected to train at the Metropolitan Opera. In this nine-room Conservatory, students enjoy soundproof individual and group practice rooms, a state-of-the-art recording studio, and a full complement of musical instruments, including five Steinway grand pianos.

TMLA’s five-acre campus sits atop one of the highest hills in Queens and resembles a college setting. Lush lawns and landscaped gardens surround four buildings that house our academic classrooms, art studios, student lounges, engineering laboratory, spiritual retreat facilities, and beautiful chapel.

With access to highways and public transportation, The Mary Louis Academy has been a hub for Jamaica Estates for generations.

By car: Reach TMLA from the Grand Central Parkway via the Utopia Parkway (eastbound) or 188th Street (westbound) exits.

By train: F Train to 179th Street

By bus: Q 1,2,3,17,36,43,56,75,76,77 (transfer at 165th Street Terminal)
N 1,2,3,6,22,22A,24,26B 24,54 (transfer at 165th Street Terminal).

For private transportation options and information, please email [email protected]

With 29 teams on the freshman, junior varsity and varsity levels, we have the largest all-girls athletic program in NYC, and our teams have won numerous championships. TMLA students participate in badminton, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, dance, golf, lacrosse, tennis, track and field, soccer, softball, swimming, and volleyball. Many participants are scholar athletes with GPAs of 3.8 and higher, and our graduates are represented in every college sports division. Our athletes benefit from a well-equipped, college-level fitness room and a full-time athletic trainer.

At TMLA, new interactive technologies are integrated into every aspect of learning. The STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program offers a lab dedicated to the exploration of mathematics and opportunities to be part of award-winning programs in robotics and forensic science. Our Engineering Lab boasts 3D printers for robotics and for creating prosthetic hands for children. We were the first school in Queens to issue iPads to all incoming students and the first to have SMART Boards in every classroom. Computers are located throughout the school, which has high-speed Internet access, and students Skype and Zoom with counterparts in other countries.

Extracurricular activities play an important role in the TMLA experience, and we encourage students to explore their interests. We offer more than 50 clubs and extracurricular activities focused on the arts, service, cultural heritage, technology, academics, social issues, and special interests. For a list of student clubs, go to Clubs and Extracurriculars.

TMLA proudly offers the most scholarship money to girls in the diocese, with over $2.3 million awarded in full and partial scholarships, based on examination results and academic records. In addition, CSJ Scholar Incentive Service Awards are given annually to academically qualified students engaged in service to school, parish, or community.

Trips, retreats, and competitions enrich the TMLA experience. Our students enjoy annual trips to:

• Europe
• The Hamptons
• Broadway shows, operas, restaurants, and museums in Manhattan, a world-class cultural center
• Hershey Park, Amish Country, and Woodlock Pines Resort in Pennsylvania
• Retreats on the 350-acre CSJ campus, as well as at Notre Dame University
• Overnight and weekend athletic competitions throughout the tristate area
• State and national forensic competitions, including events in Florida, Midwest, and California
• School-sponsored college visits along the East coast, including to some top art schools