Academics

Upper School

    • Image

Welcome to Lacordaire

The Upper School is where students grow into confident, capable young women over the course of four years. Our curriculum is designed to challenge and inspire, using an inquiry-based, project- and problem-solving approach that combines academic rigor with creativity and exploration. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1 or fewer, each student receives the personalized support needed to thrive while building strong relationships with faculty and peers.

Technology is seamlessly integrated into learning through classroom resources, a bring-your-own-device program, and online courses that expand access to advanced subjects and strengthen our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) initiatives.

Beyond academics, students cultivate leadership, collaboration, global awareness, and an appreciation for the arts, supported by a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.

At Lacordaire, it is our greatest honor to know our students personally, guiding them as they develop into women ready to meet the world with confidence, compassion, and purpose.
We look forward to meeting you!  
 
Megan Mannato
Head of School
The Upper School is where students grow into confident, capable young women over the course of four years.

What Makes the Upper School Unique

List of 8 items.

  • Advisor Program

    Advisors serve as homeroom teachers and meet individually with students once or twice per marking period. They ensure students are engaged, provide support for academic or social concerns, and maintain communication with parents.

  • Built-in Test Preparation

    Standardized test prep for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT is integrated into academic classes, with teachers reinforcing skills in algebra, geometry, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing.

  • Advanced Coursework

    Honors, AP, and advanced electives challenge students with independent work and deeper inquiry beyond the college preparatory curriculum.

    Lacordaire is home to chapters of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National French Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. In 2025, 100% of Upper School juniors qualified to be inducted into at least one honor society.

  • Advanced STEM Academy (ASA)

    Available by application only, this year-long, after school course provides opportunities for Upper School students to explore a variety of STEM subject areas in-depth and gain early exposure to STEM careers. Over the course of the ASA program, students will apply their learning, meet with professionals, and complete a capstone project. In 2025, the capstone project included a travel-study program at the Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences.

  • Expanded Online Learning

    Through our partnership with One Schoolhouse, students may take additional online courses in specialized disciplines not offered on campus.

  • Project Justice

    Every senior completes a service internship, living out the Dominican tradition of social justice through hands-on service in two different community organizations.

  • International Travel

    All Upper School students have the ability to join our International
    Travel program for a two-week trip. Recent trips have included Ireland and Scotland (2022), Iceland (2024), Switzerland (2025). Our 2026 trip will take students to Japan.

  • Core & Electives

    English, math, history, science, religion, and world languages form the foundation of our program, complemented by electives designed to meet a wide range of student interests.

Explore Our Course Catalog

Why Choose an All-Girls School?

List of 5 items.

  • 1. Confidence & Leadership

    In an all-girls environment, students are more likely to take on leadership roles, speak up in class, and engage fully without the social pressures often found in co-ed settings.

  • 2. Academics Without Stereotypes

    Research shows girls at single-gender schools are more likely to pursue advanced coursework in STEM, humanities, and the arts because they don’t face gender-based expectations about “who should excel” in certain subjects.

  • 3. Community & Belonging

    The bonds built in an all-girls setting foster deep friendships, mentorship, and support networks that last well beyond graduation.

  • 4. Tailored Teaching

    Teachers in all-girls schools are intentional about how they teach, focusing on methods proven to engage and challenge young women in meaningful ways.

  • 5. Preparation for the Future

    Girls’ school graduates report feeling more prepared for college, career, and life. They’re more likely to have strong voices, self-advocacy skills, and the resilience to thrive in new environments.

Contact

155 Lorraine Ave. Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
(973)-744-1156
info@lacordaire.net

Our Mission

Empowering students to become confident decision makers and responsible leaders in a community of belonging, rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition
© Lacordaire Academy. All Rights Reserved