STATEN ISLAND, NY – If you are one of the few who haven’t heard yet, the former St. John Villa Academy on Landis Avenue in Staten Island has just become a migrant facility to house hundreds of illegal immigrants in NYC.
There were many demonstrations and protests at the location by angry residents during the month of August as news broke of the impending plans. St. John Villa Academy’s high school opened in 1932. It was a college preparatory high school located in a sleepy area of Arrochar, just a stone’s throw from the Verrazano Bridge, and down the street from another all-girls high school, St. Joseph Hill Academy.
Villa also schooled K-8 coed students. I attended Villa from 1983-1987. The graduating class was about 125 students. Ms. Shepard was the gym teacher, and I fondly remember many teachers, Sister Christina, Sister Helen, Sister Ermelinda, Mrs. Ramos, Mrs. Sparago, etc.
I received a great education and made many friendships throughout my four years there. The closure of the high school occurred at the conclusion of the 2017–2018 academic year due to several key factors. These included insufficient personnel and faculty, a decreasing student enrollment, and escalating maintenance costs associated with an aging facility.
The decision to make the campus a migrant facility came over the summer with great anger among local residents of this quiet tree-lined street just yards away from St Joseph Hill High School. Many protests developed and Staten Islanders tried unsuccessfully to stop the opening of the migrant shelter.
St. John Villa Academy was a private, all-girls Roman Catholic high school and co-ed elementary school located in Staten Island, New York. Established in 1922 by the Sisters of St. John the Baptist, the institution served as a cornerstone for Catholic education in the community for nearly a century.
The Academy comprised an elementary school, middle school, and high school, providing education from kindergarten to twelfth grade. With a strong focus on academics, arts, and athletics, the institution nurtured a well-rounded education for its students. It was also known for its commitment to community service and fostering religious values, in line with its Catholic identity.
Over the years, the Academy gained a reputation for excellence, attracting students not just from Staten Island but also from other parts of New York City. Alumni of St. John Villa Academy have gone on to achieve success in various fields, underlining the quality of education the institution provided.
Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties and declining enrollment, the school announced its closure in January 2018, sending shockwaves through the community it had served for so many years. Despite efforts to keep it open, the school officially closed its doors in June 2018.
The closure of St. John Villa Academy marked the end of an era in Staten Island’s educational landscape. The Academy leaves behind a rich legacy of educating thousands of students and contributing positively to the community.