Mount St. Dominic Academy is a four-year Catholic college preparatory school for young women located in Caldwell, in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades. The school was founded in 1892 by the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell.Mission and History, Mount Saint Dominic Academy. Accessed February 8, 2022. "The Caldwell Dominicans became an independent congregation in 1881 and began a school in our current location in 1892.... In 1912, the Motherhouse and Novitiate officially moved from Jersey City to Caldwell. This increased the need for more space. In 1915 a three story school with a theater, auditorium and dormitory building, Mercedes Hall, was constructed across from the Motherhouse." It is located within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.Essex County Secondary Schools, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed February 8, 2022.

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 254 students and 32.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.8:1.School data for Mount Saint Dominic Academy, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed September 1, 2025.

History Founded in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1892, the school moved to Caldwell in 1912. A new building was completed in 1915, providing space for dormitories and other school facilities.

Description Mount St. Dominic Academy has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1934.Mount Saint Dominic Academy, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed February 8, 2022. MSDA is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools,List of Member Schools, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Accessed August 13, 2017. the National Coalition of Girls' Schools (NCGS), and the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools.Dominican Schools, Dominican Association of Secondary Schools. Accessed July 25, 2011. Juliette M. Picciano, is the Head of School. The school, whose motto is "empowering young women", has a graduation rate and a college acceptance rate of 100%. Students are accepted into and attend some of the most highly regarded colleges and universities nationwide.

The school shares a campus with Caldwell University and the Sisters of Saint Dominic that covers .Rao, Maya. "CRDA reconciles giving public money to private schools / State agency provided $5 million in casino investment funds to help build gym, dorm in Essex County", The Press of Atlantic City, March 2, 2008. Accessed April 23, 2012. "Both Caldwell University and Mount Saint Dominic are sponsored by the Caldwell Dominicans. Caldwell's and Mount Saint Dominic's operations are totally independent of each other, although they share an administrative building and campus." Facilities include science labs, an athletic center and a 400+ seat performing arts center.Fast Facts , Mount Saint Dominic Academy. Accessed April 23, 2012.

Study, prayer, community, and service are the basis of religious education at Mount St. Dominic Academy. The Siena Service Program is a four-year community service program that consists of a specific number of hours of approved service at in-school or outside agencies. The Mount not only focuses on college prep, but career readiness as well. The special academic programs include Senior Capstone, L.E.O. Program, Health Science & Social Justice Endorsements Program, Robotics, and optional participation with OneSchoolhouse.

Mount St. Dominic Academy provides students with a wide range of honors classes, including Mathematics, Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, U.S. History, Modern World History, Spanish, and French. Advanced Placement AP Courses include Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, English Literature and Composition, English Language and Composition, French Language and Culture, Physics, Psychology, Spanish, Spanish Language and Culture, Statistics, US Government and Politics, U.S. History, and World History. Graduates from the Mount's class of 2020 were accepted into over 100 schools and were awarded more than $17 million in scholarships and grants. A number of students receive commendation in the National Merit Scholarship Program and recognition in the National Hispanic Scholar Award.

Athletics The Mount St. Dominic Academy Lady LionsMount Saint Dominic Academy, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. compete in the Super Essex Conference which is comprised of public and private high schools in Essex County and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. Before the NJSIAA's 2010 realignment, the school had competed in the Northern Hills Conference an athletic conference which included schools located in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.Home Page, Northern Hills Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 28, 2011. Accessed November 25, 2014. With 396 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 381-1,454 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 Mount offers a variety of both Varsity and JV teams, including sports such as basketball, bowling, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, and volleyball.Athletics Home , Mount Saint Dominic Academy. Accessed April 23, 2012. Approximately one half of the students participate in athletics.

The softball team won the Non-Public B state championship in 1994 (defeating Gloucester Catholic High School in the finals) and 1995 (vs. Eustace Preparatory School), and won the Non-Public A title in 2014 (vs. Immaculata High School) and in 2025 (vs. Donovan Catholic).Softball Championship History 1972–2025, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated June 2025. Accessed December 1, 2025. In 1994, the team beat Gloucester Catholic by a score of 12-2 to win the Parochial B championship game and finish the season at 24-3.Chessari, Joe. "IHA retains State crown", The Record, June 11, 1994. Accessed January 24, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Senior center fielder Amy Davies set a school career hits record in leading Mount St. Dominic to a 12-2 victory over Gloucester Catholic in the Parochial B championship game.... Mount St. Dominic (24-3) collected 15 hits against three Gloucester Catholic pitchers." The 1995 team finished the season with a record of 24-1 after defeating Bishop Eustace by a score of 7-0 in the championship game.Chessari, Joe. "Ramm, Dellapenta make it IHA three-peat; Mount St. Dominic tops Eustace", The Record, June 10, 1995. Accessed January 5, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Senior first baseman Paula Giardina was 4-for-4, and junior shortstop Dominique Kostecki was 3-for-4 with three runs scored Friday night as Mount St. Dominic retained its NJSIAA Parochial B softball championship with a 7-0 victory over Bishop Eustace.... Muglia got help in the field when the Lions (24-1) turned a 3-2-4 double play with the bases loaded that ended the fourth inning." NJ.com / The Star-Ledger ranked Mount St. Dominic as their number-one softball team in the state in 1994."Softball: Every No. 1 team in the state from 1979 to 2015", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 21, 2015, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed January 4, 2021. "Following are the teams that finished as the NJ.com No. 1 softball team in the state with year and record.... 1995: Mount St. Dominic (24-1)"

The basketball team won the Non-Public Group B state championship in 1994, defeating St. Rose High School in the tournament final.Girls Basketball Championship History: 1919–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated March 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. The team entered the 1994 Tournament of Champions as the third seed, and defeated number-six seed Haddonfield Memorial High School by a score of 57-32 in the quarterfinals, second seed St. John Vianney High School by 74-55 in the semis and went on to win the championship with a 52-45 win against fifth-seeded Delsea Regional High School in the finals played at the Jadwin Gymnasium.NJSIAA Girls Basketball Tournament of Champions History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020."Mount St. Dominic, Orange win state basketball crowns", Asbury Park Press, March 21, 1994. Accessed November 30, 2020. "The third-seeded Orange boys defeated top-seeded Paterson Catholic, 64-55, and the third-seeded Mount St. Dominic girls took a 52-45 win over fifth-seeded Delsea in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's Tournament of Champions finals yesterday at Jadwin Gym."

The volleyball team won the Group I state championship in 1994, against runner-up Secaucus High School in the playoff finals.NJSIAA Girls Volleyball Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.

The track team won the indoor relay state championship in Non-Public Group IV in 2011 and 2018.History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023. The 2011 indoor track team won the NJSIAA Non-Public Relays championship and the New Jersey Catholic Track Conference championship and finished second by a single point to perennial powerhouse Columbia High School at the Essex County Track Championships, where The Mount team set several records.Staff. "Lions impress in Essex County track", The Progress, February 4, 2011. Accessed April 23, 2012. "In the state Non-Public Relays on Jan. 15 in Toms River, the Mount took the title by totaling 40 points, while Monsignor Donovan, Notre Dame and Bishop Eustace tied for second with 34 points each." The track team won the indoor track public state championship in Non-Public Group B in 2010-2012 and 2016.Girls Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1922-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.

The school's swim team won the Non-Public Group B state title in 2012, ending the season with a 13–0 record and winning conference and county titles in addition to the program's first state championship.Allen Jr., W.L. Bill. "Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell wins first-ever state title, completing sweep of titles", The Progress, March 2, 2012. Accessed April 23, 2012. "Powered by first place finishes in eight of the 11 events, the swim squad from Mount Saint Dominic Academy edged perennial power and defending champion Mount Saint Mary Academy of Watchung, 88-82, in the State Non-Public, Group B championship meet on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 25, at the College of New Jersey in Ewing."NJSIAA Boys and Girls Team Swimming History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.

The spring track team was the Non-Public Group B state champion in 2012.NJSIAA Girls Spring Track Summary of Group Titles, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Arts Visual arts

Mount St. Dominic Academy offers a variety of arts courses, such as Drawing, Photography, Painting, and AP Studio Art; and extracurriculars such as Art Club, Choir, and Dance.

Performing arts The Performing Arts Department features two annual productions: a Fall Drama and a Spring Musical.

Notable alumnae