ABOUT US

Academia Santa María Reina is located in the city of Ponce, PR, the second largest city of the island, with a population of over 200,000. Academia Santa María Reina was built on the Santa Maria University off campus, in the interior avenue towards the south side of the University.

The Redemptorist Fathers and the Sisters of Saint Joseph founded the school in 1959. The Assistant Principal was Sister Theresa Magdalene; who was also the assistant principal at two other facilities that was the Fullana Building at Santa María and the other facility was located at Villa Grillasca.

Santa María started with three grades; Kindergarten, first and second grade, which was only for a short time. Father James L. Ferris, CSSR, Director and priest of Academia Santa María Reina and church, organized a campaign to collect funds for the school. With the funds collected and a loan given by the NED-Act, construction began.

The construction was planned for 2,000 students. Cardinal Spellman blessed the first phase of 18 classrooms in August 1959, with the participation of students from Kindergarten, first and second grades and their respective teachers; Mrs. Aida R. Cardé de Reyes, Mrs. Margarita Torres And Mrs. Carme Miranda.

In august 1960, the school continued with kindergarten through eighth grades and with a registration of 600 students, a faculty of four Sisters of St. Joseph and eight Professional teachers.

The construction continued; and in August 1961, twelve more classrooms were added; completing the structure with a registration of 961 students, a faculty of five Sisters of St. Joseph and four Cuban Sisters of the Apostolate of the Mothers. In 1962 the Sisters of the Apostolate left and three Sisters od St. Joseph were hired to complete the faculty.

Since the school began it was a parochial school, directed by the Redemporist Fathers until 1984. After

a reorganization of their status they left to different parishes. Monsignor Federico Abad was named Director in 1984. Since then, various directors have been appointed at which, presently, the school is being directed by a priest and layman. Father Carlos Collazo Santiago is school director and Prof. Juan M. Colón Rodríguez is School Principal.

In 1972 the Sisters of St. Joseph left the institution. The last principal was Sister Ann Franklin. Father Antonio Dorn, CSSR tried to make arrangements to find another religious order of Sisters, but decided to leave the school in the hands of regular teachers. The first professional principal was Mrs. Aida R. Cardé de Reyes.

Academia Santa Maria Reina offers its services to the community of Ponce and to bordering areas. The majority are of families in which both parents work. We have approximately 500 families to which 90% of them live in Ponce and come from different social classes.

The school has three levels: the first level is pre-school which includes pre-kindergarten and kindergarten; the second level is elementary school, which includes grades one through six and the third level is high school, which includes seventh to twelfth grade.

Academia Santa María Reina provides an ideal setting for the integration of the school community. The administration, efficiently guides the teachers, parents, and other members of the school community to the accomplishment of their objectives: academic excellence and genuine Catholicism. At the same time, it provided a secure environment that promotes healthy development of the students and of all the school members.

Each member directs its efforts toward achieving the goals and objectives of our school. The school’s community works in complete harmony every day. Within the school there exists a community, an atmosphere of respect, cordiality, understanding, support and fidelity towards the goals and objectives.

In the classroom, the teacher provides the right atmosphere that encourages students to learn skills that are taught in each subject. The classrooms are decorated accordingly to the subject being taught and to the sense of spirituality or philosophy that characterizes our school. This atmosphere gives the students a sense of belonging. Each classroom provides good lighting and ventilation.

The student’s parents are free to come to the school regularly to discuss concerns about their children’s learning process or conduct. The parents have the opportunity to talk to the teachers, counselors, dean of discipline, or the principals. Each day, the principals receive parents, students, teachers, school personnel and other members of the school community before, during, and after school hours.

Our student’s stability provides a climate of friendship, respect and support. Because of this, our student body works together in order to obtain the individual and collective success of each one of them in Academia Santa María Reina and also the community where they live.

The school has a direct curriculum based on the individual needs of Puerto Rico, and tries to develop the same skills and techniques to live in a world of continuing changes and progress. The curriculum is reviewed periodically, trying to adopt all modern tendencies so that the students can be prepared for their future, which is supported by a 100% attendance to college.