Girls Prep Division FAQ

The establishment of a provisionary girls prep division was 100% student driven. Since BA announced its closure in late February, its Benedictine Leadership Team (BLT) – comprised of students and modeled on the Group System at St. Benedict’s – have advocated for the opportunity to continue their Benedictine education.

In the Benedict’s tradition of, “Never do for students what they can do for themselves,” the BLTs met first with their male student counterparts at SBP. The student leaders from both schools agreed this effort was worth pursuing further. Fr. Edwin was then brought into the conversation which precipitated numerous discussions with stakeholders including, the Monks of Newark Abbey, the Board of Trustees, Benedictine Academy adult leadership, representatives from the Archdiocese of Newark, individual SBP alumni, past Senior Group Leaders, and others. One trustee noted, “I was in Conlin Auditorium in 1972 when it was announced Benedict’s was closing. I know how these girls are feeling. We have a moral imperative to help in whatever way we can.”

St. Benedict’s also took into account the status of Catholic education in Newark and the surrounding areas. The closure of BA and Cristo Rey Newark High School is a loss of more than 250 high school seats that will mostly impact Black and Hispanic students who live in marginalized communities. Establishing a provisionary Girls Prep Division restores opportunity.

At present, the Girls Prep Division will be a new, separate division of SBP with classes held on the Property (once in-person classes resume). What the future holds remains to be seen. The Monks and the Board reserve the right to structure, locate and name the program differently in the future if it’s deemed best for the girls and the School.

That is not an option.

Yes, there are. SVA and these other schools are all fine institutions. But the girls’ desire to continue in the Benedictine tradition fueled their efforts. They considered other places. They wanted to be at Benedict’s. The Rule tells us to listen to the young. When these students, mostly black and brown, found their voice and asked for help, there was no choice but to listen and act.

St. Benedict’s Prep is an independent school under the control of the Benedictine Abbey of Newark. While SBP cooperates with the Archdiocese on a number of issues, the Archdiocese did not need to approve this decision.

The Board has limited enrollment to 70 girls at present.

Tuition for the Girls Prep Division for the 20-21 school year will be $8,375, the same tuition that was charged at BA this year. Future tuition levels will be set in concert with the Board of Trustees as is done annually. Our practice of ensuring no student is turned away due to financial reasons will remain.

St. Benedict’s Prep is comprised of three divisions – Elementary, Middle and Prep. The Elementary and Middle Divisions have been and will remain coeducational. However, the presence of female high school-age students does not mean St. Benedict’s is “going coed.” Rather, SBP’s grades 9 – 12 will be co-institutional; young men and young women will learn separately in the Boys Prep Division and the Girls Prep Division.

Yes. The vast majority of the girls’ education will be delivered by new faculty members to be hired.

Two Group Leaders, Sekou Diabate ’21 and Sunil Das ’21, both said their Benedict’s brothers supported the initiative. “We’re a community,” said Sunil. “Benedictine Academy being our sister school, this is what we do. We help each other out in times of need.” This show of support is rooted in a longstanding relationship. Through The Vox Institute, group leaders at St. Benedict’s and BLTs at BA have worked together for several years, forging connections and solutions to better empower students.

No. When classes resume on the Property, the Girls Prep Division will have its own daily Convo, just as the Boys Prep Division does. The Middle Division has its own Convo as well. Once a month, the entire School gathers for Convo, from the Kindergarteners to Seniors, in Dalton Gymnasium. The girls will be part of this monthly morning meeting.

Absolutely. And the students who are currently enrolled at BA are already part of groups there and several are student leaders.

Absolutely not. With an enrollment of 800+ kids in K-12 plus post grads, St. Benedict’s admissions snapshot is very healthy. Enrollment for 2020-21 includes a male freshman class of approximately 125 students with more inquiries and applications expected before school starts on July 6. Enrollment in the Elementary Division has also grown in the years since St. Benedict’s took over operation of St. Mary’s School from the Archdiocese of Newark.

The attitudes, culture and environment of The Hive have constantly evolved from a preparatory high school serving mostly white, Catholic males to a K-12 school serving mostly African American and Hispanic students of all faith backgrounds. The Benedict’s of 2020 is different than the Benedict’s of 1990, 1960 or 1868. Yet, while structures and the students we serve may change, our values of “Benedict’s Hates a Quitter,” “Never do for kids what they can do for themselves,” and “Whatever hurts my brother, hurts me; Whatever hurts my sister, hurts me,” will not.

The girls’ uniform is being decided on presently, with input, of course, from the girls. The boys will continue to wear hoodies.

Male or female, the ultimate goals of a St. Benedict’s education are the same: learning through experience, earning your achievements and responsibility to a community. How we get there may differ. As we plan for this new division, the girls will certainly have input on shaping their traditions, but it is too soon to definitively say what these traditions might be and if they will be exactly the same as the boys. Girls Prep Division students may adopt Boys Prep Division traditions and create new ones.

Funding will come from two primary sources: tuition and fundraising. To date, 68 families have committed to the provisionary Girls Prep Division for 2020-21. This includes BA students and transfers from other schools. Total enrollment will be limited to 70 students. Additional funds will arrive through philanthropy from foundations, corporations and alumnae who were supportive of Benedictine Academy or others who direct their giving to education for females. Any tuition and fundraising received for the Girls Prep Division will be new revenue. St. Benedict’s is not using any cash reserves or endowment to fund this endeavor.

Benedict’s is Benedict’s. It is hoped that donors will be interested in the success of everything – and everyone – at The Hive. Unrestricted gifts to the School will support all students, boys and girls from kindergarten through post-grads. That said, donors have always been able to restrict their gift to the program they most desire funding. Any fundraising directed to an existing Benedict’s program devoted to young men will not be diverted to fund the Girls Prep Division. Tuition and fundraising received for the Girls Prep Division will be new revenue.

The girls will drive what activities and sports are available for them, just like it’s always been for the boys (see the histories of our crew and fencing teams for examples). SBP will ensure it is in compliance with Title IX.

Presently, Leahy House is not being utilized during the pandemic. This affords the School time to decide how best to structure the House for the future, a project that’s been in the works since before the pandemic and before the concept of a Girls Prep Division arrived.

Definitely.

We have announced that we will resume school earlier than usual, on Monday, July 6, which will begin our Summer Phase and take place online. All students, including girls, will begin this day. As for classes resuming on the Property, it’s too soon to know. The first priority is protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of our kids. Since so many of our kids come from communities adversely affected by COVID-19, our plan for the 2020-21 school year may take extra precautions.

The reality of teen pregnancy is well known. Whatever Benedict’s has to do to prevent the death of the unborn will be done.

Of course. But that is an issue that is already dealt with on occasion, regardless of students’ sexual orientation.

While a tremendous amount of confidence exists that the Girls Prep Division will succeed, if it does not, the School is fully prepared to move forward without the division, knowing it did everything it could. The Board has agreed to review the Girls Prep Division closely on an annual basis and make an ultimate decision within three years.

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Pray for all Benedict’s students, teachers and monks. If you’re able, make a gift at www.sbp.org/give. And send all questions, concerns and encouragement to graybee@sbp.org.