Our Mission

We provide a Catholic co-educational program in a diverse and nurturing environment where critical thinking and academic excellence are cultivated. Welcoming families of all faiths, Notre Dame is dedicated to developing each student's individual academic, spiritual, and personal gifts so they may become responsible church and community leaders whose lives are rooted in Christian values.

About Us

Notre Dame’s independent and private school system encompasses pre-kindergarten through Grade 12, including our Universal Pre-K and Montessori programs.

We are known for our high academic standards, value-centric mission and inclusive school community. Home to 600 students, we pride ourselves on making our students world-ready through a value-centered, academically challenging environment that meets or exceeds the requirements of New York State Standards and the Diocese of Syracuse.

The Catholic Classroom Advantage

Notre Dame's faith-based approach to education inspires students to learn and live from a moral perspective, providing them with an ethical foundation for life. Certified, dedicated teachers stress Christian values in every aspect of the curriculum.

Religion classes, school-wide liturgies and prayer services, and retreat opportunities strengthen the students' understanding and appreciation of prayer, sacraments, scripture, and doctrine. All students are encouraged to express their faith through active participation in parish events and volunteer community service. Through the campus ministry program, students serve as retreat leaders, tutors, and advocates for the poor.

Our classrooms emphasize moral values, oral and written communication skills, a strong mathematical foundation, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving.

The Juggler Spirit

We got the name the Notre Dame “Jugglers” from the French Medieval legend of “Le Jongleur de Notre Dame,” which inspired our first principal, Brother Hilary.

Legend has it that once there was a very talented juggler named Barnabe who had decided to dedicate his life to God as a monk. He entered a monastery where the custom was to honor the Blessed Mother through craft. One monk would write poetry, another would sculpt, another would paint, and so on. Barnabe could do nothing like this.

The prior began to notice that Barnabe would disappear every day for about an hour. Following him one day, he discovered to his shock that Barnabe was in the chapel, juggling before the statue of Our Lady.

Horrified, the prior started up the aisle to stop the Juggler when the statue came to life. Our Lady wiped the sweat off the brow of the Juggler, proving to all that if you do the best you can, God will be pleased.

History

Notre Dame schools began as three separate Catholic schools: Utica Catholic Academy founded in 1834, St. Frances de Sales founded in 1907, and Notre Dame High School founded in 1960.

In 1976, the three schools became one and adopted the name Notre Dame. Each brought with it a long and rich tradition of sound principles and a Christian education.

In 1986, all Utica-area Catholic secondary schools’ 7th and 8th grades became Notre Dame Junior High North and Notre Dame Junior High South. By 1995, each school had joined together to form Notre Dame Junior & Senior High School serving grades seven through twelve.