Regis High School (New York City)

History

Founding

Regis High School was founded in 1914, through the financial bequest of a single (originally anonymous) benefactress, Julia M. Grant, the widow of New York City mayor Hugh J. Grant. She stipulated that her gift be used to build a Jesuit high school providing a free education for Catholic boys with special consideration given to those who could not otherwise afford a Catholic education. The school continues that policy and does not charge tuition.

Following the death of her husband in 1910, Julia Grant met with David W. Hearn, S.J. and, with a stipulation of strict anonymity, gave him an envelope with the money needed to start a school to educate Catholic boys. From its opening in 1914 until the late 1960s, Regis was regarded by Julia Grant and her children as their private charity. Only in the late 1960s did they reluctantly agree to allow the alumni of Regis to contribute to the school's financial support. The last surviving member of the family, Lucie Mackey Grant, a daughter-in-law of Julia Grant, died in 2007.

Sexual misconduct cases (2021, 2023)

In April 2021, the school announced that it was firing its president, Daniel Lahart, S.J. after an investigation confirmed that he had engaged in sexual misconduct which included "inappropriate and unwelcome verbal communications and physical conduct, all of a sexual nature, with adult members of the Regis community, including subordinates". Regis' board of trustees voted to fire Lahart, and he was terminated on April 21, 2021.

In April 2023, Xavier High School teacher Matthew Chicas, who was working at the Regis REACH program, was arrested by police and subsequently placed on suspension by the school. He was found attempting to film with his cell phone an 11-year-old pupil using a toilet.

Extracurricular activities

The Owl, the school's newspaper, interviewed Central Intelligence Agency leak case prosecutor and alumnus Patrick J. Fitzgerald in 2006. Its article was linked on the Drudge Report and quoted by the Associated Press.

The school also has other publications such as

• The Cardinal (Music Magazine)
• The Crow (Journal of Opinion)
• The Falcon (Sports Magazine)
• The Flamingo (Comedy Publication)
• The Pigeon (Social Justice Newsletter)
• The Raven (Literary and Visual Arts Magazine)

The Regis Speech and Debate Society, also known as the Hearn Society, is ranked second nationally by the National Speech and Debate Association as of June 2025. In April 2025, the Hearn Society won the State Speech and Debate Championship for the 34th time in 40 years.

The Regis Repertory has performed plays and musicals since 1918. They collaborate with female students attending neighboring schools such as Marymount School and Dominican Academy.

Athletics

Regis is home to teams in basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, golf, ultimate frisbee, and track and field. Given the location of the school, many of their events take place on Randall's Island. The biggest event every year is a triple-header set of basketball games against their rival, Xavier High School, in which the freshman, JV, and Varsity teams play back to back. Regis won the CHSAA Class B state basketball championship in March 2024, its seventh title overall.

Building

The school building was designed by Maginnis & Walsh. Located between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue, with entrances on both 85th and 84th street, Regis's building was partially completed in 1914. Construction on the three-story-high, 1700-seat auditorium was delayed due to World War I preventing the import of the desired Italian marble to be used. It was eventually completed the next year.

In the late 1970s, the stone owl over the south door, popular with students and alumni at the time, disappeared. In 1980, the assistant headmaster found the culprit who stole the owl and privately met up with them to have it returned. It now resides in the Regis Archive, and four owls were placed in the quadrangle to commemorate its return. The owl was later made the official mascot of Regis, with his younger brother Walter being introduced a number of years later.

In 2024, Regis High School announced their plans to renovate their lower gym and to create a fitness center as a part of their 2024 Auction Challenge. The renovated gym and new fitness center was dedicated on October 9, 2024.

Notable alumni

Main article: List of Regis High School alumni

Among the most notable Regis alumni are:

• Anthony Fauci – Infectious disease physician, former head of NIAID, major public figure during COVID-19.
• John O’Keefe – Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine (2014).
• Colin Jost – Comedian, former Saturday Night Live head writer and Weekend Update co-anchor.
• Chuck Feeney – Billionaire philanthropist, founder of Duty Free Shoppers, gave away almost all his fortune.
• Bill Condon – Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director.
• Greg Giraldo – Well-known comedian and TV personality.
• Pete Hamill – Celebrated journalist and author.
• Mark Mazzetti – Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times reporter.
• Phil Klay – National Book Award–winning author.
• Dan McGrath - Former Writer and Producer for shows such as the Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Gravity Falls.

In popular culture

• Television shows and film have used Regis High School as a setting. Shows include: Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Ordained, and The Good Wife.
• Rock band O.A.R. filmed portions of the music video for their song "Lay Down," with scenes filmed in the Regis Quad, Auditorium, 4th Floor hallway, a classroom, and various stairwells.
• In 2013, two Capital One commercials starring Alec Baldwin were filmed in a Regis classroom and outside Regis High School.
• Lady Gaga was a member of the Regis Repertory during her high school years at the Convent of the Sacred Heart. Gaga played the lead roles of Adelaide in the musical Guys and Dolls and Philia in the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
• SNL's Colin Jost attended Regis and graduated in 2000. He participated in the Hearn Speech and Debate Team and was the editor for the school newspaper, The Owl.

Notes

References

Sources

• Andreassi, Anthony (2014). Teach Me to Be Generous: The First Century of Regis High School in New York City. "Excerpt".
• Peterson's Private Secondary Schools 2008. (Peterson's: Lawrenceville, New Jersey, 2007), p. 485. Retrieved September 7, 2010.

References

1. (2022). "Search for Private Schools - School Detail for REGIS HIGH SCHOOL".
2. "About Regis". Regis High School.
3. "The Collection of Hugh J. Grant and Lucie Mackey Grant". [[Doyle New York]].
4. Bahrampour, Tara. (March 13, 2002). "At Regis, Academic Rigor and Service, All Free". [[The New York Times]].
5. (July 30, 1989). "Donors Keep Tuition-Free N.Y. Catholic School in Classical Shape". [[Los Angeles Times]].
6. "Regis High School - About Regis".
7. Stack, Liam. (April 13, 2021). "Head of Elite Catholic School Is Fired over Sexual Misconduct Charges". [[The New York Times]].
8. (April 13, 2021). "Priest-president of elite Jesuit high school sacked, sexual misconduct against adults alleged".
9. (April 12, 2021). "Fr. Daniel Lahart Ousted From Regis High School Following Sexual Misconduct Investigation".
10. Hammond, Clive. (August 4, 2023). "Teacher fired from private school after 'trying to film 11-year-old on toilet'".
11. (April 25, 2006). "CIA Leak Prosecutor Gives Interview to High School Newspaper". [[Fox News]].
12. "Rankings". [[National Speech and Debate Association]].
13. (March 3, 2014). "Teach Me to be Generous: The First Century of Regis High School in New York City". Fordham University Press.
14. "Athletics".
15. "Raiders Rise at Regis-Xavier Triple Header".
16. "Varsity Basketball Wins CHSAA Class B State Championship".
17. {{cite aia5
18. (March 3, 2014). "Teach Me to be Generous: The First Century of Regis High School in New York City". Fordham University Press.
19. (March 3, 2014). "Teach Me to be Generous: The First Century of Regis High School in New York City". Fordham University Press.
20. (March 11, 2024). "2024 Auction Challenge".
21. "Regis High School".
22. "Filmed at Regis". Regis High School.
23. "Regis High School".
24. (July 7, 2010). "From early age, teachers were Gaga for singer".