Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women

What Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women does

Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women is a private all-girls Catholic school serving 540 students in grades 6-12 at its single campus at 1437 Blossom Road, Rochester, New York. Founded in 1928 and operated as a sponsored ministry of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas within the Mercy Education network, the school draws students from 35 local districts and 15 nations and reports 14,000+ alumnae across all 50 states and 21 countries. The academic offering includes 24 AP courses and 8 dual credit courses, signature programs (Leadership Distinction & Internship, Motto Senior Capstone, Middle School STEM, Career Exploration Day, Ministry Days), and broad co-curricular programming: 16 sports across 36 teams with 75% student participation, plus performing and visual arts including orchestra, choir, theatre, dance, and Adobe Creative Suite-equipped digital media. The school has earned three consecutive AP School Honor Roll Platinum designations from the College Board (top 6% of eligible schools).

The business model is a hybrid of tuition, philanthropy, and auxiliary program fees. Direct tuition is the recurring revenue base (not publicly disclosed), supplemented by the Mercy Fund annual giving program with tiered 1928 Society leadership giving ($500-$10,000+), a planned-giving Cornerstone Legacy Society, facility rentals of the 978-seat Dismas Auditorium and athletic venues, and the newly consolidated co-educational Summer Collective for Pre-K through Grade 12. Annual financial aid exceeds $1.6 million. Operations run on Blackbaud's school management platform (MercyLink/myschoolapp.com), with Arbiter for athletics, Hudl for game broadcasts, Humanitix for ticketing, and standard diocesan compliance frameworks.

Distribution is direct-to-consumer through a structured admissions funnel: inquiry forms, campus visits, summer Discovery Days, information sessions, shadow visits, and entrance exams, supported by a multi-channel marketing presence (website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), earned media in regional outlets, and an active alumnae referral network. Leadership is headed by Dr. Sherylanne Diodato (Class of '93), the school's 11th Principal and first alumna to hold the role. Governance rests with a Board of Trustees under the parent Institute.

Name

Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women

Legal name

Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women

Website

https://mercyhs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women is a private all-girls Catholic school in Rochester, NY, serving 540 students in grades 6-12 since 1928 with AP coursework, signature leadership programs, athletics, and arts, supported by tuition, philanthropy, and summer/facility-rental revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Secondary Education (Catholic, All-Girls)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Sex (Boys/Girls) Private Schools (EDAJABAK)

Keywords

• Private secondary education
• All-girls Catholic school
• College preparatory programs
• K-12 student services
• Faith-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Private school tuition for grades 6-12 with need-based financial aid exceeding $1.6 million annually awarded to families
2. Mercy Fund (Annual Giving): Unrestricted annual fund supporting academics, financial aid, faculty development, athletics, and arts. Part of the 1928 Society leadership giving levels starting at $500 for young alumnae
3. Summer Programs: The Summer Collective - co-educational camp programs for Pre-K through Grade 12, offering arts, athletics, STEM, and enrichment activities during summer months
4. Facility Rentals: Rental income from auditorium (978 seats), gymnasiums, turf field, softball field, art gallery, and black box theatre for community events, performances, and sports
5. Planned Giving: Cornerstone Legacy Society for estate planned gifts including bequests, beneficiary designations, and irrevocable planned gifts

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women delivers a faith-based, all-girls private education for grades 6-12, providing rigorous academics, leadership development, athletics, and the arts on a single Rochester, NY campus. The school enrolls approximately 540 students and offers 24 AP courses plus eight dual-credit courses, a Leadership Distinction & Internship Program, a Motto Senior Capstone, comprehensive student support services, and co-curricular arts and athletics programming. It supplements year-round academics with summer enrichment (The Summer Collective), facility rentals, and an annual giving program supporting financial aid exceeding $1.6 million annually.

Product overview

Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women is a private all-girls Catholic school serving grades 6-12 since 1928. The institution operates as a comprehensive educational platform comprising three core pillars: Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12) academic programs; Signature Programs including Leadership Distinction & Internship, Motto Senior Capstone, Middle School STEM, Career Exploration Day, and Ministry Days; and Co-curricular Programs encompassing Athletics (16 sports, 36 teams), Performing Arts (music, theatre, dance), and Visual Arts. The school supplements its educational offerings with Student Support Services using an MTSS framework, comprehensive College & Career Counseling, and Financial Aid ($1.6M+ annually). Auxiliary services include Summer Programs (The Summer Collective) and Facility Rentals. The institution serves 540 students from 35 local districts and 15 nations, with an operational platform (MercyLink) powered by Blackbaud.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Middle School Program All-girls Catholic middle school education for grades 6-8 with annual art classes, Theatre Arts 8, Middle School STEM, and the foundational World Class Learner framework.
• High School Program All-girls Catholic high school education for grades 9-12 with 24 AP courses and eight dual-credit courses spanning STEM, humanities, and the arts.
• Leadership Distinction & Internship Program Signature program providing meaningful leadership opportunities and internship experiences for students to develop professional skills.
• Motto Senior Capstone Senior capstone program in which students complete a culminating project demonstrating mastery of skills and values learned at Mercy.
• Middle School STEM Program STEM-focused curriculum for middle school students building foundational skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• Career Exploration Day Annual event connecting students with alumnae professionals for career exploration and mentorship opportunities.
• Ministry Days Service-oriented program providing opportunities for students to engage in community service and ministry activities.
• Mercy Service Program Service program grounded in Catherine McAuley's tradition that fosters compassion and social responsibility through service opportunities, including weeklong national and international service trips.
• Athletics Program Comprehensive athletic program with 16 sports offered across 36 teams at modified, JV, and varsity levels. 75% of students in grades 7-12 participate in at least one sport.
• Performing Arts Program Full performing arts program including music (orchestra, choir, show choir), theatre (productions in the 978-seat Dismas Auditorium), and dance (credit-bearing courses in a dedicated dance studio).
• Visual Arts Program Visual arts program with dedicated facilities including a pottery studio and the Gould Art Gallery. Students access Adobe Creative Suite for digital media courses on school-issued tablets.
• The Summer Collective Co-educational summer enrichment program serving Pre-K through Grade 12 with Mini Monarchs Day Camp, arts, athletics, and STEM programs.
• Financial Aid Program Need-based financial aid totaling $1.6+ million annually, including the Frances Warde Fund scholarship for recent immigrants and other named scholarships.
• Student Support Services Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) providing academic counseling, health and wellness, career and college counseling, and pastoral care for students in grades 6-12.
• College & Career Counseling Comprehensive counseling helping students explore strengths and interests to establish post-secondary goals; the Class of 2025 received 632 college acceptances from 208 universities.
• Facility Rentals State-of-the-art facilities available for rental, including the 978-seat auditorium, two gymnasiums, softball field, turf field, art gallery, and black box theatre.
• MercyLink Portal Blackbaud-powered school management portal providing student, parent, and faculty access to grades, schedules, announcements, and school resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 632 college acceptances from 208 colleges for Class of 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mercy EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOur Lady of Mercy is a sponsored ministry of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and a member of Mercy Education, connecting it to the broader network of Mercy schools
• Eastman Community Music SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEastman Community Music School operates at Our Lady of Mercy campus, providing music instruction and enrichment opportunities for students and community members
• Diocese of RochestercoreOthersSchool follows Diocese of Rochester standards for Catholic education, child abuse prevention training (Recognizing and Preventing Child Abuse Training), and NYS Sexual Harassment Training requirements

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Convent of the Sacred Heart: Independent all-girls Catholic preparatory school in Greenwich, CT serving grades K-12. Comparable as an all-girls faith-based college-prep school with similar signature programs, alumnae network, and tuition-funded operating model.
• Marymount School of New York: Independent all-girls Catholic school in NYC serving grades K-12 with a comparable tuition-driven model, signature programs in leadership and the arts, and similar alumnae-driven fundraising.
• Notre Dame Preparatory School: All-girls Catholic college-prep school in Towson, MD for grades 6-12. Closely comparable in grade span, single-sex Catholic identity, college-counseling focus, and athletics/arts programming.
• Harley School: Independent co-ed day school in Rochester, NY serving grades PK-12. Most direct local competitor for the same family demographic in the Rochester private-school market.
• Allendale Columbia School: Independent co-ed day school in Rochester, NY serving grades PK-12. Competes with Mercy for the same Rochester-area private-school families and donor base.
• Mercy High School (Farmington Hills, MI): Sister Mercy Education institution in Michigan serving grades 9-12 as an all-girls Catholic college-prep. Directly comparable in mission, network affiliation, and program structure.
• McQuaid Jesuit High School: Catholic all-boys college-prep in Rochester, NY serving grades 7-12. Sister diocesan school that competes for the same regional Catholic family segment and shares athletic rivalries.
• Ursuline Academy: All-girls Catholic college-preparatory school with similar mission and signature programs in leadership and service. Operates a comparable tuition-plus-fundraising economic model.

Regional players

• Holy Names Academy: All-girls Catholic college-prep in Seattle, WA for grades 9-12. Comparable single-sex Catholic model and outcomes orientation, though serving a different regional market.

Others

• Blackbaud: Technology vendor powering MercyLink, donor management, and the school's broader administrative platform. Relevant as the enabling software infrastructure behind Mercy's admissions, fundraising, and family engagement operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCovFCNllGgKrFzb1NQu5pTQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/MercyHS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/our-lady-of-mercy-high-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/mercy_olm
• Xx.com/olm_hs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women