Dr. Michael Carey

President

Since Archbishop John Hughes founded the New York parochial school system in the mid-19th century, each of our schools has faced various challenges in establishing and maintaining a solid footing. Over these past few years, numerous school closings, financial stress, and the widespread effects of a global pandemic have changed the landscape of Archbishop Hughes’ great experiment. A number of Catholic schools have not survived. Yet, Cardinal Hayes High School remains a beacon of hope on the Grand Concourse.

As we enter our 85th year, the transformational nature of a Cardinal Hayes education is quite apparent. In a time of great uncertainty, Cardinal Hayes High School continues to offer the structure, boundaries, and discipline required to meet these challenges. Remaining true to its mission, we continue to provide rigorous academic and extracurricular programs with an emphasis on self-discipline. The Cardinal Hayes Catholic education remains as honest and authentic today as it has been since the school’s inception in 1941. The formula at Hayes, which welcomes young men of all religious, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds, continues to produce loyal, resilient Hayesmen. It simply works.

Even with a legacy of success, Cardinal Hayes High School continues to innovate. Capitalizing on our proximity to the financial and construction capital of the world, Hayes collaborates with dozens of industry professionals who visit, teach, and network with our students. We have created additional pathways to success for our young men through our financial empowerment program and have placed numerous interns in the world of high finance. We are also continuing to pioneer through our recently launched trades and construction program. In addition, we have upgraded various areas of the facility and developed a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Cardinal Hayes High School has survived a World War, an East Asian war that tore America apart, the total transformation of our borough when “The Bronx was burning,” a global pandemic, and is now adapting to the A.I. revolution. Cardinal Hayes High School remains a rock through it all, founded on the values of faith, integrity, honesty, and discipline. Student demographics may change, but beyond these surface differences, a Hayesman of any era would recognize and relate to another Hayesman across any divide. I have witnessed this warmth and camaraderie countless times.

Patrick Cardinal Hayes himself was a child of immigrants, raised in the Five Points, who created a life for himself through New York Catholic education. Cardinal Hayes High School has done the same for generations of young New York men and must continue to do so for generations to come. It is an important New York institution in a critical time. We must work together to sustain it

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Carey