# Regis High School (New York City)

Regis High School is a private, all-male, Jesuit, secondary school for Roman Catholic boys located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in 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. After Mrs. Grant died, her children took over the funding of the school. 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, Regis High School teacher Matthew Chicas 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 Regis Speech and Debate Society, also known as the Hearn Society, is ranked first nationally by the National Speech and Debate Association as of September 2024.
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 on 84th Street between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue, 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 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.
* Lady Gaga was a member of the Regis Repertory during her high school years at the Convent of the Sacred Heart.