Cardinal Hayes High School

Cardinal Hayes High School
Location
650 Grand Concourse

Bronx
,
New York
10451

United States
Coordinates40°49′14″N 73°55′31″W / 40.82056°N 73.92528°W / 40.82056; -73.92528
Information
TypePrivate, catholic, college prep
MottoFor God and Country
Religious affiliationCatholic[1]
Established1941 (1941)
FounderArchbishop Francis Spellman
StatusOpen
PresidentMichael Carey
PrincipalSteven M. Iuso
Teaching staff43.0 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades9–12[1]
GenderAll-Male[1]
Enrollment704[1] (2023–2024[1])
Student to teacher ratio16.4[1]
Campus typeUrban
ColorsCardinal and Gold   
Slogan"Up Hayes and All Its Loyal Men"
AthleticsBaseball, football, basketball, track and field, soccer, golf, bowling, cross country, lacrosse
Athletics conferenceCatholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA)
MascotCardinal
NicknameCardinals
Team nameCardinal Hayes Cardinals
RivalMount Saint Michael Academy
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools[2]
PublicationCity Scapes (literary magazine)
NewspaperChallenger (hayeschallenger.org)
YearbookThe Hayes
Tuition$8,800
Websitecardinalhayes.org

Cardinal Hayes High School is a private, Catholic high school for boys located near the southern end of the Grand Concourse in the borough of the Bronx in New York City., New York. The school serves the Archdiocese of New York. It is a member of the Catholic High School Athletic Association. The building was constructed in the Art Deco style. It is named after Cardinal Patrick Joseph Hayes, a previous archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York.

History

Cardinal Hayes was dedicated on September 8, 1941, by Archbishop Spellman.[3] Cardinal Hayes' current rival is Mount Saint Michael Academy. The two schools' football teams have met annually since 1942 on Thanksgiving Day. Cardinal Hayes also takes part in non-annual football rivalries with Cardinal Spellman High School and Archbishop Stepinac High School for the Fathers' Club Trophy and the Father John Dubois Memorial Trophy, respectively. Throughout the years, the school has been staffed by Archdiocesan Priests, De La Salle, Xavieran, Marist and Irish Christian Brothers. The school today is largely staffed by lay faculty.

The history of Cardinal Hayes Memorial High School for Boys begun on May 23, 1939, for on that day Pope Pius XII appointed Bishop Francis Spellman of Boston to be the sixth Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York. It has been reported that from the very moment of his appointment Cardinal Spellman intended to build a suitable and a lasting memorial to his very popular predecessor, Cardinal Hayes. This memorial was to be our school.

Cardinal Spellman had a dream and a vision—a dream that a fine, well-equipped, religiously sound school could be built in a brief time to educate the young men of the Bronx and Manhattan and other nearby areas—that dream came true in less than two years. Cardinal Spellman also had a vision—a vision that this school would provide a Catholic formation and an academic standard unmatched by any other school in the Archdiocese. That vision reaches toward the 21st Century!

That dream and the vision of Cardinal Spellman, our founder, took form early in 1940. War clouds were on the horizon and some people questioned the building of a high school in these times. With optimism based on faith and with confidence in the generosity of the people of New York, Spellman gave the word to build. The first principal—Bishop Philip Furlong—was sent by Cardinal Spellman to survey the newly purchased property and the bishop shook his head wondering how anything of worth and substance could be built on such an oddly-sized piece of property—property that curved off the Grand Concourse and then dropped 5 stories to the railroad yards below. But the order had been given to build!

Everything went according to schedule. The cornerstone was laid on November 20, 1940, the birthday of Cardinal Hayes. Almost magically, all the materials were assembled and even half the cost of the school ($3 million) was subscribed before a stone was placed. Finally, the day of dedication arrived—Monday, September 8, 1941, the 49th anniversary of Cardinal Hayes' ordination and interestingly enough the 49th anniversary of Cardinal Spellman's consecration as bishop! In the presence of four bishops, countless monsignors and priests, the civic community led by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and Knights of Columbus, Cardinal Spellman first blessed the Chapel of Cardinal Hayes High School and then hung the ivory crucifix over the entrance to the Brady auditorium. The ceremonies were then followed by SCHOLA BREVIS for the several hundred original students of Cardinal Hayes High School.

650 Grand Concourse soon became a landmark. It had no campus or athletic field but the #4 bus stopped at its front door and only two blocks away you could catch the #2, 4, or 5 subway. Yankee Stadium and the D train were just across Franz Siegel Park and it was a short bus ride to Randall's Island and its practice fields and Hugh Stadium.

Hayes quickly acquired a fine public image. People admired its marching band, its well-dressed students, its renowned faculty, and its unique spirit. The Cardinal and Gold were welcome colors throughout the city of New York on all kinds of occasions.

The history of this famous institution is a proud one. Hayes was established to provide that dream and vision of Cardinal Spellman: a quality education in academic and Catholic values to young men of middle class families who could not afford the then existing private schools. Hayes began with a tuition of $5 per month per student! Hayes' tradition and excellence have enriched the lives of over 31,000 alumni and continue to shape the lives of the present student body. The Hayes tradition has prepared young men for almost 85 years to take their place in the world as well-prepared, well-qualified, well-developed leaders in whatever sphere of activity they may choose.

At the height of its enrollment, Hayes had a student body of 3400 students. The main building was populated by the sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The only freshmen at 650 Grand Concourse were the honors students and specially selected members of the Band. All other freshmen attended one of the 3 annexes: St. Bernard on W. 14th Street under the direction of the Christian de La Salle Brothers, Good Counsel Annex on E. 151st street staffed by the Marist Brothers, or the Holy Family St. Helena’s Branch under the guidance of the Irish Christian Brothers. The original faculty of Cardinal Hayes High School consisted of 42 priests, 47 brothers from 4 religious orders (Marist, Xaverian, De La Salle and Irish Christian Brothers), and 4 lay teachers in the Physical Education Department. Over the years the annexes closed and with the close of St. Bernard's in 1970, all students were in the main building for their four years of Hayes education.

The present student body numbers and the school is currently staffed by Priests, Irish Christian Brothers, an Irish Franciscan Brother, students from several religious orders and a professional staff of 50 dedicated laymen and women. Over the years Hayes has been served by eleven principals: Bishop Furlong (1941-1945), Monsignor Edward Warisiar (1945-1952), Monsignor Henry Lenahan (1952-1954), Monsignor John Fleming (1954-1964), Monsignor Victor Davis (1964-1969), Monsignor Joseph Matthews (1969-1972), Monsignor Thomas McCormack (1972-1989), Monsignor John Graham, Brother Christopher Keogan (2003-2008), Mr. William D. Lessa (2008-2025), and currently Mr. Steven M. Iuso (2025-present)

Cardinal Hayes High School has also been served by three Presidents: Monsignor John Graham, Father Joseph Tierney, and currently Dr. Michael Carey. Hayes looks proudly on her tradition of academic excellence. High standards of education have always been her trademark, including young men into well-educated and well-prepared Christian gentlemen. The Hayes diploma is still a cut above and the requirements of the New York State Board of Regents remain. The countless scholarships won by graduates over the years are testimony to a school bent on training its students to enter the marketplace of the world and make their contributions to society. 92% of our Hayesmen have gone onto colleges from coast to coast. Whether it is an Ivy League institution or a military academy of the United States, Hayes will be represented on the front lines.

The tradition of discipline has been another trademark of Hayes and its students. Visitors are often impressed at finding such a high standard of order maintained in a school with such a large number of young men—the halls are quiet so that learning can take place, the dress code is taken seriously. Members of the alumni often return to their alma mater to express their belated appreciation of the Hayes discipline. They remark that a code of conduct is established, and an atmosphere of order is in place so that the learning experience is fruitful for all.[4]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Cardinal Hayes High School". Private School Universe Survey. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  2. ^ MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2009.
  3. ^ "Building CHHS". History - First 50 Years. Cardinal Hayes High School. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  4. ^ The H Book
  5. ^ "Edward Caban '85, Becomes First Hispanic Police Commissioner". Cardinal Hayes High School. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  6. ^ Alexander, David Patrick (October 22, 2010). "Regis Philbin Comes Home to Cardinal Hayes High School". The Bronx Ink. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  7. ^ "Chlupsa vs. Cazzie". The Gazette. May 21, 1968. p. 20. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  8. ^ Celona, Larry; Simko-Bednarski, Evan (September 4, 2022). "How former Mets pitcher Steve Dillon became an NYPD cop". New York Post. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  9. ^ Lindner, Emmett (August 31, 2024). "Fatman Scoop, a D.J. and Rapper, Dies at 56". The New York Times. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Gates, Anita (October 18, 2016). "John Good, Architect of F.B.I.'s Abscam Sting Operation, Dies at 80". The New York Times. Retrieved November 19, 2022. "He graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1954 and received a bachelor's degree in sociology from Fordham University in 1958."
  11. ^ Hunt, Todderick (May 20, 2017). "Rutgers offers N.Y. WR Elijah Jones, high school teammate of freshman WR Shameen Jones". NJ.com.
  12. ^ Malcolm, S. (February 12, 2007). "Analyze This". King. Retrieved November 19, 2022. Jim Jones: I was a little reckless in high school. I went to Cardinal Hayes... I got kicked out of Hayes during my senior year.
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