Since 1832, Transfiguration School has provided educational excellence to successive waves of immigrants and their children; first to the Irish and Germans, then the Italians and then the Chinese. Established by Father Felix Varela, the school served the newly arriving immigrants who were often poor and underprivileged, creating a melting pot of languages and cultures unique to Lower Manhattan. Throughout the decades, the Transfiguration School has not only survived, but has evolved into a beacon of education and a pillar of community development and cohesion. Rooted in the Catholic tradition, the Transfiguration School focuses on nurturing the mind, body and spirit to develop thoughtful and responsible learners. For generations, the school has cultivated a family-centered environment that has produced alumni comprised of entrepreneurs, community leaders and a renown Archbishop (Patrick Cardinal Hayes). In 2011, Transfiguration School was graciously recognized by the Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. This distinction for academic excellence, leadership in teaching and commitment to building school culture within the larger community has become a symbol of educational excellence recognized nationally for both public and private schools. In 2012, the Transfiguration School officially merged with the Maryknoll Transfiguration Kindergarten School. This merge made Transfiguration School the largest Catholic education institution in the region, delivering phenomenal education to children ranging from PreKindergarten3 to 8th grade. Today, the school remains a shining example of a dynamic community vested in the education of its youth. With an enrollment of over 500 students across three campuses, Transfiguration School is one of the most outstanding Catholic schools in NYC. It is currently the only Catholic parish-based school in Lower Manhattan, South of Houston.