SOUTH ORANGE--Marylawn of the Oranges Academy will launch a new middle school for girls in grades 7 and 8 in September 2010. The new school will be housed in a separate wing of the existing academy campus, which is located at 445 Scotland Rd.

Christine Lopez, academy principal, will serve as the leader of the new middle school. Lopez said the Marylawn’s decision to open a new middle school is the result of two-year study by the school’s advisory board, responding to inquiries from current school families, alumnae and the community. The board conducted a survey and determined that there would be interest and need for such a middle school program.

“Our impetus for starting this program is to expand the curriculum initiatives that we can offer to young women in our community,” Lopez said, noting the curriculum would include lab science, world languages, fine arts (music, art and theater) and physical education programs.

Applications are now being accepted for seventh and eighth grade students for the fall of 2010. It’s expected the middle school initially will have an enrollment of 15 to 20 students. Those interested in obtaining registration information should contact Marylawn's Director of Admission by phone at (973) 762-9222 x 15 or e-mail (marylawnadmissions@gmail.com) during business hours.

Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth and founded in 1935, Marylawn of the Oranges Academy (Web site: www.marylawn.us) is a four-year preparatory high school for young women in the Archdiocese or Newark. The school currently has an enrollment of 150 students.

According to information on the academy’s Web site, Marylawn’s faith-based curriculum each year yields a 100-percent graduation and college acceptance rate. Marylawn students typically garner in excess of

$3.5 million in merit-based college tuition aid.