Manhattan: A 16-year-old student died Thursday morning after jumping from a fifth-floor window at Regis High School, a well-known Jesuit, tuition-free all-boys school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The tragic incident unfolded around 9:30 a.m., sending shockwaves through a community that prides itself on academic rigor and strong pastoral support.
The teen, whose name has not been released due to his age, had reportedly been waiting to meet with an administrator regarding a disciplinary matter when he left the first-floor area and accessed an upper-level window, according to law enforcement sources. Police say he was found outside the building with “injuries indicative of falling from an elevated position.” He was rushed to Weill Cornell Medical Center in stable condition, but his condition quickly deteriorated. He was pronounced dead shortly before noon.
Hours after the incident, a priest exiting the school told reporters only that “someone had an accident” and was “seriously injured,” reflecting the school’s early caution while families were being notified. Parents received a brief message indicating an “incident” had occurred and that students were being dismissed early, according to a neighbor who spoke with one parent.
Regis High School, founded in 1914, is unique in New York City for offering a merit-based, tuition-free education, prioritizing applicants from families with financial need. Its student body represents 219 ZIP codes, and more than half of its students are sons of immigrants—an environment known for academic pressure but also for opportunity and upward mobility.
The death raises broader questions about youth mental health and the pressures faced by high-achieving students across the city. Advocates note that disciplinary situations can heighten stress for teens already experiencing academic or emotional strain.
As the investigation continues, community members are mourning a life lost far too young, while educators, parents, and mental health professionals grapple with how to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
