A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded early Thursday morning at Regis High School, a private, tuition-free, all-boys’ Jesuit institution located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
A 16-year-old student, later identified as Henry Varenne, died after jumping from a fifth-floor window of the school building while waiting to meet with an administrator regarding a disciplinary matter.
The devastating incident has left classmates, faculty, families, and the broader community in deep shock and mourning. According to police and multiple sources, the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. at the school’s campus on East 84th Street near Madison Avenue.
Henry, who had been sitting outside a school official’s office on the first floor awaiting a meeting about an undisclosed disciplinary issue, unexpectedly walked away from that area and made his way to the fifth floor. Moments later, he jumped from a window, plunging to the ground below.
Emergency responders arrived quickly and found the teen outside the building with injuries consistent with a fall from a significant height. Henry was immediately transported to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he was initially reported to be in stable condition, giving brief hope that he might recover.
However, his condition rapidly deteriorated, and despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at approximately 11:45 a.m. The tight-knit school community was visibly shaken.
Hours after the tragedy, a man wearing a black shirt and priest’s collar—believed to be affiliated with the school—told reporters only that “someone had an accident” and was “seriously injured,” declining to share further details.
Nearby residents described confusion and concern as students were dismissed early. One woman reported speaking to a parent who said the school had notified families that “there was an incident” and that all students were being sent home as a precaution.
Regis High School, founded in 1914, is widely known for its rigorous academics, Catholic Jesuit values, and its commitment to accessibility. The school is tuition-free and merit-based, offering special consideration to students from families with financial need.
Its 540 students hail from 219 zip codes across New York City, and a notable 52% are sons of immigrants. The faculty includes three Jesuit priests alongside 56 lay teachers, fostering an environment centered on academic excellence, moral development, and service.
The unexpected death of such a young student has sparked renewed conversations about the immense pressures teenagers face—academic, social, emotional, and disciplinary.
