Sacred heart academy is an all-girls’ college-preparatory day and boarding school that invites young women to be courageously curious thinkers who pursue truth in their studies. Founded in 1889, the school is located in New York City and is housed in two historic mansions on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Sacred heart is part of the global network of Sacred Heart schools, comprised of over 150 schools in 41 countries. As a member of this network, students are connected in an international community through distinguished exchange, service and academic programs.
Academics
Founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, this is an all-girls’ Catholic high school that offers a college preparatory curriculum. Students are challenged to reach their academic potential in an atmosphere that emphasizes social justice and community building.
Sacred Heart is the oldest independent girls’ school in Manhattan and admits girls from Pre-K through grade 12. The school has a Lower School (grades PK-4), Middle School (grades 5-8), and an Upper School (grades 9-12).
The academic program at Sacred Heart is centered on empowering young women to make a difference in their communities, professions, the Church and the global world. It is rooted in the Gospel and is steeped in the tradition and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who are the founders of Sacred Heart.
At Sacred Heart, students are engaged in research throughout their education. In addition to their regular classroom work, they conduct two major research projects during their junior and senior years. One project is a year-long inquiry into a particular subject and the other is an in-depth investigation of an important theme in theology or religion.
In addition to a rigorous academic program, students are able to pursue a number of extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities. These include a wide range of clubs, athletics, and arts.
Sacred Heart is also known for its outstanding diversity program, which organizes speakers, events, and teach-ins to increase awareness of and dialogue around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Several of the school’s students have received acclaim for their efforts in this area.
With a college counseling program that begins in 9th grade, Sacred Heart ensures that every student is well prepared for her next step, whether she plans to go to a traditional or private college. This is done by assigning each student a college counselor who meets with her regularly and assists with course selection, standardized test preparation, application materials, and financial aid across her four years in Upper School.
Currently, the college enrolls 1,200 undergraduate students from all over the United States and abroad, many of whom graduate to Ivy League and top-tier universities. Several students have recently graduated from schools such as Harvard, UPenn, and UVA.
Athletics
Sacred heart academy is an independent, Catholic college prep school that has a long history of athletic achievement. Students participate in interscholastic sports such as volleyball, lacrosse, cross country, swimming and more.
SHA’s athletic program is designed to develop all-round athletes and leadership candidates. Whether they are competing at the local, state or national levels, SHA’s student-athletes demonstrate an unmatched commitment to their own personal well-being, their team, and their broader community.
The school has a well-appointed gymnasium complete with weights, stability balls and an array of aerobic and anaerobic machines. A dedicated SHA Lion Fitness Room is also available for crew athletes and other active students.
Aside from the aforementioned Lion Fitness Room, the SHA campus is home to a number of other facilities that support student performance and athletics, including a state-of-the-art indoor track and field complex. Additionally, SHA’s academic departments boast an impressive library and a number of state-of-the-art technology labs.
SHA is an active member of the International Sacred Heart Schools consortium, which connects 150+ schools in 41 countries. This organization has a host of benefits for SHA, including distinguished exchange, service and academic programs, among others.
Extracurricular Activities
Sacred heart academy in New York City provides a wide variety of extracurricular activities for students. Clubs and activities offer students opportunities to explore their interests, stretch beyond their comfort zones, and meet new friends. They also give students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and build confidence.
Located in two historic mansions on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Sacred Heart Academy is part of the Sacred Heart Network, a global network of over 150 Sacred Heart schools committed to the mission and tradition of a Sacred Heart education. The school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, outstanding visual and performing arts, athletics, co-curriculars, service and global travel experiences, formative leadership opportunities and a dynamic campus ministry program.
At Sacred Heart, students learn the importance of having a strong personal moral core and recognizing their responsibilities to live out that core. They are encouraged to pursue their passions and pursue excellence in everything they do, always thinking about how their actions may benefit the world.
A number of student clubs at Sacred Heart are based on specific themes such as diversity, social justice, the environment or the arts. For example, the Duchesne Spirit Club aims to promote school spirit through cheerleading and other athletic events, while the Women’s Empowerment Initiative seeks to educate and empower girls on gender equality and social justice issues.
Students are also encouraged to pursue their passions in the arts with the International Thespian Society and Young Democrats. Both organizations are student-run and primarily focus on ensuring that every young woman in the student body believes she can achieve anything she wants, regardless of gender or race.
The Sacred Heart math team recently took home fourth-place honors at the Archdiocese of Chicago math competition. Members of the team include senior Sophia Gammel, sophomores Claire Smylie and Hannah Burke and freshmen Chloe Mensah and Maya Whiteman.
Sacred Heart Academy is an accredited, Catholic, independent, college-preparatory day and boarding school for girls in New York City. It is a member of the Sacred Heart Network and the Independent School Association of Greater New York.
Spiritual Life
At sacred heart academy, students experience a deep and meaningful spiritual life. They learn to honor the dignity of all people and to act with compassion and courage in their daily lives. They also develop a personal connection with God.
Sacred Heart Academy is part of an international network of schools run according to the principles of the Sacred Heart Society, founded in France by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat. The society is comprised of 22 schools in the United States and more than 130 worldwide.
The mission of the school is to educate for a personal and active faith in God, rooted in the love of Jesus Christ, and to foster spiritual lives. The school also commits itself to a deep respect for intellectual values and to social awareness that impels action.
Through classroom instruction, students are encouraged to develop their analytical thinking, critical reasoning and creative imagination. They are enriched by a challenging and stimulating academic program that incorporates educational research, professional development for teachers and ongoing evaluation of student learning.
They also experience a dynamic service learning and community engagement sequence. These opportunities allow them to apply their academic skills and their passions in the service of their local community.
SHA’s Campus Ministry offers a variety of service clubs that help students and staff engage in activities that benefit the community. Some groups include Clelia’s Cucina, a club that prepares meals for the hungry; Local Outreach Club, which serves the nearby community; and Respect for Life Club, whose members focus on caring for the less fortunate.
Other groups offer opportunities for prayer, such as Kairos, a class retreat. These retreats are times away from the regular routine and often off campus in order to deepen their relationship with God.
In addition to the class retreats, SHA provides several religious experiences throughout the year, such as a vespers service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The vespers service is a time for the school community to come together to pray and celebrate the work of the Sacred Heart. In this way, the school and its students honor the Sacred Heart Society’s 200-year history.
