Why Sacred Heart Academy?

The simple answer to “Why SHA?” Because this is where young women have the power and the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Since our founding in 1946, Sacred Heart Academy has been dedicated to empowering young women to pursue excellence and make a difference. Our academic program is intentionally designed to support girls’ unique learning styles and provide the tools and experiences they need to thrive as students and community leaders.

The All-Girls Advantage

Research proves it: graduates of all-girl schools exhibit higher self-confidence and a greater interest in leadership positions; they demonstrate stronger cultural competency and community involvement; and they are more likely to excel in academics and become future mentors.

But that’s not all. Here’s what learning in an all-girls environment means for SHA young women:

Fostering Her Voice

Nearly 87% of all-girls school students feel their opinions are respected at their school, compared to only 58% at coeducational schools.

Building Her Confidence

The majority of all-girls school graduates report higher self-confidence than their coeducated peers, in part because of the comfort level these settings provide.

Developing Her Leadership Skills

At all-girls schools, girls are surrounded by female leaders—which in turn builds confidence in their own leadership abilities. In contrast, data suggests girls at coed schools become less interested in leadership positions with age.

Reaching Her Academic Potential

All-girls environments foster more positive academic and behavioral interactions between teachers and students. Nearly 80% of all-girls school students say their classes challenge them to reach their full academic potential, compared to 44% at coed public schools.

Closing the
Gender Gap

All-girls schools are leading the way in closing the gender gap in STEM fields: compared to coed peers, all-girls school graduates are six times more likely to consider majoring in science, technology, and math.

Lifelong Values & Sisterhood

As a Catholic school community, it is our duty and privilege to nurture students’ minds and hearts so that they enter the world prepared to face challenges with confidence, lead with compassion, and live with integrity. Our community of 7,000+ alumnae are forever linked by our core values and the strong bonds developed through their SHA experiences.

Jennifer Romano Bayles

SHA is Spiritual

“SHA provided leadership opportunities as well as a strong academic program in a very loving and compassionate environment. Being able to do this with a spiritual framework created a sense of humility, a greater sense of purpose, and connection to humanity.”
– Jennifer Romano Bayles, class of ‘96

SHA is generous

“At Sacred Heart, love is shared through the large and small acts of generosity and kindness. These range from volunteering, giving back and donating to simply holding the door open for someone else in the hall.”
– Claire Christie, class of ‘21

Claire Christie

Elwyn Brewster Quirk

SHA is sisterhood

“Being in a place with like-minded women, aspiring to do great things and be the best we could be, was the foundation that set the path for knowing, understanding, and  believing that I could achieve anything.”
– Elwyn Brewster Quirk, class of ‘95