Sacred Heart Academy

Sacred Heart Academy is a Catholic, all-girls high school with an enrollment of approximately 834. As a member of Sacred Heart Schools, SHA is located on the Ursuline Campus in Crescent Hill, and sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville. The Class of 2018 earned more than $29 million in college scholarships, the highest amount of all girls’ Catholic high schools in Louisville. The average ACT composite score is 27, well above the state and Archdiocese averages. One-hundred percent of the senior class takes the ACT.

SHA is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. The Class of 2018 had 28 members earn the full IB diploma (a 100% success rate). In over 15 years of participation in IB testing, 96.7% of Sacred Heart students who attempted the diploma have been successful. The world average is approximately 82%. SHA offers more college level courses than any other Catholic high school in Louisville. There are 36 IB and AP courses offered.

The faculty is made up of more than 80 teachers, counselors, and administrators, more than 78% of whom have graduate or postgraduate degrees. The student to teacher ratio is 10:1 and the average class size is 16. SHA students come from 65 local grade schools or middle schools (89 total schools including high school transfers and out of town schools) and 47 zip codes from Louisville, surrounding counties, and southern Indiana.

SHA is a Catholic school but all faiths are welcomed. Currently, approximately 20% of the student body come from other faith backgrounds. SHA offers more than $1,000,000 in financial aid and academic scholarships. SHA is a 1:1 school, equipping each student with an iPad to add another dimension to the academic program. The iPad allows students to create, research, compose, and connect.

The athletic program has a rich tradition having earned 85 team state titles in its history. The on-campus athletic facility includes a gym, fitness center, five tennis courts, a regulation track, softball field, two natural grass fields and one synthetic turf field. Nearly 60% of the student body participates in one or more of 15 sports. The Ursuline Arts Center (UAC) on campus provides students with a modern facility in which to develop their artistic talents. It has over 500 comfortable seats including balcony seating, orchestra pit, scene/prop shop and costume storage, wheelchair seating and a spacious atrium.

SHA, in cooperation with Sacred Heart School for the Arts, produces two musicals a year. Three SHA choirs compete locally, regionally, and nationally. The faculty, staff, and students strive to live out the Ursuline Core Values of community, reverence, service, and leadership daily. The high school experience lays the foundation for success in nearly every part of life. First and foremost, this starts in the classroom. Sacred Heart Academy’s academic program is designed to challenge you and help you grow. You will earn more than a high school diploma. You will earn an education that lasts a lifetime.

The Counseling Office provides a warm, inviting and welcoming environment for all students. Counselors work hard to make sure each student’s individual needs are met in a compassionate and caring manner. They help students navigate their high school years and prepare for their futures. Students are empowered to utilize their strengths and effectively manage challenges.

The structure of the SHA counseling department is unique in that students stay with the same school counselor for all four years but also work with a college counselor during their junior and senior years. This allows our counselors more time with the students and aids them in getting to know the personality, strength, and individuality of each girl. Students have regularly scheduled appointments with their counselor each year however the counselors have an open door policy and welcome students and parents to make appointments with them if needed.

The complete high school experience is more than just going to class. Our commitment to educating the whole person means that we understand the importance of providing experiences outside of the classroom that enrich the lives of our students. At Sacred Heart Academy, you can be yourself, discover your talents, strengthen your skills, and build lasting friendships. Our students work hard in the classroom, but they also like to have fun!

We are dedicated to creating a nurturing environment of respect, acceptance, understanding and inclusion that maximizes each person’s abilities and creates a diverse community. Diversity is a cornerstone of the campus community, and we celebrate each student’s uniqueness through a number of different clubs and events devoted to diversity. Students can participate in Diversity Leadership Team, world language clubs, African American Voices, or the annual Sacred Heart Schools Multi-cultural dinner.