Academy of Notre Dame de Namur

Welcome to the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur. Since 1856, our school has inspired young women to inquire, explore, imagine and innovate. Notre Dame believes that moral values shape great leadership. As a community of faith, we celebrate our Catholic mission and the pioneering legacy of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. We teach our students “what they need to know for life” in an atmosphere of community and service.

Notre Dame fosters a robust, high quality, college preparatory environment that is student centered, enabling every young woman to develop her gifts and talents by offering a range of interdisciplinary curricular and co-curricular activities in an atmosphere of affirmation. We recognize that we prepare our students for opportunities and challenges in careers that may not yet exist.

To that end, Notre Dame promotes the core competencies that provide a solid foundation for a successful future in this digital economy, both at the university level and beyond. These competencies include the ability to think and analyze in an integrated fashion, to understand the dynamic of theory and practice in all disciplines, to collaborate and frequently lead a project, to integrate technology in a responsible way and to communicate effectively. We encourage our students to envision themselves as global citizens.

The Academy is also a safe harbor for our young women, especially during these critically important formative years. Helping students confront the unknown, address complexity, handle stress and learn from their mistakes or failures provides an environment that educates the whole student — spiritually, emotionally, socially and intellectually. We believe that such a climate promotes integrity, self-respect and self-confidence.

We encourage you to visit our campus. You will discover a vibrant educational community that demonstrates that the intellectual journey never reaches a set destiny; there is always the next student or faculty member to ask, “What if?” That is the privilege —and the fun. The Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school, commits itself to the education of young women of grades 6 through 12 for responsible living in a global society. The Academy, rooted in the faith tradition of the Catholic Church, and the charism of Saint Julie Billiart, provides its students with a challenging academic curriculum within a rich spiritual community in order to:

• Inspire them to live the prophetic nature of the gospel, with a passion for justice and love for the poor,
• Enable them to develop the skills and desire necessary for life-long learning,
• Empower them to be honorable, compassionate leaders.

We believe that:

• Each individual is a reflection of the good God, and deserves to be respected, loved, supported and encouraged.
• Single sex education empowers women for leadership in a contemporary society.
• The unique gifts of each individual, nurtured and celebrated, serve the community and the world.
• Individuals have an inherent responsibility to embrace the ideals of service and stewardship.
• Individuals thrive in a community of responsible freedom where they are encouraged to act with integrity and honor.
• The charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, in the tradition of their foundress, Saint Julie, provides an enduring culture of simplicity, courage and hope.
• Faculty and staff, both in and out of the classroom, are important role models of the school's mission for our students.
• Competent and confident young women emerge from a community that values individual worth and academic rigor.
• Diversity in our faculty, staff and students enriches our community and challenges us to embrace the ideals of justice.

In order to prepare today’s young women to face the professional, social, and moral challenges of the 21st century, a well-rounded education must extend beyond classroom walls to the community at large. At the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, students enjoy numerous service, leadership, and athletic opportunities while thriving in an academically stimulating environment.

With a curriculum that emphasizes depth as well as breadth, Notre Dame students study six major subjects a day. The Academy offers a rigorous course of study that exceeds the minimum requirements for most colleges, with most students opting to take advanced placement (AP) and honors courses and a fourth or fifth year of science, math, and world language. Annual curriculum reviews ensure that students receive the most up-to-date information and allow teachers to modify their course offerings to reflect student interests and current educational trends.

"Notre Dame is a home for young female scholars to feel safe, valued, and appreciated as they explore their interests and passions. It is an environment where staff and faculty care deeply; not just about what girls learn, but how they will learn it best—and perhaps most importantly, who they are becoming in the process.

All students are urged to participate as fully as possible. Notre Dame prides itself on the numerous opportunities for student involvement, including Student Council, Campus Ministry, the performing arts, athletic teams, service-learning, individual clubs and much more.