Established in 1865, Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr (SHA) is an Independent, Catholic, K-12, Girls School located on the Main Line in suburban Philadelphia.
Accreditation and Associations
- Fully accredited with the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS)
- National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
- Membership with our domestic and international Network of Sacred Heart Schools
- Top Independent School - Philadelphia Business Journal
- Membership with the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS)
- Best all-girls high schools in PA category, Best all-girls Catholic high schools category in PA, Best Private K-12 schools in PA category (Niche)
History
Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr (SHA) was founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1865 and blessed by foundress Mother Madeleine Sophie Barat. The school has been at several Philadelphia locations and under different names including County Day School of the Sacred Heart, until 2018. In 1978, the school moved to its present location, Hillbrook House, a sixteen-acre estate in Bryn Mawr. The campus on the hill now consists of a Tudor mansion, the School House for Lower and Middle School, and the Marie Cornelia Dooley Building which houses Upper School classrooms, laboratories, and a gymnasium; students occupied the building beginning in 1985.
In 1999, the school was admitted to full membership in the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, comprised of 25 schools in North America.
Mission
SHA educates college-bound women by cultivating their self-confidence, guiding them to realize their personal and scholastic potential, and embracing service to others. SHA prepares students to meet life’s challenges and be tomorrow’s leaders in an academically and religiously diverse community that focuses on values and the individual student.
Philosophy
Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr is small by design but part of something larger as a member of a Network of 25 Sacred Heart schools in the US and Canada, united by a Mission embodied in Five Goals & Criteria, focusing on faith, intellect, service, community, and growth. In addition, SHA is part of a consortium of 150+ Sacred Heart schools in 41 countries, connecting students to an international community offering distinguished exchange and service programs to best prepare them for an increasingly global world and an appreciation for differences.
SHA’s academic program is rooted in the liberal arts, taught in contemporary ways, and empowers girls and young women to develop their potential as scholars and leaders. SHA offers programs unique on the Main Line, including Lower School Multi-Age Classrooms, a robust Middle School Counseling Program, and Upper School Dual-Enrollment with three universities.
Statement of Religious Policy
SHA fosters a community that acts in the interests of equity and justice and demonstrates compassion for all. We welcome students of all races, religious beliefs, and socio-economic backgrounds.
