Sacred Heart is the oldest independent all-girls school in New York City. Our community has lived the mission of our foundress St. Madeleine Sophie Barat since 1881 by inspiring generations of students to lead meaningful lives. Today, our vibrant, mission-driven Catholic school empowers each young woman to share her passion and purpose. We celebrate our Sacred Heart heritage and traditions as we strive for higher excellence and pursue a bold vision for our future.
As part of a 200-year tradition of Sacred Heart education and a global network of 41 countries and over 150 schools, 91st Street is committed to a set of principles shared by all Sacred Heart schools. Known as the “Goals and Criteria,” these principles articulate the core components of a Sacred Heart education, and charge our community with a unified educational mission. At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that each child possesses unique gifts. Our job is to unearth those gifts, nurture them, and empower each child of the Sacred Heart to share those gifts with the global community.
GOAL I A personal and active faith in God
GOAL II A deep respect for intellectual values
GOAL III A social awareness which impels to action
GOAL IV The building of community as a Christian value
GOAL V Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom
Founded in 1881 Approximately 725 students 7:1 student: teacher ratio
89% of faculty have advanced degrees #1 all-girls Speech team in New York
17+ AAIS Tournament Championships in the last 5 years
60+ student-led clubs and organizations
159 Sacred Heart schools around the world
The Lower School curriculum is developmentally appropriate and challenging at every level. It benefits each student by offering an array of subject areas and academic enrichment opportunities fostering critical thinking, effective communication, ethical judgment, leadership, and global formation. Our low student-teacher ratio facilitates small group and one-on-one learning to allow each child to advance at her own pace and to discover and explore her interests and passions.
• Language Arts (Reading and Writer’s Workshop)
• Library
• Mathematics
• Performing Arts (Music and Creative Drama)
• Physical Education
• Positively Me!
• Religion
• Science
• Social Studies
• Technology
• Visual Arts
• World Languages (French or Spanish)
Social-emotional learning is an integral component of the Lower School curriculum. Homeroom and Specialty Teachers, together with support from the Lower School Psychologist, integrate lessons on emotion identification and regulation, coping skills, navigating relationships with peers, and problem-solving skills. Lessons frequently involve books as a platform for discussion, as well as opportunities for learning and practicing specific skills. Students are taught tools that focus on self-awareness, empathy, and personal responsibility.
At Sacred Heart, students join a vibrant learning community that inspires curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Encouraged to become independent learners and creative collaborators, students take intellectual risks, learning from their mistakes. At each level, Goal II inspires them to build their skills of critical analysis, creative thinking, leadership, and ethical discernment.
I love that my teachers are always there for me; they push you to do a lot of things that will help you feel more confident and be a better person.
—Grade 4 Student
At Sacred Heart, science and technology are brought to life by identifying real world problems, generating creative solutions, and building and testing prototypes.
The Makerspace features 3D printers, a university-grade laser cutter, a soldering station, an embroidery and sewing station, and sensors and electronics.
In addition to operational use, students develop computational thinking and digital citizenship skills. They utilize Chromebooks to learn self-regulation strategies for technology use, problem solving, and hands-on approaches to internet safety, touchtyping, and troubleshooting. Beginning in Kindergarten, every family is asked to purchase their student’s Chromebook; families with financial assistance receive the device at a subsidized rate.
Each Sacred Heart student is valued and respected for who she is. As students grow in self-knowledge and confidence, they learn to value similarities and differences in others—both in school and beyond. Their engagement with Goal IV and the global community inspires them to stand up for what they believe and effect meaningful change.
Positively Me! is a mission-based program of mindfulness, emotional intelligence, leadership, study skills, healthy habits, executive functioning skills, and character development. This program connects to our mission of focusing on the whole child and nurturing each child’s gifts. The goal of the program is to promote self-esteem and the social skills that are foundations for all healthy behavior. In Kindergarten, students practice breathwork techniques, self-soothing emotion regulation skills, and teamwork.
Free Play.. Reading and Writer’s Workshop Math and Snack
Outdoor Play World Language
Read Aloud Music Science
DISMISSAL • 3 PM
3:00–4:30 pm
After school for K–4 2:50–5:30 pm
Extended Day for Junior K-4
Goal I calls us to bring the love of God into the world. Our school community nurtures the spiritual lives of all its members as they explore the values of faith, hope, and charity. Our religion curriculum encourages students to strengthen their own spirituality as they learn the Gospel values of love, compassion, and justice through literature, reflection, art projects, and drama activities.
Rooted in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education, Sacred Heart values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as integral parts of educating and empowering young women to lead lives of purpose that integrate faith, intellect, social action, community, and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom. In addition to studies of annual heritage months and cultural holidays, students participate in lessons and conversations about identity and diversity. Every child deepens her understanding and appreciation for who she is and who her peers are, preparing her for meaningful dialogue about and engagement in justice and action. Teachers incorporate anti-bias frameworks into units of study, read alouds, and interdisciplinary projects. Beyond the classroom, students engage in DEI through workshops, presentations, affinity spaces, and all-school events.
Sacred Heart students are educated to a social awareness that impels to action, compelling them to look beyond themselves and to see their ability to impact and influence the larger world. In the Lower School, students are provided with age-appropriate, meaningful opportunities to raise awareness within the Sacred Heart community, as well as to help others both locally and globally. Service learning opportunities include:
• Terence Cardinal Cooke Nursing Home
• All-School Service Days
• MyFace Wonder Project
• Heifer International
• Swim/Walk for our Sacred Heart School in Uganda
The people at school are part of your Sacred Heart family. It reminds me that we’re all part of a big family.
—Grade 1 Student
As students grow in social awareness, compassion, and character, they discover a deep sense of purpose, drawing upon Goal III and their own unique talents to impact the world. They emerge from the school’s transformative social justice program as leaders passionate about creating meaningful change and confident that they can do so.
In a culminating interdisciplinary project, aptly named “Herstory,” Grade 4 students conduct an in-depth study of and embody a notable woman in history. This project includes research, writing, art, creative drama, and public speaking. Students develop a wider range of knowledge as well as a deeper appreciation for these incredible women, what they endured, and why their historical legacy or present-day impact is so important. Students also have a greater understanding of activism, and how, even at a young age, each of us has a responsibility to advocate for what we feel is important.
The Sacred Heart community embodies care for one another. People are so welcoming and happy to lend a helping hand when needed. Being a part of this community has allowed me to grow the love and joy I have in being an educator.
—Eunice Kim Lower School Dean of Operations
In line with Goal V, students are continually supported as they grow and learn, celebrate successes, and make mistakes. As they develop empathy and exercise resilience in meeting challenges, they discern what gives them a sense of meaning and learn how to lead change within their communities.
Our Extended Day program is available for all students (JuniorK–Grade 4) until 5:30 pm daily. Starting in Kindergarten, students can choose from a variety of After School classes which are offered on a trimester basis. These classes are taught by Sacred Heart faculty in conjunction with Upper School student volunteers and outside experts. Financial Assistance for both After School classes and the Extended Day program is available.
• Chess
• Musical Theater
• Ballet/Creative Dance
• Sewing/Crafts
• Tennis
• Science
• Lego/Robotics Engineering
• Gymnastics
• Scratch Jr.
• Ice Skating
The extensive visual and performing arts (both creative drama and music) programs are key components of the Lower School curriculum. Students are offered a wealth of opportunities to grow their knowledge, exercise their imagination, trust their intuition, and grow in patience and self-control. From Pre-K to Grade 4, Lower School students regularly participate in Art, in which they experiment with different mediums and elements; Drama, where imagination and creativity come to life through vocal, physical, and emotional expression; and Music, which emphasizes storytelling through the exploration of pitch, rhythm, melody, and instrumentation.
As part of the Physical Education curriculum, Sacred Heart’s robust Aquatics program begins in Pre-Kindergarten when students learn the basics of swimming, floating, and water safety. In addition to developing specific swimming skills like strokes, flipturns, and diving, students learn healthy behaviors and attitudes towards competition, teamwork, risk-taking, good sportsmanship, and safety.
“Drama is my favorite class! I love acting and singing and dancing. I really like being in front of an audience—sometimes I get a little nervous when I’m in a play, but I love it.”
—Grade 2 Student
The school is housed in two historic mansions which provide an extraordinary learning environment.
On the lower level of our 91st Street buildings, our FutureLab houses the science and technology classrooms for the entire school. The students can also eat in the cafeteria or use community spaces to collaborate.
Makerspace #2
Makerspace #1
Life Science Lab
Athletics and Wellness Center
Completed in 2014, the Athletics and Wellness Center is a state-of-the-art, 60,000-square-foot facility that allows students of all ages to swim, play sports, work out, or dance.
Dance Studio and Training Facilities
Middle School and Upper School 1 East 91st Street 25-Yard Pool Full-size Gymnasium
Lower School 7 East 91st Street
Labs
