For nearly three centuries, Ursuline Academy has stood as a pillar of faith, learning, and leadership, proudly holding the distinction as the oldest continuously-operating school for young women and the oldest Catholic school in the United States. Since its founding in 1727 by the pioneering Ursuline Sisters, the Academy has provided an exceptional education for generations of New Orleans women.
Currently, the Academy educates more than 500 students from early childhood through high school on its historic Uptown campus. With a focus on facilitating the moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social growth of each individual Ursuline woman, the Academy produces graduates who are equipped to embrace the enduring call to Serviam (“I will serve”) – in the classroom and beyond.
As Ursuline prepares to celebrate its Tricentennial in 2027, the school is launching a landmark, fiveyear $10M campaign effort that will equip the Academy for enhanced impact in the years to come. Campaign investments will generate resources for urgently needed capital improvements, while also bolstering the Serviam Annual Fund that spurs and supports the Academy’s day-to-day excellence. The result of this effort will be a reinvigorated Ursuline, which is prepared to usher in its next 300 years from a position of strength and sustainability.
Ursuline Academy was established in 1727 by the Sisters of the Order of Saint Ursula. Convinced that the education of women was essential to the development of a civilized, spiritual, and just society, the Ursuline Sisters influenced culture and learning in New Orleans by providing an education for its women – a novel concept at the time.
Today, the Academy continues to be sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union and is part of a vibrant global network of nearly 200 Ursuline schools across five continents. This international community is united by a common mission and the enduring motto Serviam, I will serve . At the heart of Ursuline education is the belief that each student is called to develop her unique gifts and talents in service to our world. Across cultures and countries, Ursuline schools share a distinctive set of values that shape their educational approach: Kindness, Compassion, and Tenderness; Innovation, Prophecy, and Adaptation; Courage and Perseverance; Joy and Hope; Integrity, Respect, and Freedom; and Unity, Harmony, and Peace. Together, these values foster a deep sense of global sisterhood and a commitment to forming women of faith, leadership, and service.
The Academy moved to its present location on State Street in 1912 and is situated on an expansive, 11.5-acre Uptown campus. Today’s students attend classes in a swath of historic buildings, which include a state-of-the-art auditorium, updated athletic facilities, science labs, an art studio, and the National Votive Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.
The Ursuline Academy Legacy
A Dynamic School Community
Serving students in nursery school through 12th grade, the Academy enrolls a diverse cadre of young scholars each year, with a student body that is broadly reflective of the demographics of its home city of New Orleans.
Tuition ranges from $12,785 to $13,135 annually, making the Academy one of the more affordable independent Pre-K through 12 schools in Greater New Orleans. The Academy offers more than a dozen merit-based scholarships for students in grades 5 through 12 each year, while also providing a robust need-based financial assistance program.
Students benefit from an impressive 8:1 student-teacher ratio and instruction from highly qualified and credentialed faculty and staff members, 65% of whom hold an advanced degree. The results are noteworthy: Ursuline’s Class of 2024 achieved a 100% high school graduation rate, and graduates were accepted into more than 172 colleges and universities.
The school is governed by a Board of Trustees, and the endowment is managed by The Foundation Board of Directors. Each is composed of alumnae, business, and community leaders who are united in their dedication to advancing the Academy’s mission, year over year. The Ursuline Alumnae Association, which celebrated 125 years since its establishment in 1900, plays an active role in stewarding nearly 300 years of Ursuline tradition.
$279K
Average scholarships earned by each graduate 8:1 Student to teacher ratio 65% Teachers with advanced degrees 100% High School graduaiton rate
200 Average hours of service completed by each graduate
With a commitment to the development of the “whole person” – a value drawn from the vision and philosophy of Saint Angela Merici, founder of the Ursuline Order – the Academy couples academic rigor with opportunities for students to join more than 60 athletic teams and extracurricular activities, as well as a robust service learning requirement. While rooted in its deep Ursuline history and tradition, the Academy continues to maintain an eye toward the cutting edge. Across all academic levels, the curriculum includes STEM and the arts, encouraging students to pursue diverse interests without limitations. Ursuline’s commitment to holistic education prepares young women to be leaders in a complex global society.
BLAZING NEW TRAILS: The Ursuline Academy Experience
EARLY CHILDHOOD (PRE-K)
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia educational approach, the Academy’s Early Childhood program encourages curiosity and self-expression. Teachers adapt the curriculum to meet each child’s evolving needs, fostering social-emotional resilience and a love for exploration. Notably, all Pre-K students begin learning Spanish through interactive methods
LOWER SCHOOL (K-4)
The Academy’s Lower School curriculum integrates core subjects with enrichment classes in Spanish, physical education, computer science, art, and music. Starting in 3rd grade, all students take an additional weekly music class to learn techniques for playing the violin, cello, viola, and bass. Students engage in project-based learning that builds skills in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, sparking interest in STEM careers.
MIDDLE SCHOOL (5-7)
The Academy’s Middle School students participate in courses like design and modeling, automation and robotics, and a weekly tech lab, preparing them to undertake sophomore-level science classes ahead of schedule. Honors programs in language arts and math begin in fifth grade, and each Middle School student is equipped with an iPad to enhance learning.
HIGH SCHOOL (8-12)
The Academy’s High School offers a rigorous curriculum with opportunities for advanced coursework, including Advanced Placement (AP) classes in subjects like biology, calculus, and art. Dual enrollment options are available in partnership with local universities, allowing students to earn college credits in courses such as anatomy and physiology. A dedicated college counseling program assists students and parents both throughout High School and during the college application process, helping identify higher education institutions that align with each student’s abilities, interests, and values. Notably, each High School student is required to complete a minimum of 25 service hours annually, while many serve beyond that requirement. The graduating class of 2025 dedicated more than 9,200 hours of service to the greater community throughout their High School tenure.
Preserving The Past...
As the Academy stands at the threshold of its Tricentennial year, the moment has come to look boldly into the future. The Academy must ready itself for the next 300 years by addressing its most urgent needs: protecting its historic campus and fortifying the Serviam Annual Fund.
Given the size and age of Ursuline’s campus footprint, facility upkeep constitutes an outsized share of the Academy’s annual operating budget. Tuition and student fees cover nearly 90% of the school’s essential
operational needs, leaving limited resources for longer-term capital investments. Over time, critical infrastructure projects within the Academy’s main building have been postponed in favor of repairs caused by severe weather events, as well as other immediate educational priorities. However, at this moment in the institution’s lifespan, the school’s aging infrastructure is now threatening the safety, functionality, and sustainability of the Academy’s historic campus. As its Tricentennial approaches, now is the time to ensure that
Building For The Future
the Academy’s spaces are equipped to serve the next generation of Ursuline women.
The Academy is steadfastly committed to providing an exceptional education to its students while remaining accessible to families of all backgrounds. However, tuition and fees do not cover the true and complete cost of educating each Ursuline student. To ensure that the Academy can continue to offer every Ursuline woman access to top-tier academic experiences, cutting-edge technology, transformative arts education, athletics,
and meaningful faith formation – all without significantly raising tuition – the school must act with urgency to build and augment the Serviam Annual Fund, leveraging new gifts that will provide flexibility to respond to unanticipated needs and unforeseen opportunities while energizing the Ursuline community, now and for the future.
FOR EVERY STUDENT, FOR EVERY GENERATION:
The Tricentennial Campaign For Ursuline Academy
To usher the school into its next era of educating young women in the tradition of Saint Angela, Ursuline Academy is seeking $10 million in campaign investments from philanthropic partners. Campaign components include:
Investing in Our Campus: MAIN BUILDING RENOVATIONS $5M
Campaign investments will allow the Academy to make long-overdue upgrades to its historic main building. Urgent capital needs include the full renovation of three science classrooms to support STEAM-based learning, as well as the revitalization of the Academy’s art and music wings. These creative spaces will receive critical improvements, including the installation of central HVAC and new roofing, creating a more comfortable and inspiring environment for student expression. Additional system upgrades, like modernized plumbing and enhanced electrical systems, will improve the health, safety, and sustainability of the Academy’s learning spaces. With the support of philanthropic partners, the Academy’s revitalized main building will match the excellence of the education within its walls.
This is not simply an effort to repair the Academy’s historic infrastructure. Rather, it is a call to safeguard the physical heart and the future resilience of the Academy’s campus, ensuring that Ursuline can continue to offer a transformational environment in which to educate young women – now, and for generations to come.
Investing in Our Operations: SERVIAM ANNUAL FUND
$5M TOTAL, $1M ANNUALLY
The Academy’s Serviam Annual Fund powers the heart of the Ursuline mission. Gifts to the Fund are vital – expended in the year they are received, these dollars bridge the gap between tuition and student fee revenue and the school’s total annual expenses, supporting the Academy’s daily operations as well as the enriching experiences that make an Ursuline education unique. While the Serviam Annual Fund has grown in the last year, augmented annual funding over the next five years will position the school for greater financial stability, allowing the school to keep tuition rates relatively steady while also ensuring that the Academy has the ability to respond swiftly and boldly to emerging needs of the future. Additionally, enhanced giving to the annual fund will empower the Academy to enroll students with the greatest potential for academic success, maintaining the school’s impressive student-teacher ratio and fostering a more focused, individualized learning environment.
Importantly, investments in the annual fund will also equip the Academy with resources to launch an enhanced marketing campaign and robust alumnae outreach activities in commemoration of its Tricentennial year.
HOW YOU CAN
Help
With the generosity of alumnae, families, and philanthropic supporters, the Academy can honor 300 years of its extraordinary outcomes, all while building a vibrant and enduring future for the next generation of Ursuline women.
Ursuline graduates lead with courage and conviction – shaping history, breaking barriers, and serving others. As the school community looks ahead to the Academy’s next chapter, there is a profound opportunity to ensure that this foundational spirit can continue to flourish. Join us.
For more information about the Tricentennial Campaign for Ursuline Academy, please contact: Office of Institutional Advancement development@uanola.org (504) 861-2146
