According to the National Catholic Educational Association, national test scores, high school graduation rates, college attendance and other data show that Catholic schools’ faith--lled educational programs frequently outperform schools in both the public and private sectors. Beacon Media’s Spotlight on Catholic Schools Week highlights Catholic schools in the San Gabriel Valley to share information with our thousands of readers, followers and page viewers about programs and events surrounding this year’s special week.
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy By May Ruiz
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ocated on 45 acres of land in La Canada, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy (FSHA) is housed in a magnificent hilltop missionstyle cluster of buildings with stunning views of Pasadena and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley. It’s an inspiring vantage point from which high school students receive an unparalleled Catholic education and training. FSHA was established in 1931 by the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose to educate young women for a life of faith, integrity, and truth. This college-preparatory independent school was founded on the pillars of Dominican practice which constitutes an integrated life of study, prayer, service, and community. Since its founding almost 86 years ago, to this day, FSHA has been run by Dominican Sisters who reside on campus and work in the school. There are currently 10 Dominican Sisters who live on campus and they make up the Flintridge Sacred Heart Priory.
students atThey perform a tend for four variety of jobs, years starting including servin ninth grade. ing as faculty, These students staff or admintypically maistrators at the triculate to school, or work four-year U.S. outside as pasuniversities aftoral advisors ter graduation. or social workFSHA’s class of ers. 2016 had 99 Originally seniors – with a boarding 12 boarding school, FSHA students. started acceptFSHA has ing day stua truly geodents in 1952, graphically phasing out diverse enrollthe elemenment. While tary grades a majority of and becoming students come exclusively a from the nearhigh school to -Photo by Kami Fischer by communiprepare young Two students participate in a dissection during Biology class. ties in the San women for colGabriel Valley, lege application and the demands of univer- dent body. On any given year country or word of mouth. it also draws from as far as the school receives from 60 Acceptance is based on aca- Newport Beach, Malibu, and sity life. Today Flintridge Sacred to 70 global applicants who demic performance, English Simi Valley. And last year, the Heart has a total enrollment heard about FSHA through its language skills, recommenda- school’s international stuof 392 – 330 of whom are day vast network of international tions, interviews, and overall dents hailed from nine different countries. students; 62 are boarding stu- contacts, online resources, fit at FSHA. Most of its international A rigorous curriculum dents or 16 percent of the stu- events hosted in their home
of English, Math, Science, Social Studies, History, Visual and Performing Arts, and World Languages challenges the minds of young women. FSHA’s College Counseling Department recently expanded its programming to ninth and tenth grades so by the time students reach eleventh grade, they have become competitive applicants. It hosts admissions recruiters on campus throughout the year. Twice a year counselors take students on college visits with an east coast and a west coast trip. International students receive personalized attention. College counselors hold meetings in the evenings in the boarding hall during the fall semester to give advice on their applications and specific forms. The class of 2016 matriculated to such highly selective universities as Boston University, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, NYU, Northeastern, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, and Vanderbilt.