The Upper School at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
offers students an exceptional educational experience designed specifically to help girls succeed. Our innovative academic programs, combined with a robust slate of co-curricular opportunities and a mission-centered environment, transform girls into confident young women who are prepared to take on the world.
At Duchesne, we offer an all-girls education that is not found at any other school in Houston. We are 1 of 25 schools in North America affiliated with the Society of the Sacred Heart, an international religious order of Catholic women founded in 1800 by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat. Worldwide there are more than 150 Sacred Heart schools across 41 countries.
We believe that when our students feel respected, welcomed, and known by everyone they see and interact with each day, they come into their own as thinkers and doers, leaders and advocates. Rooted in the mission of Sacred Heart, Duchesne helps each girl develop holistically across academics, athletics, and the arts while embracing the five Sacred Heart Goals: seeking an active faith in God, pursuing challenging intellectual work, putting social awareness into forthright action, building community, and exercising the privilege of wise freedom.
As a college-prep school, we send our graduates to top universities across the country and the world. Our college advisors work individually with each student and her family to guide them through the college search process. The college advising program helps each student find the school where she’ll thrive academically and socially while fulfilling her ambitions.
Upper School Highlights
Member of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart schools
Innovative modular schedule
Comprehensive college advising program
All-girls environment creates more engagement in class
100% of students are admitted to a 4-year college or university
Institute for Global and Social Awareness provides travel and volunteer programs
School-wide focus on health and wellness
Athletics program offers 11 varsity sports
Student-centered faculty that fosters independence
Academics
Our academic program features exceptional faculty and a unique schedule that allows students to focus on personal interests. Instead of a fall and spring semester, our school year is divided into 6 modular (a.k.a. “MOD”) terms that are each 6 weeks long. We call this the MOD Schedule.
Why a MOD Schedule?
During each 6-week MOD, students enroll in 4 classes that meet for 80 minutes each day for the duration of the MOD. Taking fewer classes at a time for longer periods has many benefits including greater knowledge retention, more student engagement, and a calmer pace to the school day. Additionally, faculty members work with fewer students during each MOD so they are able to devote more time to each girl.
Deeper Learning
By providing fewer, longer classes, the MOD Schedule offers a better balance between the mastery of individual topics and interdisciplinary learning. It provides for a more in-depth study of individual disciplines, with a greater emphasis on applying knowledge to solving problems and to fostering creativity. Additionally, the depth of time in the schedule provides more opportunities for our students to pursue global travel programs and more immersive, valuable community service experiences.
Based on Research
Life in the 21st century is radically different than it was 100 years ago, yet traditional education hasn't changed. In order to best educate our children to thrive in the modern world, we need to rethink how we're teaching and respond to developments in our globalized society. The MOD Schedule at Duchesne was devised after a thorough examination of research that documents how adolescent girls learn best.
Greater Student Engagement
Our students have the flexibility and choice to help create their own unique class schedule, which encourages them to explore their interests and try new things. Rather than traditional exams, several courses offer assessments that are project-based, providing students the opportunity to hone their skills in design thinking, collaboration, and communication.
Overall Outcomes
Students who are critical thinkers and problem solvers
Increased depth of exploration and discovery in each course
Highly engaged students who develop a lifelong love of learning
Slower-paced school day and workload
Fewer homework assignments due to taking only 4 classes concurrently
More time for co-curricular activities and family life
Stronger relationships between teachers and students
Opportunity for global travel experiences
College-style schedule prepares students for post-secondary studies
Sample Courses
With the MOD Schedule, our curriculum covers all necessary topics but presents the material in a way that may allow students to design their schedule based on personal interests. For example, instead of taking a year-long survey course in English, students could select a series of classes that examine certain topics such as "Shakespeare: Time and Timelessness," "The American Dream," and "Writing for Change."
Some examples of Upper School courses include:
Shakespeare: Time and Timelessness
In this course, students will savor the rich complexity and timeless beauty of Shakespeare’s romantic language. We will start with his sonnets, including “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” and “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun.” We will discuss how the sonnets are more than just love poetry—they also deal with mortality and how poetry affords the poet the chance to “cheat” death. From there, we will consider Macbeth, the twisted tale of an ambitious married couple dealing with unexplained supernatural forces, and numerous romantic comedies. Students will engage in storytelling workshops as they seek to demystify Shakespeare for younger audiences.
Grade Level: 10th - 12th
Length: 1 Bin
Forensic Science
Forensic Science is the application of science (chemistry, physics, and biology) to the criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system. It includes the investigation of fingerprinting, fiber analysis, ballistics, arson, trace evidence analysis, poisons, drugs, blood spatters, and blood samples. Students are taught the proper collection, preservation, and laboratory analysis of various samples.
Credits Apply Toward: Science
Grade Level: 10th | 11th
Art History: Ages of Innovation
Art History is the study of people and the art they create. Find out why the ‘Dark Ages’ weren’t dark at all and how trade with the Middle East helped Europe to ultimately colonize the world. This chapter focuses on the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, and the Enlightenment in Western Europe in addition to the art of Islamic cultures. In a discussionbased format, examine the development of art and analyze it in the context of the culture that created it. This MOD is a continuation of Art History: In the Beginning, but you can take it independently.
Credits Apply Toward: Fine Arts
Grade Level: 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th
AP Comparative Government and Politics
Learn about the fundamental concepts used by political scientists to study the processes and outcomes of politics in various countries. This course aims to illustrate the diversity in international political life, to show available institutional alternatives, to explain differences in processes and policy outcomes, and to communicate to students the importance of global political and economic changes. Comparison assists in identifying problems, analyzing types and effectiveness of policymaking, and in explaining differences between countries, which allows students of U.S. Government to look at the politics of their own country carefully, inspiring them to reflect and interpret with greater depth and understanding.
Credits Apply Toward: History
Grade Level: 12th
Digital Product Design
In this course, students will learn how to design in three dimensions using Autodesk Fusion 360. Fusion is an intuitive program designed for first time CAD (Computer-aided design) users to create 3-D designs. In this class students will use a data-driven approach to create products they would like to make or own themselves. Students will employ the engineering design process to create, iterate, and improve upon their product designs through a review and feedback loop with the course instructor and develop their technical communication skills. Students will use a Prusa 3-D printer to print completed designs of their choosing.
Credits Apply Toward: Computer Studies
Grade Level: 10th | 11th | 12th
Bioethics
The course examines the ethical dimensions of critical beginning of life issues raised by contemporary advances in the fields of medicine, bio-technology, and genetics. Some of the issues we tackle are genetic engineering, prenatal development, stem cell research, cloning, and artificial reproductive technologies, including IVF, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, surrogacy, and gamete donation. We will explore moral development and offer the students the moral guidelines and teachings of the Church as a framework within which they can examine the facts, conflicts, and implications of these issues. Prerequisite: none
Grade Level: 12th
Length: 1 Bin
Mixed Martial Arts
Students will learn the basics of punching, kicking and striking techniques in multiple disciplines, gaining vital skills in self-defense in an excellent full body workout. This is a non-combat class suitable for beginners. Prerequisite: none
Grade Level: 9th - 12th
Length: 1 Bin
AP Statistics
The news and media are filled with numerical information. Have you ever wondered where the information comes from, and if it is even valid? AP Statistics is a course designed to give you a thorough understanding of random events, probability, data collection and its analysis. Each day we look at a real-world scenario and come closer and closer to finding the truth. Does Beyoncé write her own lyrics? Can some people really smell Parkinson’s Disease? Does the store brand cookie have as many chocolate chips as the name brand? Let’s find out!
Credits Apply Toward: Mathematics
Grade Level: 11th | 12th
Student Life
Duchesne offers an inclusive sisterhood where girls establish lifelong friendships and become part of a community rich in tradition and energy. Our picturesque campus buzzes with activity throughout the school year, providing numerous opportunities for students to get involved.
Spiritual Development
As a Sacred Heart school, active faith is one of our primary goals. Through theology classes, prayer services, Mass, and other campus ministry activities, our students are encouraged to explore and develop their relationships with God. Each grade level participates in an off-campus retreat where girls are invited to practice prayerful reflection, worship, and spiritual community building.
Community
Our students are open-minded and supportive, together creating a dynamic, close-knit community that’s inviting and bursting with energy. Within each grade level, community-building activities form strong bonds and lifelong friendships. Beginning with freshman orientation (which includes a sleepover at school) to senior retreat (which is held at a retreat center), each class has beloved yearly traditions. We also host school-wide events including Spirit Week, Unity Day, Field Day, and Congé. During Congé (French for “taking a break”), all classes are canceled, and instead, a full day of fun, games, and socializing ensues! Additionally, the Upper School Student Council organizes events throughout the year such as crawfish boils, movie nights, a powder puff game, semi-formal, prom, and more.
Student-Centered Environment
At Duchesne, all students have a voice. Each student has a faculty advisor they meet with frequently throughout the year. Advisors serve as advocates so that every girl has a touchpoint and an adult on campus that she can go to with questions and concerns, large or small. Our small class sizes foster meaningful relationships between students and their teachers, and our administrators are also actively involved — it’s not uncommon to see girls hanging out and having a snack in the Dean of Students' office.
“At Duchesne, the community of students is something truly special. We are constantly supporting one another and helping each other reach our personal goals.”
—UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT
Wellness and Balance
The well-being of each student is a top priority at Duchesne. Our academic program is demanding and our teachers constantly challenge students to excel, but we also emphasize the importance of wellness and take active measures to reduce stress and anxiety among students. Our Counseling Department sponsors an extensive health and wellness program that meets weekly and provides students with tools to succeed. We also strive to educate students about digital citizenship as well as staying safe on social media.
Service and Social Awareness
Duchesne’s signature experiential program is rooted in the Sacred Heart Goal that calls us to serve our community and act for justice. Our Upper School girls work closely with organizations throughout Greater Houston such as hospitals, schools, and nonprofit organizations that serve the needs of marginalized populations. The program includes a reflection component in which students assess their service learning experience in order to instill a lifelong sense of giving back.
Travel Experiences
Duchesne’s Institute for Global and Social Awareness offers opportunities for student travel domestically and internationally. Options for students may include travel to a site in the summer to participate in summer service programming, while other opportunities may take students to explore a new city or country to bolster classroom knowledge with real world experience. Travel offers Duchesne students an opportunity to participate in social awareness or volunteer opportunities while building community; two of the five Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria.
Sports
Duchesne’s Upper School sports teams, the Chargers, compete against other independent schools throughout the Houston area. Competing in the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC), we currently offer 11 sports: basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, lacrosse, and volleyball. Our on-campus sports complex is the home-base for all field sports as well as our beloved mascot, Cha Cha, who inspires school spirit wherever she goes! Through pep rallies and spirit nights, the entire school community celebrates Charger victories and the achievements of our student-athletes.
Arts
From paint and pixels to choir and costumes, our lively fine arts programs give each student the ability to explore individual passions in the world of visual and performing arts. We have a 323-seat theater that hosts choir concerts, plays, musicals, and more throughout the school year. Our on-campus gallery space showcases student work produced in our fine arts studios and digital art facilities. Beyond campus, our students take advantage of Houston’s thriving arts scene with field trips to museums and collaborations with professional artists.
Clubs & Activities
With more than 50 clubs and co-curricular activities, our Upper School students have numerous ways to get involved outside of class. Duchesne’s robotics team is among the only all-female teams in Texas, routinely competing in world championship events. Our speech and debate team is nationally recognized and travels to tournaments throughout the country. Other clubs allow students to pursue cultural, spiritual, and intellectual interests.
Goals & Growth
As part of the course registration process each year, our students complete an exercise to reflect on how their class schedule will support their goals and personal growth. As you consider becoming a student at Duchesne, we invite you to participate in a reflection on your ambitions for high school.
Motivation
Duchesne’s MOD Schedule is all about choices. We offer a vast array of class options to allow you to identify and pursue your passions, even if they change over the course of your high school career. What area of study interests you the most and motivates you to learn?
New Experiences
Personal growth is also about trying new things. Perhaps it’s taking an elective in a subject you know nothing about, trying out for a sports team, or participating in a volunteer project. What is a new academic or co-curricular experience that you want to pursue in high school?
Challenges
Personal growth is all about challenging yourself to do things and take classes that will stretch you in ways that will ultimately serve you well. What is something in high school you know will be difficult but that you want to tackle because it will be good for you?
Co-Curricular Commitments
Perhaps you participate in off-campus activities such as dance or club sports. Maybe you plan on joining a time-intensive club such as speech and debate, or playing on the soccer team. At Duchesne, an advisor can help you build a schedule that takes into account your seasonal commitments. What are your commitments outside of class?
