HISTORY

The Society of the Sacred Heart was founded in France in 1800 by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat. The Order, known as the Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ), was brought to the United States in 1818 by St. Philippine Rose Duchesne. As the Society celebrates its bicentennial, there are nearly 3,500 members working in 45 countries and associated with over 200 schools and colleges around the world. In the United States, 21 schools comprise the Network of Sacred Heart Schools; all are guided by and committed to the same philosophy as articulated in the Goals and Criteria (see Mission Statement).

Schools of the Sacred Heart, San Francisco were founded by the RSCJ in 1887 beginning with a K-12 school for girls on Bush Street. After several moves to accommodate a growing student population, the school moved into the donated Flood Mansion at 2222 Broadway in 1939. In 1950 the Grant House next door was purchased to house Convent of the Sacred Heart Elementary School (girls K-8). Convent of the Sacred Heart High School (girls 9-12) stayed in the Flood Building. Stuart Hall for Boys (K-8) was added in 1956 thus establishing a three-school complex on Broadway. A second campus was acquired to house the fourth school, Stuart Hall High School (for boys), which opened in Fall 2000, completing a full K-12, single-sex program for young women and men.

Now in their second century, Schools of the Sacred Heart, San Francisco are among the oldest and largest independent schools in California and comprise the only Northern California institution to offer single-sex classroom education while maintaining a coed community.