Goals and History
Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Bryn Mawr, founded in 1865 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart, and lay owned and governed since 1969, is a Pre-K through 12 Catholic independent school for girls. The school is a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools composed of 22 independent educational institutions throughout the United States. Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to the vision created 200 years ago by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat founder of the society of the Sacred Heart.
Country Day School of the Sacred Heart traces its roots to the 1865 Philadelphia foundation by the Society of the Sacred Heart. In 1969, the Religious of the Sacred Heart found it necessary to discontinue operations in Philadelphia and to close “Overbrook.” Interested parents, alumnae, and staff petitioned the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Superior General of the Society to keep the school in existence. Since that time the school has operated under the administration of the Country Day School at Overbrook foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation.
The Overbrook property was sold by the Society to the Solomon Schecter Jewish Community Association. The school rented the property for one dollar a year. Due to the maintenance costs and increasing need for space by the Jewish Association, the trustees of Sacred Heart were compelled to begin an intensive search for a new site.
In 1978, the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart purchased two buildings in Bryn Mawr, a Tudor building and a red brick building which quickly became known as the Mansion and the School House. In 1982 the Marie Cornelia Dooley Building was built. It contains four classrooms, a biology laboratory, student lounge, multimedia center, administrative office, publication room, and a gymnasium.
The school continues under lay auspices. In 1999 it was admitted to full membership in the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, reuniting it with its roots and giving it an international campus.
