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Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
Address
10202 Memorial Drive Houston, Harris County, Texas 77024 United States
Coordinates	29°46′40″N 95°29′08″W / 29.77778°N 95.48556°W / 29.77778; -95.48556
Information
Type	Private, Girls
Motto	"Wise hearts, sharp minds."
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)	Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne
Established	1960
Founder	St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Sister school	Regis School
CEEB code	443363
Head of school	Hillary Feerick-Hillenbrand
Faculty	164
Grades	PK 3–12
Gender	Girls
Enrollment	750 (2022)
Average class size	14
Student to teacher ratio	8:1
Campus type	Suburban
Color(s)	Navy and Light blue
Song	"Coeur de Jesus"
Athletics	15 Sports
Mascot	Cha Cha the Charger
Team name	Chargers
Rival	St. Agnes
Accreditation	Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS)
Head of Upper School	Alaina Scorsone
Head of Middle School	Suzy DeLeon
Head of Lower School	Margaret Buza, Ph.D
Head of Enrollment Management	Ginger Montalbano
Website	www.duchesne.org

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart (/djuːˈʃɛn/ dew-SHEN) is a combined primary and secondary independent girls' school located at 10202 Memorial Drive in Houston, Texas. A member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, it offers a college preparatory curriculum for girls.

Duchesne, which enrolls girls from pre-K3 to the 12th grade, is part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest.

Duchesne is in the Memorial area and is east of the city of Hunters Creek Village.

History

Duchesne was established in September 1960 as a part of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, with 58 high-school pupils. The school is named after Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, the first member of the Society of the Sacred Heart to come to America. The school is part of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools.

The campus was built around a large oak tree, in the center of its campus. It became a symbol for the school because the name "Duchesne" is French for "of the oak". The oak tree also represents a notable graduation tradition at Duchesne. As each senior is called up to receive her diploma, she passes under the oak tree.

On September 17, 2014, the original oak tree fell during a thunderstorm. it was over fifty years old and had been weakened after surviving a severe drought. On February 17, 2015, a new oak tree was transported by crane to a location near where the old oak tree previously stood and is currently still standing. The new oak tree allows the graduation tradition to continue.

Another fixture of the campus is a two-story white house that stood on the property when it was purchased for the school. It faces the oak tree and houses the RSCJ who live on campus. Some of the school's classes were originally conducted here.

Student life

The school is divided into three divisions: the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. The school has an annual tradition known as Congé - a day where classes are canceled and the Senior class organizes games and activities for the entire school to participate in.

Academics and culture

In 1974, Texas Monthly stated that students from Duchesne and nearby Saint Agnes Academy originated from "mostly business and professional people with money".

In 2017, Niche ranked Duchesne among the Best Private High Schools in the Houston metro area.

Upper School Curriculum

Upper school students must complete four years of English, history, science, and religion as well as three years of foreign language and mathematics to graduate. As a part of the student's religious studies, freshman and sophomores must complete two service projects each semester, while juniors and seniors take a social awareness course and volunteer throughout the Houston area. Additionally, Upper School students must have three fine arts bins, three computer science bins, and three PE bins by the time they graduate. Each 6 week module is one bin, three bins is the equivalent of one year-long course.

Athletics

Duchesne offers 11 sports for students to participate in throughout the academic year. In the fall, Duchesne offers field hockey, cross country, and volleyball as sports. Soccer, basketball, and swimming are played in the winter season. In the spring, students play tennis, track and field, softball, and lacrosse, and golf. Duchesne is affiliated with the Southwest Preparatory Conference

Notable Organizations

Robotics

Iron Plaid 3103 is the school's all-girl high school robotics team associated with FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Founded in 2009, the team has won numerous awards, including the Rookie All-Star award and a Finalist award in 2009, the Engineering Inspiration award, Industrial Design award and Industrial Safety award in 2014, the Engineering Inspiration award in 2015 and in 2017. The team has attended championships a total of 4 times.

See also

• Schools of the Sacred Heart - A list of schools that affiliate with the same network as Duchesne Academy
• The Regis School of the Sacred Heart – Brother school (Pre-K – 8th Grade)
• St. Thomas High School – Brother school (High School)
• St. Agnes Academy (Texas) - Private all-girls school (High School)
• Incarnate Word Academy (Houston) - Private all-girls school (High School)
• Christianity in Houston

Notes

1. The school approximates the French e vowel rather than using the anglicized dew-SHAYN.
2. "About Duchesne". Archived from the original on 2010-08-07. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
3. Chilson, Andie. "Duchesne Academy Plants a New Oak Tree". The Buzz Magazines. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
4. "Texas Monthly's Guide to Private Schools Part Two." Texas Monthly. Emmis Communications, October 1974. Vol. 2, No. 10. ISSN 0148-7736. Start page 83. Cited: p. 87.
5. "2017 Best Private High Schools in Houston Metro". Niche. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
6. "Graduation Requirements". Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. Retrieved 27 October 2021.

External links

• Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart – Official website

v t e Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
Ordinaries	Prefect Apostolic of Texas John Timon Vicar Apostolic of Texas Jean-Marie Odin Bishops of Galveston Jean-Marie Odin Claude Marie Dubuis Nicolaus Aloysius Gallagher Christopher Edward Byrne Wendelin Joseph Nold Coadjutor bishop (did not succeed to the See) Pierre Dufal Bishops of Galveston–Houston Wendelin Joseph Nold John Louis Morkovsky Archbishops of Galveston–Houston Joseph Fiorenza Daniel DiNardo Auxiliaries John E. McCarthy Enrique San Pedro Curtis J. Guillory James Anthony Tamayo Vincent M. Rizzotto Joe S. Vásquez George Sheltz Italo Dell’Oro Priests who became bishops John E. McCarthy Priests Ryan Stawaisz David Michael Moses
Churches	Co-cathedrals St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston (Bishop's Palace, Galveston) Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Houston Historic parishes All Saints Church, Houston Annunciation Church, Houston Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Houston Our Mother of Mercy Church, Houston St. Joseph's Church, Galveston
Education	Universities Our Lady of the Lake University, Houston University of St. Thomas, Houston High schools, K-12 Duchesne Academy, Houston High schools, 9-12 Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston Frassati Catholic High School, Harris County (Spring area) Incarnate Word Academy, Houston O'Connell College Preparatory School, Galveston Pope John XXIII High School, Harris County (Katy area) Saint Agnes Academy, Houston St. Pius X High School, Houston St. Thomas High School, Houston Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Houston List of schools List of schools in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
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• Independent Schools Association of the Southwest
• Girls' schools in Texas
• Private K–12 schools in Houston
• Catholic secondary schools in Texas
• Sacred Heart schools in the United States
• Educational institutions established in 1960
• 1960 establishments in Texas