Sacred Heart School of Halifax: A Detailed Report with Information, Reviews, and Insights

Pages in this report:

Grades
JK — Gr. 12
Gender
Coed, All girls, All boys
Class Size
15 — 20 students
Tuition
$14,370 to 20,130/year
Language of instruction
English, French, Spanish
Associations
CAIS
Enrolment
515 day students
Curriculum
Traditional
EBROCHURE
View eBrochure

Next open house
N/A
Application Deadline
Rolling (Day students)

School address

5820 Spring Garden Rd., Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1X8 (MAP)

Busing not available

Our Perspective

How we see Sacred Heart School of Halifax

The school describes its campus as iconic, and to be sure, it really is. The school was founded in 1849, and the campus shows its age in all the best ways. The location is iconic as well, in the heart of Halifax and across from the historic public gardens. As those things signal, Sacred Heart is a part of the historical culture of the city, and arriving here each day delivers its own frisson of excitement. As with any school of this vintage, much has changed, and today the program is iconic in other ways. The provision of single gender education through Grades 7 to 12 is one of them, offering the best of both worlds. As a member of a global network of schools, the gaze is international, with emphasis on social justice and social action. While there are many longstanding traditions and events, the school also distinguishes itself as cutting edge, both in the curriculum it offers—the broad Advanced Placement offering, for one—but also through its delivery, with lots of hands-on, project oriented, collaborative learning. That said, the biggest draw for many is simply the spirit of the school. There is a keen desire to get students involved in a wide range of activity, including a robust program of service learning, while also engaged within the daily life of the school. Sacred Heart has a proven ability to deliver all of it.

School's Perspective

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How Sacred Heart School of Halifax sees itself

The school administration answered our questions

Who are you, as a school?

"Founded in 1849, Sacred Heart School of Halifax teaches the whole child — mind, body, spirit. Our iconic campus in the heart of Halifax offers co-ed education for JP-Grade 6 and single-gender education for Grades 7-12. Sacred Heart has earned a stellar reputation for the quality of our academics and university preparedness, and through leadership and community action, our students are well prepared to conquer the world. As part of a global network, we educate to a strong moral code prescribed by our Five Goals."

Advanced academics in the Senior School, including the Advanced Placement (AP) Program.
Single-gender education in Grades 7-12 because we know boys and girls learn & develop differently.
A robust offering of athletics, arts, debate, and extra-curricular activities at every level.
As part of a network of Sacred Heart schools around the world, we offer global exchange programs.
As part of our mission, social justice and social action programs are considered a priority.
Our incredibly rich heritage provides us with ceremonies and traditions unique to us.
We offer an early years bilingual program and core French class for older Elementary students.
Our High School curriculum includes Core, which helps students navigate complex social issues.
Students are provided with a university prep game plan that includes classes and counselling.
We are accredited by both CAIS and SHCOG.

What do you do differently and uniquely well?

"Sacred Heart School of Halifax is different and we’re proud of it. We believe in Faith, Hope, and Love as guiding principles and as a result, we’re more like a family than a school. In addition to our tailored education, we are the only school in the region that offers single-gender education on a co-ed campus and the Advanced Placement (AP) Program in high school. And, our unique heritage and traditions give us a special character that can’t be duplicated anywhere in this region."

To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?

"Strong academics combined with a tailored approach in a nurturing and supportive environment is Sacred Heart’s calling card. Our academic excellence is thanks to an outstanding faculty who are passionately committed to their students’ success. And as a Catholic school that welcomes all faiths, families also appreciate our spiritual grounding and emphasis on love."

What aspect of your school is underappreciated?

"Sacred Heart is the only high school in Atlantic Canada that offers the AP Program instead of the IB Program. Families, and especially students, prefer AP because it allows students to pick and choose ONLY those subjects they excel in and want to concentrate on, they don’t have to take a year-long program of all advanced courses. Widely accepted around the globe, students in AP can earn first-year university credit(s) before they even enter university — an excellent head start."

What might families find surprising about your school?

"It may surprise some families to discover how seriously we live our Five Goals. Yes, we provide an academically excellent education, but also a deeply meaningful one based on our founder St. Madeleine Sophie Barat’s vision that education transforms society. We are dedicated to faith, intellectual values, social justice, building community, and personal growth and these can be seen throughout school life day in and day out."