St. Julie Billiart established the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at the time of the French Revolution and dedicated her work to the instruction of poor children. Notre Dame Academy was founded in 1853 in the Boston area by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Today, Notre Dame Academy’s mission is to educate young women to pursue the opportunities of the 21st century with competence, confidence, courage, and hope.

Learning is a journey, a collaborative process between and among students and teachers. We promote academic excellence, personal effort and service to the community, as we encourage our students to master an essential core of knowledge, develop a life-long love of learning and take an active role in the community. While remaining committed to the value of a liberal arts education, we pride ourselves on our ability to respond effectively to educational change. We strive to prepare our students thoroughly as they embark upon their university experience and life’s work.

Our Catholic tradition affirms the worth of every individual. Each student must have an equal opportunity to learn and to flourish. When a student values her heritage and her gifts and appreciates the diversity of her classmates, she will respect herself and others and will develop a shared vision of social justice for the global community.

Our students will journey with us for four years as we share of ourselves and our faith. This journey, guided by the moral and ethical values of a committed Christian community, will challenge each student to open her mind and her heart, to begin to find her voice, to articulate her vision and to live what she believes. We expect each student’s journey at the Academy to help define how she lives her life, acts as a citizen, advances her career, and finds joy in her family and friends. She is encouraged to take charge of her life, gain knowledge, speak her mind, serve others and achieve her potential as a Christian woman. We trust our students’ growth will reflect the Gospel – for Christ is our Leader, Light, Way, Truth and Life