Mission & History

Mission Statement

Rooted in the Sacred Heart tradition in a community where each student is known and loved, Woodlands Academy cultivates the intellectual, social, and spiritual growth of successful young women of all faiths through transformative experiences and global studies, preparing them to navigate their future with hope, joy, and purpose.

Catholic, Independent, and Sacred Heart

Is Woodlands Academy a Catholic School?

Yes! Woodlands is a Catholic, independent school. Woodlands Academy operates independently (governed by our Board of Trustees), but is entrusted by the Society of the Sacred Heart to fulfill our mission in accordance with the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education. A Catholic independent school differs from a Catholic parochial school; the latter is run by a Catholic church or diocese. Both are Catholic but have different governance structures.

Is Woodlands Academy a private school or an independent school?

The terms private school and independent school are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are slight differences. Woodlands Academy is both a private school and an independent school. Woodlands is a private school because it is funded and run by a non-governmental entity or entities. It is an independent school because it is independently governed by a Board of Trustees. This post on Niche.com does a good job of describing the differences.

Is Woodlands Academy run by the Society of the Sacred Heart?

Woodlands Academy is run independently by our Board of Trustees, but is guided by and responsible for the implementation of the educational mission outlined in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education, which capture the principles of Catholic education permeated by Saint Madeleine Sophie’s charism and the spirit of the Society of the Sacred Heart. The school is part of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, an association of Catholic independent schools in the United States - Canada Province of the Society of the Sacred Heart. The purpose of the Network is to advance the educational mission of the Society. The Network of Sacred Heart Schools, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit corporation and is governed by an executive committee that includes the provincial of the Society of the Sacred Heart, United States - Canada, the Director of Network Program Planning and the Head of the Conference of Sacred Heart Education. The members of the executive committee are present or former heads of school and present or former trustees of Network schools.

Our Foundational Identity

Woodlands Academy is Catholic, independent, and Sacred Heart. These three identities inform our governance structure as well as our educational and spiritual philosophies.

Statement of Diversity & Inclusion

The foundation of a Sacred Heart education serves to value and affirm the dignity of every human being. As a community dedicated to celebrating the unique talents and God-given gifts of its members, the school is committed to providing an environment where each person is honored, loved, cared for, and respected.

Guided by the legacy of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat and the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria, all members of the Woodlands Academy community value and respect diversity, including, but not limited to: ability, age, ethnicity, family structure, gender, learning style, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and spirituality. This is consistent with Sacred Heart Goal III--Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to a social awareness which impels to action--and in particular Criteria 3, which states that schools of the Sacred Heart, "drawing from Catholic Social Teaching, educate students to analyze and work to eradicate social structures, practices, systems and values that perpetuate racism and other injustices."

Through affirming and valuing human dignity, celebrating the unique gifts and talents of the school community members, and respecting each other’s differences, the school upholds the vision of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat to make God’s love known in the world.

The History of Woodlands Academy

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