About

Ursuline Academy is an independent, Catholic, college preparatory school for young women in grades 7-12. Founded in 1946, Ursuline Academy in Dedham operates under the sponsorship of the international network of Ursuline Sisters, the oldest religious teaching order devoted to the education of young women.

Admissions

Our Admissions team welcomes families for tours throughout the year, and we sponsor events designed for students to explore our campus, sit in on classes, and to get to know our community. Ours is a holistic approach to knowing each student as we review qualifications for admissions. Learn why families choose Ursuline, and how our graduates become young women of character, faith and scholarship!

ACADEMICS

Ursuline Academy offers a rigorous program of study designed to challenge and inspire students, and our faculty encourage their love of learning, reading, and scholarly exploration in the pursuit of truth. Our graduates are fully prepared to study, analyze, and communicate persuasively to meet the challenges of university work.

LIVING THE MISSION

The values of an Ursuline education– a Catholic education– were established centuries ago when Saint Angela Merici dedicated her life to forming a company of young women engaged in bettering their communities. At Ursuline, we challenge our students to live lives of integrity that reflect the principles of Catholic social teaching, and to be Christ to one another in today’s world. We welcome students of all faiths, and support every student on her spiritual journey.

Our Academics

Ursuline Academy students develop mastery of content and skills across many disciplines. Ursuline girls are encouraged and taught to express their ideas clearly and creatively. Teachers move beyond rote memorization to requiring students to show that they can analyze, interpret, and think critically by having students engage in discussions, debate and presentations. Whether it is a Spanish teacher who has students contact and interview a native Spanish speaker, or a music teacher who asks students to create their own instrument, or a forensic science teacher who requires student groups to create a crime scene that can be investigated by the others in the class, Ursuline students are truly active participants in their education.

Our students take courses in English, math, science, world language, social studies and theology each year. Additionally, they meet with school and college counselors weekly to learn about a number of social emotional topics along with age appropriate information related to the college process.

Ursuline teachers are available, before, during and after school to provide help to students, and by the end of their Ursuline experience, our students have become strong self-advocates. They are also able to manage their time well and are prepared for classes each day. The girls bring these skills to their life outside of Ursuline and to their further educational experiences. Ursuline graduates are organized, enthusiastic, confident, and innovative. They make us proud in all that they do.

Academic Highlights

As you look through our course offerings, you will see that we provide our students with a strong group of core classes along with electives that enhance their Ursuline education.

We offer 20 Advanced Placement (AP) level courses that students can take beginning in 10th grade.
Our 7th and 8th grade students take a rotation of classes that introduces them to health and wellness, visual art, music and coding in the iHub.
All 9th graders take a course entitled "9th grade Colloquium" that helps students to improve their organization, research, and public speaking skills. Additionally, they learn about financial literacy, career paths, and the importance of balancing their digital and non-digital life.
All students meet regularly with their School and College Counselors in a classroom setting and individually.
The I.D.E.A. Hub (iHub) is open and staffed daily, allowing students to drop in and work with the Director of Innovation and Design on class or individual projects, or to simply explore.
We offer competitive teams in Robotics, Math, Model UN, Speech and Debate, and Mock Trial.