The sisters arrived on August 17, 1860 and began the school in existing buildings on the property purchased by the Bishop. In 1862, with the help of local landowners, the original three-story building was erected. After the Civil War ended, the Academy survived bankruptcy and was nearly auctioned off because of its unpaid debts, but survived the crisis period. Both the school and its religious faculty grew, as St. Cecilia Convent had become a motherhouse with its own novitiate. By 1956, the Congregation had grown considerably while the numbers of students who actually boarded had declined. In 1956, the Academy was moved to the Overbrook property where a growing number of day students was now educated. The new school buildings were ready by the fall of 1957, and the facilities were greatly enlarged in 1976. 

St. Cecilia enters the 21st century with a legacy of excellence in education and the full benefit of a rich spiritual environment. True to her patroness, the Academy continues to provide opportunities in the area of the visual and performing arts. Her commitment in the areas of math and science has prompted plans for a large-scale expansion of facilities. The most notable characteristic of St. Cecilia’s program, however, is that her students come to understand the true beauty and dignity of woman and are therefore prepared, not only for higher education and the pursuit of a career, but for a life that is truly fulfilling in the deepest sense of the word.

Visit St. Cecilia Academy at: www.stcecilia.edu