South Hills Catholic Academy

The mission of South Hills Catholic Academy is to assist parents in the Christian spiritual, moral and intellectual formation of their children by ensuring the total development of each child – body, mind, and soul.

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Body

We believe that learning responsibility is not limited to the classroom. Our students are required to participate in service projects and are offered a variety of extracurricular opportunities.

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Mind

The academic program at South Hills Catholic Academy is challenging and faith-filled, utilizing a Traditional Catholic curriculum.

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Soul

South Hills Catholic Academy is first and foremost a Catholic school. Our children pray often during the school day and they experience all of the traditional observances of Catholicism.

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Welcome To South Hills Catholic Academy

South Hills Catholic Academy

South Hills Catholic Academy (SHCA) is an independent Catholic school created and funded by a group of lay people that was born out of, and is aligned to, On Mission for The Church Alive, the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s planning initiative to bring about a more vibrant Church. SHCA is a financially independent non-profit organization, governed by a board of directors, and supported by South Hills benefactors and modest tuition revenues.

South Hills Catholic Academy offers a unique educational and spiritual formation opportunity. Although independent of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, SHCA is endorsed by Bishop David Zubik, and is founded on three key pillars that make it distinctive and yet complementary to the Diocesan elementary schools:

Ensuring that a Catholic education is accessible to all children in the southern region of Pittsburgh, especially the growing immigrant population and those of modest means.
Preparing students for higher education through a curriculum built on the foundation of a Traditional education.
Providing a rich spiritual formation with a vibrant sacramental and devotional life at the center of the school mission.

SHCA is located at 550 Sleepy Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 on a beautiful campus in a quiet residential area in Mt. Lebanon. The school is easily accessible to Route 88 and neighboring communities in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Registrations are being accepted for the 2021-2022 academic year.

For more information, email us at info@SHCAcademy.com, contact us by phone at 412-631-3131, explore our Facebook page @southcatholic, our Instagram account @southcatholic, or our Twitter page @southcatholicpa.

SHCA is working with the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, a nationally recognized organization, to develop the Traditional Catholic curriculum and operating model for the school. We encourage you to view a video about a Traditional Catholic curriculum, at this link. We also invite you to visit the Institue for Catholic Liberal Education website, at this link.

Our Plan

South Hills Catholic Academy (SHCA) will open for the 2021-22 school year. The school is located on a beautiful campus in a quiet residential area at the site of the former St. Winifred School (550 Sleepy Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228), and is easily accessible to Route 88 and neighboring communities in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

Specific elements of the SHCA plan include:

Starting with 150 students and growing to 250 students by year 5
Maintaining tuition at as low a level as possible to allow the maximum number of families to afford a Catholic education
Offering a generous amount of financial aid so no family is turned away
Focusing on a traditional education where liberal arts and natural sciences are emphasized
Providing a strong environment for spiritual formation with frequent Masses, sacraments, and devotional prayers

The SHCA team has been focused on developing the detailed plans needed to open the academy for the 2021-22 school year:

Working with the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education to develop a traditional curriculum appropriate for our target students
Developing a communications plan to keep the South Hills community and prospective families informed of the status of our progress
Finalizing a 10 year financial plan and identifying specific needs

If you are interested in learning more about SHCA, there are many ways to connect with us:

Visit this website for progress updates
Provide us with your contact information here so we can reach out to you with news about SHCA
Set up an in-person meeting with a member of the SHCA team

Academics

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

The academic program at South Hills Catholic Academy is rigorous and challenging to all students, each with unique gifts and varying abilities. Our program targets the needs of the individual learner and, as a result, we are able to offer personalized instruction.

Admissions

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

Isaiah 54:13

South Hills Catholic Academy offers 4 yr. old Preschool (Half and Full Day), and Kindergarten through 8th Grade. Tuition is negotiated on a case-by-case basis according to demonstrated financial need. A large percentage of our families receive tuition support from the Pittsburgh Independent Catholic Academy Foundation. South Hills Catholic Academy is accessible, available, and affordable.

Student Life

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

At South Hills Catholic Academy, we believe that learning is not limited to the classroom. In addition to a rigorous academic curriculum, our students are required to participate in service projects and are offered a variety of extracurricular opportunities.

Parents

May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace.

Psalm 144:12

Adhering to the premise that all knowledge comes from God and can only be understood and lived fully in reference to Him, we endeavor to integrate classroom instruction with a vibrant sacramental and devotional life.