Academy of the Sacred Heart, founded in 1821 in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, is an independent, college preparatory, Catholic day and boarding school for girls in PreK-3 through grade twelve. The school offers residential accommodations for students in grades seven through twelve. It is a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools (www.sofie.org) and adheres to the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education. The boarding school is home to 25-30 American and International students in grades 7 - 12. Current international students are from Mexico, China, Japan, and South Korea. History The Academy was established in 1821 and is the second oldest institution of learning west of the Mississippi River. It is the oldest, continuously operating member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the world. Founded under the direction of Saint Philippine Duchesne, the Academy has remained in continuous operation through fire, epidemics, and war. Although thousands of Federal troops were encamped in the fields surrounding the Academy during the Civil War, the school was not touched.