Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Kentucky)

History

Notre Dame Academy was first established in 1874 as a Catholic grade school with an initial class of seven students. The school offered kindergarten through eighth grade plus a two-year commercial school. A school building on Fifth Street was dedicated on July 26, 1876. The school expanded to include a high school program in 1906. In 1937, the elementary school program was discontinued due to growing enrollment in the high school.

By the 1950s, the school had outgrown its downtown Covington location and Notre Dame Academy moved to nearby Park Hills. The new campus, on the grounds of the Sisters of Notre Dame provincial house, cost nearly $ to build (equivalent to $ in ). It opened in October 1963.

In 1996, Notre Dame Academy completed a $ project (equivalent to $) to renovate and expand the school building, adding a gymnasium. The school began another renovation and expansion project in 2007, which added athletic fields and a theater.

In 2019, Notre Dame Academy completed a $ capital campaign to renovate its 20th-century building.

Academics

The U.S. Department of Education recognized Notre Dame Academy as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1996, 2012 and 2019.

Athletics

Notre Dame is a member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) and has won 29 state championships and has 32 state runner-up titles. The majority of the school's students participate in one or more of 14 sports: archery, basketball, bass fishing, bowling, cheer, cross-country, golf, lacrosse (club), soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, and volleyball.

Notable people

Notable alumnae

• Laura Cottingham — art critic, curator, and visual artist
• Morgan Hentz — professional volleyball player, U.S. national team
• Amy McGrath — former fighter pilot, 2018 U.S. congressional candidate, and 2020 U.S. Senate candidate
• Roxanne Qualls — mayor of Cincinnati
• Marie Rose Messingschlager — ministry among Native American peoples

References

References

1. SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement".
2. Bloemer, Donna M.. (2009). "Notre Dame Academy". [[University Press of Kentucky]].
3. (November 27, 2018). "Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized, 1982 Through 2018". United States Department of Education.
4. (1 August 2017). "Amy McGrath: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". [[Heavy.com]].
5. (9 July 2019). "Amy McGrath has officially announced her Senate race against Mitch McConnell".
6. "Alumnae Storyboard - Notre Dame Academy, Northern Kentucky".