Mission & Philosophy
Founded in 1873 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, a teaching order from Germany, Notre Dame Preparatory School is one of Baltimore's oldest Catholic, college preparatory schools for girls. The school's original mission--to foster academic excellence, spiritual growth and practice of social justice in its students--has inspired more than 6,000 living alumnae and continues to inspire the approximately 750 girls currently enrolled in grades 6-12. Notre Dame Prep is located in Towson, Maryland, north of Baltimore City.
School Mission Statement
Notre Dame Preparatory School exists to educate and inspire young women. It is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school in the tradition of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Its dedicated religious and lay educators are committed to academic excellence, spiritual growth and the practice of justice in the school community, in the Church and in the world. Notre Dame provides a diverse program that emphasizes the dignity and value of each person as it prepares young women of moral integrity to become more loving, just and wise.
School Philosophy
Notre Dame is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women in the tradition of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Assured of the advantages of single-sex education, we seek to graduate young women who have the ability to think critically and the confidence to be leaders in the work of peace and justice. We strive not only to prepare our students with the skills they need to further their education, but also to extend their vision so that they may have the courage to be open, the wisdom to be understanding, and the compassion to reach out to those in need. We envision students becoming young women who are physically fit, who have a strong sense of team work and fair play, a sensitive appreciation of the arts, and the moral integrity and emotional maturity that will enable them to make good and healthy decisions. We acknowledge that we are partners with the parents and families of our students in this most important endeavor.
Notre Dame strives to be Church, a caring faith community, a spirit-filled people of God. Believing that we are born graced, we seek to respond to God’s call upon our lives to live faithfully and to transform our world in light of gospel values. Honesty and moral integrity are essential to the atmosphere of trust and standard of honor central to our mission. We work to build a community that supports and values each person for his or her unique contribution and challenges each member to enhance and fully participate in that community. We work to foster a global perspective so that we may further appreciate other cultures and realize our interdependence. We recognize that by creating a more diverse community we can more fully prepare our students to meet the challenges of the world in which we live. We also recognize that our responsibility for good stewardship extends not only to our environment but also to the careful use of the resources of our world.
Academic excellence is a cornerstone of Notre Dame. We offer a dynamic curriculum based on a strong academic foundation. We provide opportunities for each student to explore her potential and to develop her talents and interests. Because we believe that learning emerges from inquiry, challenge, self-discovery and growth, we also encourage our students to explore new learning technologies. Students and faculty work together to navigate the ethical and moral challenges presented by the use of the Internet and other innovative technologies. We encourage our students to become discerning users of information, able to determine both the appropriate use and the intrinsic value of all resources.
Learning is a lifelong process not for our students but also for the entire Notre Dame community and so we continually seek to expand opportunities to promote intellectual, professional, and spiritual growth. It is our sincere hope that our students will grow to an enduring hunger for knowledge, enthusiasm for learning, and passion for justice. Ultimately, we take our direction from the words of the prophet Micah: “This is what the Lord asks of you, only this, to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God.
