Sacred Heart University and the Diocese of Bridgeport announced the purchase of Notre Dame Catholic High School in Fairfield for $15 million.
The university and the high school have worked in partnership for years – Notre Dame was originally housed in what is now the Academic Center on Sacred Heart’s Park Avenue Campus.
There will be a yearlong period of transition after the deal is finalized in June, during which faculty and staff at Notre Dame will remain unchanged; the school’s board will continue to serve in an advisory role.
Sacred Heart offers a 50% tuition scholarship to Notre Dame students who are accepted to the university. As part of the purchase agreement, Notre Dame’s faculty and staff will also be provided tuition reimbursement when taking classes at Sacred Heart, along with expanded lab opportunities from the Farrington College of Education & Human Development and access to other areas of clinical study.
Proceeds from the sale will be placed in a new fund to support and strengthen Catholic secondary education throughout the diocese, provide scholarships and protect faculty pensions.
“We are excited to have Notre Dame’s students, faculty, staff and alumni to the SHU family,” said John J. Petillo, the university’s president. “We look forward to maximizing resources, making improvements and creating new and exciting opportunities for students at both Notre Dame and SHU. We welcome this chance to ensure that students continue to receive a top-level Catholic education that will prepare them for the future.”
