Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, often called FSHA, is a private high school for girls. It follows the teachings of the Catholic Church and is run by the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose. The school is located in La Cañada Flintridge, California, on a beautiful 41-acre campus close to the San Gabriel Mountains.

Students can choose to attend school just during the day, or they can live on the campus like a boarding school. About 12% of the students live there.

The school offers a special learning environment where girls can grow not only in their studies but also in their faith and community spirit. It is part of the larger Catholic community led by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Campus

Hotel

The Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy campus started as the Flintridge Hotel, built in 1926 by architect Myron Hunt on land owned by Frank Putnam Flint, a United States senator from La Cañada. The hotel featured a large main building with a dining room, lounge, and patio, plus six smaller cottages for families. It also had a pool, tennis courts, a golf course, and more. However, the hotel closed during the Great Depression in 1931.

School

In 1931, the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose turned the hotel into a school for boarding students in grades 1-12. Many parts of the hotel were changed to fit school needs, like turning the billiard room into a chapel and the bridal suite into a community room. The main dining room still looks much the same as it did in 1927.

Over time, the school added new buildings. In 1951, a new high school building was finished, and in 1998, a large Student Activities Center opened, adding modern science labs, a gym, and more. Today, only a few parts of the old hotel are still used, like an art studio and a music room. The campus is located in La Cañada Flintridge, near the San Gabriel Mountains, and is often called “the Hill” by students and staff.

History

Senator Flint opened the Flintridge Hotel on December 14, 1927. The hotel struggled to attract guests and faced financial difficulties, especially during the Great Depression. It eventually went bankrupt and stood empty for nearly two years.

Around the same time, the Dominican Sisters of Mission San José were looking for a place to build a convent and boarding school. They saw the Flintridge Hotel property as a perfect location. After some discussion and a visit to the site, they decided to purchase it. On July 24, 1931, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Corporation was established, and the sisters bought the hotel and surrounding land for $150,000.

On August 15, 1931, the sisters officially took over the property. Despite legends of their car breaking down on the way, they moved in and began preparing for students. The next day, they welcomed almost 2,000 visitors, many of whom were parents registering their daughters. Classes began on September 2, 1931, with 200 students in grades 1 through 12. The school was only for boarding students until a new high school building was completed in 1951.

In the mid-1950s, famous actress Joan Crawford‘s adopted daughter Christina Crawford attended the school. Around this time, the school began to focus less on elementary grades, and the elementary school closed in 1963.

Notable alumnae

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy has educated many successful women who have gone on to achieve notable accomplishments in various fields. Some of its well-known graduates include:

• Christina Crawford (class of 1956)
• Gage Golightly (class of 2012)
• Brianne Howey (class of 2007)
• Katie Johnson (footballer) (class of 2012)
• Barbara Ling (class of 1970)
• Caitlin McHugh (class of 2004)
• Kayla Mills (class of 2013)

Notes and references