Barat Academy

Barat Academy is an independent, co-educational Catholic college-preparatory school^[2] located in Chesterfield, Missouri, United States.^[3] Founded in 2007, it educates students in Grades 6 through 12. The School is rooted in the educational traditions of the Society of the Sacred Heart.^[4]

Barat Academy
Location
17815 Wild Horse Creek Rd Chesterfield , St. Louis County , Missouri 63005 United States
Coordinates	38°39′13″N 90°38′35″W
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	2007
Status	Open
Head of school	Debby Watson
Grades	6–12
Color(s)	Red and White
Song	Coeur de Jesus
Mascot	Eagles
Accreditation	North Central Association of Colleges and Schools[1]
Website	barateagles.org

History

Barat Academy opened to a class of freshmen in 2007, and added the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades over the following three years. It graduated its first class in May 2011. It is founded in the traditions of the Sacred Heart. The school was named after Madeleine Sophie Barat, founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart.^[5] An anonymous gift of about $1.65 million in 2007 covered tuition for the school’s inaugural class of 150 students.^[6]

Barat Academy opened in 2007, initially located in Dardenne Prairie. The school relocated to Chesterfield in 2011 due to financial difficulties after the 2008 financial crisis,^[7] which led to the collapse of its mortgage-holding bank. This relocation resulted in a decline in enrollment, dropping from 250 to 210 students.^[8]

During the 2009–2010 school year, Barat had 181 students in grades 9 through 11. That increased to 250 students for the 2010–2011 school year as Barat added a 12th grade.^[7] The cross-county move cost Barat Academy about 40 students.^[9]

The school was sued for eviction in 2022.^[10]

Challenges

In April 2023, the school announced a pause in in-person instruction for the 2023–2024 academic year, affecting 20 local students, as it planned to vacate its leased facilities in June. ^[11] This decision followed a lawsuit filed by its landlord, Midland States Bank, seeking eviction due to the school’s financial struggles.^[12]

Curriculum

Barat Academy provides students with choices in electives. Students can also take a number of AP courses and advanced college credit courses with other universities. The Service Learning program is part of the curriculum through which they read in English, experiment and study in science, and engage in discussions in social studies and theology.^{[citation needed]}

Ranking

According to Niche.com, Barat Academy received an overall grade of “A” in its ranking of private high schools in Missouri and was ranked 20th among 92 college-prep schools in 2022.^[13]

Athletics

In 2013, the Barat Academy Boys Golf Team won the Missouri Class 1 Boys Golf State Championship. Team members achieved top individual placements during these tournaments.^[14]

In 2014, the Barat Academy Boys Golf Team won the Missouri Class 1 Boys Golf State Championship for the second subsequent year.^[15]