FAQs

The application process begins in the fall prior to your daughter's desired year of enrollment. Start by submitting an online inquiry through our mySCA admissions portal, which will create your account and provide access to application materials, event registration, and your admissions checklist. Once you have inquired, our Admissions Office will be in touch with the next steps, upcoming events, and important deadlines.

We encourage families to reach out early.  The earlier you engage, the more opportunities you will have to explore St. Cecilia and connect with our community.

Applications open each fall for the following school year. Key dates in a typical admissions cycle include:

Application Opens: August 1, 2026

Application (form) Deadline: December 1, 2026

Learning Support Documentation Deadline (if applicable): December 1, 2027

Deadline to Submit Supplemental Documentation: January 15, 2027

Family Interviews Begin: January 28, 2027

Admission Decisions Released: March 6, 2027

Please confirm dates with our Admissions Office, as specific deadlines are updated annually.

A complete application includes the online application form, official transcripts or report cards from your daughter's current school, teacher recommendation forms, and standardized test scores. Additional items may be requested during the review process. All required materials are listed on your mySCA admissions checklist.

Yes. The family interview is an important part of the St. Cecilia application process. It's an opportunity for your family to learn more about the St. Cecilia experience, ask questions, and envision your daughter's future as a Scarab. It also allows our admissions team to get to know your daughter, her interests, and what she hopes to gain from her school journey. We encourage families to schedule their interview after completing the other items on their mySCA checklist. Interviews are available beginning late January through mid-February.

Absolutely, we highly recommend it! A shadow visit is one of the best ways for your daughter to experience a day in the life of a St. Cecilia girl. She will attend classes alongside a current student ambassador, meet faculty, and get a real feel for our community. Shadow visit registration is available through the mySCA portal and is typically offered from October through February for all applicants.

Yes! Campus tours are available throughout the fall admissions season and are a wonderful first step for prospective families. Our 83-acre campus in the heart of Nashville is beautiful, and our admissions team loves to show it off. Tours can be scheduled through our mySCA portal or by contacting our Admissions Office directly. We also host Preview Day in the fall and other events that include a campus tour.  These events are a great opportunity to meet students, faculty, and current families.

Our Admissions Committee reviews each application holistically, considering a student's academic record, teacher recommendations, ISEE scores, interview, and candidate participation. We look for young women who are intellectually curious, eager to grow in faith, and ready to contribute to our community. Because we believe every girl has unique gifts, we strive to understand the whole person, not just the numbers.

St. Cecilia Academy is Nashville's oldest continuously operating high school, rooted in the Dominican tradition of Veritas — truth. As a Catholic, all-girls college preparatory school, we offer a rigorous academic program within a faith-filled environment that intentionally nurtures each student's confidence, intellect, and character. Our average class size of 13 students and 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio means your daughter will be known, challenged, and supported every step of the way.

St. Cecilia is committed to the success of every student. Academic support is available through our faculty, counseling team, and school support services. Our advisors and counselors work closely with students and families to ensure each girl has the tools she needs to thrive. If you have a daughter with a documented learning difference or need for accommodation, we encourage you to contact our Admissions Office to discuss how we can best support her.

St. Cecilia offers 16 AP courses and 14 Honors courses across disciplines, including English, mathematics, science, history, and foreign language. In 2025, 81 SCA students took 198 AP examinations across 14 subjects. We also offer dual enrollment opportunities. Our college counseling team works with each student individually to ensure her course load reflects her strengths, goals, and college plans.

Tuition for the 2026–2027 school year is $26,100 for High School and $21,450 for Junior High. We recognize that tuition is a significant investment, and we believe a St. Cecilia education is one of the most meaningful choices a family can make for their daughter. Please contact our Admissions Office to discuss the full picture of costs and available assistance.

Yes. St. Cecilia Academy has a robust financial assistance program because we believe cost should never be a barrier to a St. Cecilia education. Need-based financial assistance is awarded through our scholarship fund, and we offer more than 30 scholarships to qualifying families. Additionally, St. Cecilia participates in two Tennessee state scholarship programs that can significantly offset tuition costs:

Tennessee Educational Savings Account (ESA): Provided $9,800 per student in 2025–2026

Tennessee Educational Freedom Scholarship (EFS): Awarded $7,295 per student in 2025–2026

How do I apply for financial assistance?

Financial assistance applications are submitted through FACTS Management, our third-party financial assessment partner. There is a $40 application fee through FACTS. The financial aid application for each school year opens on October 1, and the priority deadline for new families is January 15. Families applying for St. Cecilia's scholarship assistance must also apply for any applicable state scholarship programs for which they qualify. An estimate of financial assistance is uploaded into the FACTS tuition portal for all accepted new students who complete the verification process by the deadline.

ISEE fee waivers are available to SCA applicants who complete a financial aid application through FACTS. Contact the Admissions Office to request a waiver.

Yes. Families can choose from a variety of payment plan options, including monthly installments. Tuition payments are managed through FACTS. Our Business Office is happy to discuss the payment plan that best fits your family's needs.

St. Cecilia Academy's scholarships are need-based only.  They are awarded exclusively to families who have applied for and demonstrated financial need through the FACTS financial assistance process. If your family has not completed a FACTS application, or does not qualify for need-based assistance, you are not eligible for scholarship consideration and do not need to submit an essay.

Some of our named scholarships do require an essay as part of the award process. If you are actively applying for financial assistance and would like to learn which scholarships require an essay and what those prompts are, please contact our Admissions Office directly.  We are happy to walk you through the details and make sure you don't miss any opportunities for which your daughter may qualify.

Questions about scholarships? Reach out to our Admissions Office at admissions@stcecilia.edu or (615) 298-4525.  We are here to help.

No. While St. Cecilia Academy is a Catholic school in the Dominican tradition, students of all faiths are welcome and valued members of our community. Approximately 79% of our students are Catholic, and the remaining students come from a variety of faith backgrounds. What we ask of all students is a respect for and openness to our mission and the Catholic values that guide our community.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive, and we love answering it. Our diversity of faith backgrounds enriches our community while our Catholic identity remains at our core.

Faith is woven into everything we do. Students participate in Mass, prayer, retreats, and service, all as integral parts of the educational experience. Rooted in the Dominican charism of Truth, our teachers and staff model a life of faith and intellectual inquiry. Each student commits to 60 hours of person-to-person service, where service becomes not just a requirement but a way of life.  Faculty and staff coordinate retreats and faith formation opportunities throughout the year for students at every stage of their faith journey.

Research consistently shows that girls in single-sex educational environments demonstrate greater academic confidence, take on more leadership roles, and are more likely to pursue STEM and other challenging coursework without the social pressures of a co-ed environment. At St. Cecilia, girls lead everything — student government, athletics, the arts, service initiatives, and academics. There is no stepping back.  Every girl has a voice, a place to belong, and a community that encourages her to grow in wisdom, grace and excellence.

A St. Cecilia girl is curious, courageous, and called. She is a young woman who knows her worth, seeks truth, serves others, and leads with integrity and faith. She is shaped by a community that believes in her potential.

She leaves St. Cecilia having grown in the three hallmarks that define our school: Wisdom, Grace, and Excellence. Wisdom to seek truth and think deeply. Grace to lead with humility, compassion, and faith. Excellence to pursue her God-given potential in every dimension of her life.

She leaves St. Cecilia prepared not just for college, but for a life of purpose. Our alumnae network of women across Nashville and beyond are a testament to what it means to carry the St. Cecilia spirit with you for a lifetime.

We take the transition into St. Cecilia very seriously, because belonging matters. We begin with Family Welcome Night in the spring.  This event outlines what to expect and fosters connections with leadership, staff, and current students and parents.  New students are then welcomed through a dedicated orientation program before the school year begins, where they meet classmates, faculty, and student leaders in a warm, low-pressure setting. Our mentorship and advisory programs ensure every new girl has a faculty advisor invested in her success. Overnight class retreats further build bonds and set the tone for the friendships and sisterhood that define the St. Cecilia experience.

St. Cecilia offers 14 sports, and 67% of students participate in at least one. We compete at a high level while maintaining a community-first culture. Beyond athletics, students can engage in a wide range of clubs, arts programs, leadership organizations, and service initiatives. Every girl is encouraged to find her place, and there is truly a place for everyone. Our freshman year includes a unique multi-disciplinary arts course incorporating dance, drama, speech, music, and visual art, ensuring every student is exposed to the full breadth of what St. Cecilia has to offer.

Yes. St. Cecilia Academy welcomes transfer applicants at all grade levels, subject to available space. Transfer admission follows the same holistic review process as traditional applicants. Families interested in a mid-year or upper-grade transfer are encouraged to contact our Admissions Office directly to discuss the application process, timeline, and any grade-specific considerations.

Congratulations are in order! After receiving an offer of admission, families will be guided through the enrollment process via mySCA. This includes submitting your intent to enroll in Blackbaud, securing your daughter's spot with an enrollment deposit in FACTS, completing any financial aid finalization, and selecting courses for the upcoming year. New student orientation details will follow in the spring and summer to help your daughter hit the ground running.