Rosati-Kain Academy

Mission statement

Through a vibrant and innovative Catholic education, we cultivate the individuality, faith, talent, and aspirations of diverse young women who aspire to lead and serve the world.

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Our history

In 1911, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet opened the Rosati Center and the Kain School. The two schools merged to create Rosati-Kain High School.

For the first nine years, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet taught without remuneration. Their expenses were covered by teaching needlework and music lessons and with a subsidy from the respective motherhouses.

Rosati-Kain was always known for academic excellence and diversity. In 1947, Rosati-Kain became the first high school in the St. Louis area to integrate, years before Brown v. Board of Education was the law of the land.

Even as a century of history was celebrated, Build the Dream…Live the Legacy, a campaign for Rosati-Kain’s future was in full swing. Through the campaign, funds were raised to build a 12,000 sq.ft. addition to the original structure and to renovate more than 12,500 sq. ft. of the 1922 building. On August 23, 2015, the ribbon-cutting revealed a structure ready to be home to a new generation of students and designed to promote current and emerging programs giving new opportunities for the century ahead. After watching the school grow for 30 years as a teacher, principal and president, Sr. Joan Andert retired. She continues as President Emeritus of the new Rosati-Kain Academy.

In September of 2022, the Archdiocese announced that they would close Rosati-Kain High School. Within days, over 500 people, including Alumnae, current and former parents, and students, met in the gym to rally behind keeping the school open. A Board was formed by Alumnae who fundraised, negotiated a lease with the Archdiocese, and secured sponsorship by St. Joseph Educational Ministries. Rosati-Kain was staying open. In spite of it all, members of the class of 2023 are attending: Harvard, Brown, University of Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, Trinity College in Dublin, Rhode Island School of Design, College of Charleston, HBCUs and many other amazing institutions.

On July 1, 2023, Rosati-Kain Academy transitioned from the Archdiocese as an independent school. RKA is the only independent all-girls Catholic school in the city limits of St. Louis. It will continue to be known for academic excellence, diversity, and Catholic spirituality.