Saint Louise Marillac High School was an all-girls Catholic secondary school in Northfield, Illinois, United States from 1967 to 1994, run by the Daughters of Charity. In 1994, Marillac merged with Loyola Academy[1].
The former campus of Marillac High School, designed by Schmidt, Garden & Erikson, received an award from the American Institute of Architects[2].
Young women from the Chicago area now had another choice for high school. In the fall of 1967, 225 girls from Northbrook, Glenview, Niles, Morton Grove, Deerfield, Northfield, Wilmette. Winnetka, and Chicago entered the halls of Marillac to embark upon their futures. The first tuition cost $300.00 to get a private Catholic education. This was a more economical choice than neighboring Regina High School in Wilmette. That first school year held many firsts for these “pioneers”
The Daughters of Charity placed Sr. Constance in charge of this endeavor. She was a gifted leader with stern tactics for the volatile 60’s. The first year Faculty consisted of mostly nuns and some key lay teachers. There were rules in place but Marillac also marketed this new school as a place for “Responsible Freedom” There were no upper classwomen, accepted the first 4 years. This band of girls had a unique experience to be top dog all 4 years, the class of 1971. Reflecting back we have a lot of confidence that has stayed with us our whole lives because of that unusual circumstance. We had to vote on the school colors Green and Blue the victor. The workmen were ever present in that first year to finish the library, the floor tiles in the halls, the auditorium, the gymnasium, and other vital parts to a school.
23 graduating classes had the privilege to say they attended St.Louise de Marillac High School. This band of girls is now celebrating their 40th Reunion in the fall of 2011 in Glenview with a weekend of activities and a tour of the school (which is now houses the Christian Heritage Academy) on Sunday. The memories, camaraderie, closeness and bonding of this unique bunch has been a pleasure to see after so many years. We shared an awful lot back then and continue to revel in that responsible freedom, we were granted 40 years ago.