History of the Academy

For twenty years the Church of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. benefited from the spiritual leadership and pastoral care of its fourth Archbishop, His Eminence James Cardinal Hickey. When Monsignor Paul Dudziak, the founding pastor of the Covenant Community of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and his parishioners opened the school they decided to name it for the Cardinal with the intention of honoring him in his lifetime with a living legacy, a tribute to his years of dedicated service and commitment to Catholic education.

In the fall of 1997 the new school, Cardinal Hickey Academy, was opened in Owings, Maryland. Cardinal James Hickey was present for the dedication of the Academy on September 4. The school opened for kindergarten through fourth grade. A new addition, consisting of a family center and additional classroom space, was completed in the fall of 2000. A third addition to include the Media Center, Technology Lab and a Lecture room was completed in 2007.
When asked by a Washington Post reporter how he would like to be remembered, Cardinal Hickey told her, “First, I’d like them to say he was always loyal to his church. Second, that he was a friend to Catholic education. And third, if they don’t want to say the first two, at least I would hope they would chisel on the stone, ‘He served the poor.'”

1997 Opening of the Academy & Dedication of school by Cardinal James Hickey
2000 Second phase of building completed
2001 First 8th grade graduating class
2003 Accreditation granted by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
2006 Shepherd’s Flock Preschool became part of Cardinal Hickey Academy
2007 Third phase of building completed
2010 became a Regional school
2013 Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and School Councils
2014 Catholic Montessori Preschool opened
2015 National Blue Ribbon Awarded

Cardinal Hickey Academy