Sacred Heart School has been serving students in the Emporia area for nearly 140 years. In 1881, three sisters of the Orders of the Sisters of St. Francis of Lafayette, Indiana, came to Emporia. These sisters began teaching students in the church after masses until a school building for 95 students was completed in 1883. By 1885, there were two sisters teaching 60 students apiece. The school continued to grow until 1926 when a brand new two-story building was built that wast able to fit all of the students in the building at one time. This is the same building that is used today. Sacred Heart continued to be run by the Sisters of St. Francis until 1972 when they departed from Emporia.

Since 1972, Sacred Heart has been under lay leadership and became part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas schools. The school continues to develop and improve while holding true to the charism set forth by the Sisters in 1881. Currently, as the only Catholic school within 50 miles, Sacred Heart School serves families from St. Joseph’s parish in Olpe, St. Catherine’s Parish and the Didde Catholic Center here in Emporia, in addition to Sacred Heart Parishioners.