History | Mission Dolores Academy

Mission Dolores Academy is an independent Catholic school that focuses on academic excellence while developing and promoting core Catholic values. Mission Dolores Academy resulted from the merging of two San Francisco Catholic schools: the Megan Furth Catholic Academy (MFCA) and Mission Dolores School (MDS). The school's history stretches back to 1852, making it the longest-standing Catholic school in San Francisco.

MFCA, previously located at St. Dominic's campus, sought a new location in 2011 to accommodate the increasing enrollment and changing neighborhood landscapes. This new location, on 16th and Church streets, provided room for the school to grow while continuing to serve the needs of at-risk youth. Simultaneously, MDS, while sharing locations with MFCA, suffered from rapidly declining enrollment and continued financial reliance on the Archdiocese. After lengthy negotiations, MFCA and MDS merged to form Mission Dolores Academy in their place.

Mission Dolores Academy, envisioned as a blended learning school, exists to prepare scholars for the rigors of 21st Century life and academia. Through collaboration with Seton Education Partners, MDA created a robust combination of computer-based curriculum and traditional, small group instruction. Academic excellence and lifelong learning will always be core values at Mission Dolores Academy. Each year, our graduating 8th-grade class carries these core values with them as they continue their education at top preparatory high schools.