Our History
In the year 1923, the Dominican Sisters purchased the Overbrook estate from Joseph Warner. He named the property Overbrook as one travels “over the brook” to access the it.
The approximately 83 acres located at 4210 Harding Pike, included the family home, now known as the “White House,” designed by architect George C. Norton in 1912 and which is on the National Register of Historic Buildings, as well as a carriage house and a caretaker’s house – the “Little” White House. These historic buildings currently serve as administrative offices for The Dominican Campus, as well as the Adoration Chapel.
Rich, indeed, is the heritage of Overbrook Catholic School in the 300 students presently enrolled and the more than 5,000 alumni living in various parts of the world.
1936
The Sisters saw a need for a Catholic elementary school in west Nashville and in 1936 opened the doors of Overbrook Catholic School with an enrollment of nine students and a faculty of five Sisters. Classes were held in the main "White House."
A rapid increase of the student body to 21 by spring of 1937 indicated acceptance and certain permanency for the school.
1937
A kindergarten was begun.
1943
A nursery school was added.
1944
Since Overbrook Catholic was one of the few elementary schools in the area which offered preschool, high enrollment in 1944 necessitated moving the kindergarten to the remodeled carriage house behind the main house. An addition was built for the nursery school and a cafeteria.
1945 & 1948
Two other classrooms were added to the White House. During these years, the eight elementary grades shared four classrooms.
1961
The new building housing Overbrook Catholic School was dedicated. It included individual classrooms for each grade, kindergarten through eighth grade, a library, small office space, and a small gymnasium.
1970
A larger and more adequate library was added in honor of Sister Anastasia Basehart, O.P.
1983
Overbrook Catholic again expanded its building. Included in the expansion and remodeling project were improved office space, a larger library, a regulation size gymnasium, an audio-visual room, a science lab (former sixth grade classroom) and a music and art room (former gym).
1986
Two classrooms were built to provide 3-year-old and 4-year-old preschool classrooms.
1989
A seventh and eighth grade classroom wing was added, enabling the school to begin adding a second class for each grade
1998
Four classrooms were added to the middle school wing
2013-14
The gym lobby, main lobby, and administrative offices were renovated along with a new front façade (Rotunda) and lawn addition.
2017
A farm was begun. Structures were built to house chickens, sheep, and bunnies. Raised garden beds were constructed so students could plant vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
2022
The old farm was taken down, the area graded, a new barn constructed, and an outdoor learning pavilion built. New garden beds were installed.
Following two years of strategic planning and studying the “junior high question,” it was announced in August of 2021 that Overbrook Catholic School would become a preschool-3 through 6th grade co-ed school and St. Cecilia Academy would become a 7th – 12th grade all-girls school. The move occurred in the summer of 2022, at which time, one extra classroom was renovated to serve as a preschool-3 classroom. Another classroom was turned into two offices, two tutoring rooms, a conference room, a spirit wear store, and a hallway leading to the farm.
