Canton. Franklin. Norwood. Foxboro. Walpole. Medway. Wrentham. Sharon. Westwood. Norfolk. Medfield.

While the story of Bishop Feehan High School in Attleborough over the past 10 years certainly includes a steadfast dedication to core Catholic and mercy values and major investments in campus facilities and academic and extra-curricular programs, another clear trend has been the number of Feehan Shamrock magnets on car bumpers up and down Routes 95 and 495 north of Attleborough.

As more and more families migrate south of Boston, Feehan has shed its reputation as the "best kept secret" and now welcomes hundreds of students each year from more than 70 different cities and towns and three different states. The school's prime location, immediately off of I 95 in Attleboro makes that possible. Families come for the vitality of co-ed education and the variety of opportunities, but they stay for (and tell their friends about) a culture of both accountability and compassion, where expectations are high but supportive connections run deep.

"Coming from Canton, we never expected our son would choose Feehan," recalls Meg Butler, mom of two Feehan students who previously attended St. John the Evangelist School in Canton. "But then we attended the Accepted Students Night, and everything changed. When the principal promised that our children would be "noticed, named and known," I knew Feehan was different. It wasn't just about academics -- it was about knowing each student as an individual and helping them become the best version of themselves."

It's the unique legacy of Feehan's founding Sisters of Mercy that resonates still today. "Set Your Hearts on Things Above" remains the guiding principle and ultimate goal for Feehan grads.

While rooted in that time-tested tradition, Bishop Feehan doesn't stand still. The school continuously evaluates and strategically evolves its programs and facilities to ensure its students are future ready. If you've never seen Feehan's campus or haven't been by in a while, it's worth the quick drive south. The school's new 12,000 square feet Innovation and Arts Center, featuring homes for thriving theatre, choir, engineering and robotics programs opened in 2023 and a completely rebuilt McGrath Stadium athletics complex (including two turf fields, new lights and fan amenities) shines on the campus's entire east side. A brand new Dining Commons opened this fall.

Similarly, major investments in increased AP programming, student learning supports and a new Healthcare Professions Pathway program are meeting students where they are and where they need to be.

Perhaps nothing tells the school's story of momentum rooted in tradition as well as its faith and campus ministry programs. Proudly and enthusiastically Catholic, Feehan invites students of all backgrounds into a relationship with God and an understanding that an active faith life is a cornerstone of a life well-lived. Grounded by that faith, Feehan graduates understand that the world -- and life -- is bigger than themselves.

Athletes, artists, inventors, explorers (even the student not yet sure which of those they are!) students with varied interests each find their place at Bishop Feehan, where they discover abundant opportunities to pursue their passions and cultivate their unique gifts.

One final legacy -- accessibility -- may also help explain all those shamrocks on the highway: a mercy legacy that includes tuition set at just what the school needs for continued excellence and a financial aid commitment to making sure a Feehan education remains possible for all those for whom the school was built.

Butler adds: "What initially felt like a challenge -- the extra time and distance -- has become one of the best investments we could have made in our children. Feehan has given them a community that knows them, challenges them, supports them, and inspires them to thrive. And now that our kids are driving, I actually miss our car rides together!"

Now more than ever, mercy and excellence live just down the road in Attleboro.



TIM SULLIVAN '87 IS PRESIDENT AT BISHOP FEEHAN HIGH SCHOOL IN ATTLEBOROUGH, A CO-ED HIGH SCHOOL SERVING A DIVERSE POPULATION OF 1100 STUDENTS FROM OVER 70 COMMUNITIES.