The school was named after Madeleine Sophie Barat, founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

[3] An anonymous gift of about $1.65 million in 2007 covered tuition for the school’s inaugural class of 150 students.

[4] Barat Academy opened in 2007, initially located in Dardenne Prairie.The school relocated to Chesterfield in 2011 due to financial difficulties following the 2008 economic crisis,[5] which led to the collapse of its mortgage-holding bank.

[7] In April 2023, the school announced a pause in in-person instruction for the 2023–2024 academic year, affecting 20 local students, as it planned to vacate its leased facilities in June.

[8] This decision followed a lawsuit filed by its landlord, Midland States Bank, seeking eviction due to the school’s financial struggles.