[citation needed] The school was founded by the Ursuline Sisters under the motto of Serviam, meaning "I will serve."

The first facility available to the new academy was a small four-room frame cottage located near Sacred Heart Church in downtown Dallas.

The church's pastor, Father Joseph Martiniere, worked closely with the nuns in establishing the school, which officially opened on February 2, 1874, with seven students.

In 1884 the school moved out of the downtown area to a new brick building located at Bryan, Haskell, and Live Oak streets.

Their other exchange programs include partnering with St. Ursula's College in Toowoomba, Queensland,[8] Colegio Santa Ursula in Ribeirao, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Colegio Santa Ursula in Santiago, Chile, Beijing Huaxia Girls' School in Beijing, China, College Notre Dame Le Menimur, in Vannes, France, Ahliyyah School for Girls in Amman, Jordan, Colegio Santa Ursula in Lima, Peru, Brescia House School in Johannesburg, South Africa, Stella Matutina Girls School in Taichung, Taiwan, and Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware.