Academic Philosophy

Middle School - Grades 6-8

The Middle School Division functions to introduce sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students to the heritage of the highly successful, traditional, liberal arts curriculum of Cascia Hall Preparatory School. Emphasized are the self-motivation, self-discipline and self-responsibility required to master the intellectual and human skills necessary for undergraduate studies, as well as for one’s life. Validation of our program is seen by strong scores on national tests and recognition by state, regional, and national accrediting agencies and professional organizations.

From their three-year Middle School experience, students will derive cognitive and affective
competence, evident in five critical attitudes. In particular, the administration, faculty, and staff will strive to help each student gain:

1. self-motivation, self-discipline, and self-responsibility for one’s learning, as well as an appreciation for one another’s learning;

2. pride as reflected in the products of one’s efforts through correct diction, spelling, critical reading, rational paragraph writing, note-taking skills, and neatness;

3. self-confidence as demonstrated by an understanding of the practice of listening, participatory and public speaking skills associated with group discussion and work;

4. appreciation for diverse views, individual approaches to problem-solving, and options for
measuring achievement;

5. respect for the importance of a direct, concentrated emphasis upon the techniques of library research.

Upper School - Grades 9-12

The Academic Philosophy of the Upper School Curriculum of Cascia Hall School is based on the Latin School tradition of our earliest American schools. This same tradition has been nurtured by the Augustinians in the United States since the founding of Villanova College (now University) in 1842. Basically, this tradition seeks to educate the whole person, to encourage and develop an ongoing pursuit of the truth, which leads to God who is ultimate truth. While maintaining this firm basis in tradition, Cascia Hall also continues to develop its course of studies, in keeping with world growth and the development of technology. Cascia Hall’s Academic Philosophy is summarized as follows.

First, Cascia Hall Upper School can be described as a liberal arts school in the purest sense of liberal arts. Each year, each student is required to take courses in English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Theology. Also, each student is required to take a certain number of courses in foreign language and the arts. All courses offered at Cascia Hall have an academic purpose designed to prepare a student for collegiate study.

Secondly, Cascia Hall recognizes that students differ academically in talent and aptitude.
Consequently, not all students have the same starting course in the various subject areas. However, Cascia Hall does not ascribe to the “cafeteria plan” of course selection. Cascia Hall does not offer a number of courses in each subject area, allowing the students to choose whatever course they want. Once the student has chosen a starting level, that student is expected to progress each year with the most challenging set of courses available in the sequence defined by each academic department. The school does recognize that as a student progresses in a particular subject area, and as the courses become more specialized and abstract, that the achievement of a student is affected by the student’s aptitude, attitude, and interest in that subject area. Hence, options are given to a student based on the student’s achievements. Specifically, if a student is earning A’s and B’s one year in a particular subject area, the student is expected to take the most challenging sequential course in that subject the following year. A student may opt to take less challenging courses in subsequent years if the student earns a grade of C or lower in that same subject or obtains administrative approval.

Thirdly, Cascia Hall wants a student to be prepared to major in any academic discipline at any
university. Thus, Cascia Hall’s course of study is not based on special interest groups or special academic needs. Differing courses of studies are not established for differing projected career fields, collegiate academic majors, or for a projected university to be attended. Although Cascia Hall recognizes the value of and encourages the participation in various school-sponsored activities and athletic programs, differing courses of study are not established based on a student’s activity schedule or work schedule.

In summary, Cascia Hall is a single-purpose liberal arts college preparatory school. Course
assignment for a student is based on the student’s previous academic achievement. Potential career preferences and possible university choices are not reflected in the student’s course assignment.