St. Joseph Academy (Cleveland, Ohio)

St. Joseph Academy is the only all-female Catholic high school located in Cleveland, Ohio. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. The academic environment provides a 12 to 1 student to faculty ratio with an average of 23 students per class. An average of 90% of graduating seniors go on to colleges and universities nationwide. 96% of Academy students are Catholic and represent over 70 parishes. A superior faculty has dedicated itself to educating the young women of Saint Joseph Academy. They average 17 years of experience, and 75% hold Masters degrees or the equivalent. The class of 2005 received over 7.2 million dollars in merit-based college scholarship awards.

Background

St. Joseph Academy was established in 1890 by the Congregation of St. Joseph. [http://www.sja1890.org/aboutus.html] The Academy is owned by the Congregation of St. Joseph and operated by the Congregation of St. Joseph and a Board of Trustees representing the religious, business, professional, and local communities. The Academy was one of the first area high schools dedicated to the education of young women and is currently the only all-girl Catholic high school in the City of Cleveland.

Philosophy

Saint Joseph Academy exists to discover and nurture the talents and capabilities of each young Christian woman. Each student will grow toward mature creative womanhood to the degree that she lives out rational, responsive, and compassionate faith relationships with God and others. We believe the Gospel must be understood and lived in the context of our word; this calls for personal and societal transformation. In view of the philosophical statement, we attempt to create a climate wherein a student can best become:

A Woman of Faith
...who, knowing the traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church, commits herself to a growing relationship with God and others and to a life of service in imitation of Jesus Christ. Rooted in prayer, nourished by the sacraments, and guided by Scripture, she shares in the ongoing creation of the world.
A Woman Preparing for Life
...who is developing her talents and potential which enable her to analyze, interpret, and interact critically with her environment and others in a creative and confident manner. Her positive shaping of the future requires physical and emotional well-being, as well as communication which is empathetic and resourceful.
A Woman Striving for Integrity
...who is learning to deal with herself and others with honesty, gentleness, and respect. She believes that her direction comes from within and that she is responsible for her own destiny. She seeks balance through the interplay of mind, body, and spirit and finds meaning through experiencing life's beauty, sorrow, and joy.
A Woman Seeking Justice
...who is acquiring the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to become effective in creating a more just world order. She is developing a critical consciousness, enabling her to reflect on society and its values, and to choose actions that will promote the mutuality of all human beings.

Academics

Saint Joseph Academy is in compliance with the State of Ohio Accreditation Board and has been a member in good standing of the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges since 1939 and of the Ohio Catholic Schools Accrediting Association since its inception.
College Block Scheduling
Block scheduling differs significantly from a traditional schedule. At Saint Joseph Academy, each student has only four 85-minute classes per day. At the end of one semester, a student will have completed the equivalent of one academic year of study due to the extended classroom time in each subject. There are many advantages to the block system:
the ability to focus on fewer courses
the opportunity to cover subject matter in a more in-depth fashion
developing closer relationships between faculty and students
a virtually seamless transition from high school to the college schedule
enhanced study skills geared towards course work they will experience in college better student accountability for academics
During an 85-minute class, teachers use a wide variety of teaching methods to maintain students' interest. Beyond lecture, teachers can incorporate cooperative learning, role-playing, discussions, videos and presentation to promote active involvement in the learning process.

Notable alumni

* Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis, President of St. Joseph Academy; former American Greetings senior executive
* Stephanie Kolencik Busch, winner of a Quiznos store on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
* Mary Jordan, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism 2003

External links

* [http://www.sja1890.org/ St. Joseph Academy]

Notes and references