Catholic High students become articulate in speech and writing, adept in the usage of technology, able to understand human culture through a study of humanities and the arts, and proficient in academic and social skills that promote team building and problem solving. Upon graduation, Catholic High students possess the knowledge and the experience to succeed in higher education and beyond.
The Honors Program is designed to provide select students with challenging and rigorous academic courses. Students accepted into the Honors Program enroll in all honors level classes their freshmen year, can take Advanced Placement (AP) starting their sophomore year, and begin dual-enrollment courses their junior and senior year. This gives students the opportunity to earn college credit while at Catholic High and prepares them for their future beyond college.
The College Preparatory Program allows students to engage in diverse coursework that exceeds MSDE requirements, making students academically able and college-ready. The faculty of Catholic High is committed to preparing each student with enriched academic experiences that will prepare them for college and careers in the future.
The Law & Leadership Program empowers young women to be active, engaged citizens by providing them with the academic experiences they need to successfully effect change in their local communities and beyond. The Law and Leadership Program is designed for young women who want to cultivate their writing, presentation, and communication skills while acquiring leadership opportunities, extracurricular involvement, and real-world experiences in Law and Leadership.
Our curriculum cultivates the essential skills of responsible leadership, fostering a deep appreciation for the principles and values that underpin the legal system. Through this foundation, students are equipped to positively influence society in a moral, ethical, and responsible manner. In their freshman and sophomore years, students establish a strong base by taking courses in Leadership in the Franciscan Tradition, Introduction to Law, Criminal Justice, World Civilization, U.S. History, and French. As they progress into junior and senior years, students further develop their understanding of the legal system’s moral and ethical dimensions through courses in Government, Civil Discourse, Civil Rights Laws and Policies, and International Relations. The program culminates in the senior year with a senior research class, where students engage in in-depth research, writing, and a public presentation of their research on a critical issue explored throughout their studies.
*Must be elected by classmates
The STEM Program enables students to begin an intense academic program in their freshman year with special emphasis in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. With courses in Engineering, Biomedicine, and Sports Medicine, students have the opportunity to delve into their interests before transitioning to college. Catholic High's STEM Program Lead teaches Engineering courses which include Design & Analysis and Bioengineering. In addition, Catholic High has a Medical Doctor on staff who teaches Biomedical courses such as Histology and Pathology, only offered at TCHS.
Catholic High's recognized four-year project-based experiential STEM Program inspires future generations of young women to pursue exciting, rewarding and well-paying careers needed for the future growth of our nation in areas traditionally not previously available to them. Knowledge learned in STEM disciplines, the acquisition of advanced skills through hands-on, project-centered methods of inquiry will propel our students to succeed in colleges, universities and jobs of their choice. Engineering courses are taught in our state-of-the-art Joanne Liberatore Kramer Engineering Room and the Theresa F. Truschel Robotics Lab. Medical courses prepare students with real-world acquisition skills due to the usage of the Jesse James Hinson, Jr. Biomedical Clinical Simulation Lab.
The STEM Program is pleased to offer its students in-field experience with our new partners, LifeBridge Health – ExpressCare Urgent Care Centers and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. Catholic High’s students continue to be one step ahead of other high school students when applying for college and jobs in the STEM field.
Engineering - The Engineering courses include curriculum in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, two additional advanced sciences; NASA Engineering, Computer Engineering; Algebra II, Geometry; AB/BC Calculus; and a Senior Capstone Project. Classwork in the Lab includes, VEX and Lego robotics, Sea-Perch Underwater robotics, model building design & construction, model rocket design & construction, reverse engineering and redesign of commercial products. Our curriculum and instruction are continually updated to meet technological advancements and the ever-changing academic and work environment. Seniors engineering students receive real-world experience through our partnerships with The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company.
Biomedicine - The Biomedicine courses allow young women to explore rigorous directed content, in the medical sciences, not available in most high school environments. Through a combination of course work, field experiences, and speakers, students explore a wide variety of college majors and post college careers. This concentration actively builds partnerships with hospitals and health care providers. Students make use of the Biomedical Clinical Simulation Lab which is home to many mid-fidelity mannequins that simulate real world experiences. The Biomedicine concentration provides opportunities for Senior students to participate in a two-week medical field experience with world class doctors and clinicians with LifeBridge Health Partner ExpressCare Urgent Care Centers and Sinai Hospital. Students acquire competency skills used in Health Care Facilities and receive certificates of completion that can be used when applying to colleges and universities.
Sports Medicine - Catholic High’s Sports Medicine courses is for students interested in careers in Sports Medicine, Athletic Training, Orthopedics, Exercise Physiology, Kinesiotherapy, Physiatry, and Physical Therapy. Students interested in these fields will be able to use our Training and Exercise Facility in our Gymnasium.
Acceptance into the STEM Program is based on the following criteria. Students must:
The McCafferty Visual and Performing Arts Program allows young women to concentrate in one specific area of the arts including Dance, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, Visual Art, and Theatre. Students complete graduated levels of instruction in their particular discipline, build portfolios, participate in regional competitions, and will have opportunities for musical performances and art exhibitions.
Musicians, vocalists, actors, dancers, graphic designers, sculptors, painters, and artists form the Visual & Performing Arts Department at Catholic High. These students learn about history, foundational principles, and are assessed mainly by studio-based or performance-based projects.
McCafferty Hall has been home to Catholic High's Visual & Performing Arts Department since 1960. When one walks the hall, she experiences creativity, displayed in the inventiveness and hard work of our student artists, photographers, musicians, actors, singers, and dancers. From art to theatrical productions to concerts, Catholic High's love for ingenuity and creativity shines. Our comprehensive visual and performing arts curriculum helps to provide each Catholic High student with a full range of study that keeps our students involved and engaged. Students of every skill level are invited and encouraged to broaden their knowledge in one of the arts disciplines, and thereby fulfill their one arts credit requirement for graduation or become an art enthusiast by taking many credits in the VPA Program.
This Archangel Program provides an opportunity for students who have encountered academic difficulties during elementary and middle school. The Archangel Program offers small class sizes. Students in the Archangel Program will have a class built into their schedule freshman year dedicated to academic support. They will spend the first two years at Catholic High with the same class members learning note taking, study skills, and time management to better prepare them for Junior and Senior year, and College.
Through small class sizes, frequent student-teacher interaction, close cooperation between home and school, and the student's commitment to success, the Archangel student will proceed through a college preparatory program. Archangel students are integrated into other class levels based upon academic achievement in their junior year.
Teachers enhance the learning experiences and make lessons more interactive. Students utilize the most state-of-the-art technology including Chromebooks with various educational applications.
Students who apply for the Archangel Program are accepted on a case by case basis depending on the students academic performance in middle school, including, test scores, grades, accommodations, and skill level. Students do not need a specific IEP, 504 plan, or a Psychological Evaluation to be considered for the program. The admissions committee takes documentation into consideration when reviewing, but it is not required. Students accepted into the program are required to attend a 4-day summer orientation that includes 1.5 hours a day for Pre-Algebra and 1.5 hours a day for Reading/English/Study Skills.
The Archangel Program has a $1,500 fee that is added in with the families total tuition balance once they are accepted. After the students sophomore year the $1,500 fee is dropped.
If you are unsure whether the Archangel Program would benefit your daughter, please contact The Archangel Program Coordinator, Mrs. Dorothy Taylor-Kastrunes at dkastrunes@thecatholichighschool.org or 410-732-6200 x1233
