Info Guide2012-13 - St. Scholastica Academy

Ten Most Commonly-Asked Questions
1. How many girls attend St. Scholastica Academy and what is the size of each class
Total enrollment is 693 young women from the Louisiana parishes of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and
Washington. The number of students per class varies, but averages 22 students per class.
2. What are the advantages to an all-girls school
Research has demonstrated that girls achieve a higher level of academic success in an all-girl environment
when compared to a coed school. According to the Wall Street Journal, all-girls schools “help
females to get away from the traditional social conditioning and give them the freedom to show what
they can do.” The October 27, 1993 issue of Education Week states, “Compared with their counterparts
at other schools, girls in all-girls’ schools take math and science courses at double the national
average.” At SSA, 100% of our students take five years of math and four years of science.
3. What types of classes does SSA offer
SSA offers college-prep, honors and AP classes, as well as a number of electives. The academic
environment at SSA promotes growth and achievement. We have students of all abilities and our
college-preparatory curriculum gives the young women who attend SSA a well-rounded educational
experience that prepares them for college. Ninety-nine percent of our graduates go on to college.
4. My daughter sometimes struggles. Does SSA accept students with learning disabilities
Each case is decided individually. Students with learning needs must be able to master SSA’s academic
programs with an accommodation plan provided to teachers by the Guidance Department. The Dean of
Academics determines a possible accommodation plan in cases of severe learning issues.
5. Do you offer tuition assistance
Tuition assistance is offered through an established needs-based program.
6. Can my daughter get college credit for classes
SSA also offers AP classes in English, biology, calculus, government, American history, European history,
art history, and psychology which allow students to earn possible college credit. Students can also earn
college credit through St. Joseph Seminary College for Fine Arts Survey.
7. What types of extracurricular activities does SSA provide
SSA is committed to the development of the total student.The Academy offers over 45 extra-curriculars,
including: academic and service clubs, publications, liturgical groups, drama, dance, chorus, speech and
sports.
8. What type of technology is available for my daughter
Today’s students are “digitized”—they have been immersed in a global society supercharged with media
and communication devices. They literally experience the world via these technological devices —
iPhones, iPads, smart-phones, handheld gaming devices, PDAs, computers, HD/3D TV, and the list
goes on. More than a quarter of their day is devoted to some type of media. Many students are
multitasking — listening to music while surfing the web while watching TV while texting on their
phones, while instant messaging, etc. In order to meet the needs of this new generation of students, SSA
has created a 1:1 computing program that exposes its students to several 21 st century competencies in
an attempt to better prepare them for college and their future role as informed global citizens.
Our classrooms have been transformed from traditional learning environments characterized by teachercentered
instruction, single-sense stimulation, single-path progression, single-media, isolated work, factual
knowledge and information delivery to student-centered learning environments characterized by multisensory
stimulation, multi-path progression, multimedia, collaborative work, information exchange and
St. Scholastica Academy -10- Information Guide