Academics

Lower School

Children are born naturally curious and inquisitive, constantly exploring the world around them, asking questions, and seeking knowledge and understanding.  In Lower School at All Saints Academy, we believe in fostering this natural curiosity of children–from our littlest learners in PS2 to our Grade 5 students– to provide a wealth of opportunities for children to engage in meaningful and authentic learning.  Our core subject curricula set high standards for student learning and growth and provide a strong foundation for students to be challenged and excel in their learning throughout their academic career.  Students are given opportunities for hands-on learning experiences that allow them to actively engage in their learning in a deeper and more meaningful way.  We also understand and appreciate that our students are diverse and come to us with a variety of experiences, interests, and understandings.  Our knowledgeable teachers are able to differentiate their instructions to support the needs of each student, allowing him/her to maximize their potential.  

In Lower School, we believe strongly in educating the whole child and providing environments for children to excel in a variety of pursuits.  Our programming includes enrichment classes each day where the students can engage in and explore art, computer science, physical education, Spanish, music–including strings, and media.  It is also important that we support not only the academic needs but also the social and emotional development of our learners, and this happens in many ways in Lower School–from the supportive and nurturing relationships that students build with their teachers to the support and guidance students will receive from our school counselor to weekly chapel services and connection with our school chaplain.  As students actively engage in the varied learning experiences that we offer in Lower School, they grow and develop academically, spiritually, and emotionally as they learn to think critically, collaborate with others in productive and positive ways, and seek creative solutions to problems.  

In Lower School at All Saints Academy, we truly believe that the minds of our young learners are wonderful–naturally curious and inquisitive– and we strive each day to create a positive and supportive learning environment that inspires our students and helps them to grow in their academics, in their character, and in their readiness for the world beyond the walls of Lower School.  Our Lower School community truly embodies the All Saints Academy mission: inspiring independent thinkers, principled leaders, and humble learners. 

Middle School

As the transition between the Lower and Upper Schools, All Saints Academy's Middle School is a place for academic, social, and emotional growth. Our middle school team is passionate about guiding and supporting our students through this transition. 

Our Advisory program and classroom expectations provide scaffolding for students to grow as independent thinkers and self-advocates. Advisors and classroom teachers build organizational structures into the day, teaching students how to use the school-provided planner in a meaningful way. Our online gradebook and learning management system serve as a communication tool with families and provide an opportunity for students to keep track of their progress and adjust their learning strategies throughout the school year. We know that middle schoolers will need support in their efforts to become independent thinkers, so advisors keep a close watch on student progress and step in when additional assistance is needed. 

Advisory activities, religion classes, and course learning objectives are designed to help students build healthy social relationships. Our teachers plan positive and productive peer interactions during the school day and promote the healthy use of technology. Our school counselor provides advisory activities that teach our students how to make others feel valued and included. Our school chaplain teaches a religion class during all three years of middle school, providing a constant connection with our school's spiritual leader and a chance to celebrate the traditions of all faiths. 

Our academic program is designed to meet the developmental needs of middle school students while preparing them for high school, college, and beyond. Teachers overtly discuss study and organizational skills in classes. Middle school students take exams at the end of the semester, mirroring what happens in our upper school. Advanced math classes are offered all three years of middle school, while Lyceum honors classes are offered in 8th grade to provide an additional layer of academic rigor for students who demonstrate the self-discipline and academic maturity to be successful in this setting. Our elective programming provides exposure to all visual and performing arts, as well as physical education and design and fabrication classes in the 6th grade, while allowing 7th and 8th grade students to develop skills and focus with choice. This careful combination of prescription and choice allows students to become humble learners.

Upper School

As independent thinkers, principled leaders, and humble learners, All Saints Academy students are compelling examples of the school’s mission personified and individualized, and they make the Upper School unique. 

From “lifers” who have attended ASA since early childhood to those who begin in ninth grade, students in ASA’s Upper School often say they feel like they are part of a family or a community. On tours of campus, prospective students often notice the community-centric parts of Upper School life: students’ smiles, their engagement with teachers, friendly offers to hold doors and give directions, and a sense of trust and freedom that pervades the college-like campus.

Learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom are designed to challenge students to think independently, whether through positing a hypothesis as a part of a science lab or contributing to a writing workshop in English. Today’s learners must be prepared to think critically and take responsibility for learning that is beyond the basics of the last century. Our entire learning community–from students to teachers to administration–intentionally engages in humble learning, which means that we embrace our roles as lifetime learners and curious participants. Students are mentored as leaders and regularly point to their strong relationships with faculty and coaches as hallmarks of their ASA experience. Whether in the classroom, athletic field, or the arts, ASA students have opportunities for leadership that are unique to a small school.

As part of our personalized approach to college advising, students are guided to research and identify the colleges and universities that best fit their goals and learning profiles. We are proud of our legacy of 100% college acceptance, and we take pride in the successes of our graduates. ASA alumni regularly point to the skills and confidence earned at ASA as the key to those successes. 

The connections students make during their Upper School years are memories that last a lifetime. Connections with friends who encourage and support them; teachers who inspire and shepherd them; coaches who help them develop selflessness and discipline; teams they rally behind; the first experience of being authentically challenged by an assignment; when they understand that a mistake is a learning experience; when they find the college that fits them best. These hallmarks define our Upper School culture, go beyond academic rigor, and prepare students for college and life beyond.