Academic excellence is a hallmark of Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the Diocese of Wilmington.
A closer look reveals that quality Catholic education, coupling a strong academic program with a firm faith foundation in all grades, is designed to prepare students to live in a diverse and changing world.
Religion
In Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 faith formation occurs daily through instruction and praxis. Students not only learn about the Catholic faith, but also engage in prayer, worship, and service to live the faith. The Religion curriculum in elementary school is built upon five key concepts:
- Leading to Knowledge of the Faith
- Initiating into the Celebration of the Mystery
- Forming for the Life in Christ
- Teaching Prayer
- Introduction to Community Life
In high school, the core Religion curriculum follows the Curriculum Framework of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
- The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture
- Who Is Jesus Christ?
- The Mission of Jesus Christ (The Paschal Mystery)
- Jesus Christ’s Mission Continues in the Church
- Sacraments as Privileged Encounters with Jesus
- Life in Jesus Christ
Core Curriculum
English language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies form the core curriculum areas in both elementary and high school.
Enrichment Curriculum
Physical Education, Technology, the Visual & Performing Arts, and World Language enhance the core curriculum in both elementary and high school.
Religion, Core Curriculum subjects, and Enrichment Curriculum subjects are developed in a model that incorporates 21st Century thinking skills.
- Critical thinking, problem-solving, reasoning, analysis, interpretation, synthesizing information
- Research skills and practices, interrogative questioning
- Creativity, artistry, curiosity, imagination, innovation, personal expression
- Perseverance, self-direction, planning, self-discipline, adaptability, initiative
Technology
Technology in the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Wilmington is fully integrated in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 and our technology curriculum aligns with the International Society of Technology in Education Standards. Students must comply with the Diocesan Acceptable Use Policy.
Among the technological resources found in our Diocesan schools are:
- Computer Labs
- Wired and wireless internet access
- Interactive whiteboards
- Digital video
- LCD projectors
- Mobile laptop carts
- Wireless Networks
- Tablets, Chromebooks
- 1:1 iPad/ laptop/ tablet instruction
Access PowerSchool
Elementary schools in the Diocese utilize PowerSchool, a nationally known student information system, where demographics, attendance, student schedules, and grades are available. Parents and students can use the link below to access:
Assessment
Assessment in elementary school and high school relies upon standardized testing, teacher-constructed assessments, and performance and project assessments. In elementary school students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 are assessed through Renaissance Star in Reading and Mathematics three times annually. In high school students in Grades 9, 10, and 11 take the College Board PSAT annually. Juniors and seniors take the College Board SAT, ACT, and Advanced Placement scholars take the College Board AP tests. These standardized measures assess students’ individual academic growth and compare their academic achievement with national and state benchmarks.
Diocesan Test Scores
Standardized and classroom assessments indicate that students in the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Wilmington perform well. In all elementary schools the Diocese administers Renaissance Star, a national standardized assessment tool used in public, private, and parochial schools. Results demonstrate that student performance is above the national mean score (50th percentile) in Reading and Mathematics.
| Reading | Math | |
|---|---|---|
| Diocese | 61% | 65% |
| Nation | 50% | 50% |
SAT data confirms a robust academic program in the high schools. Students of all abilities take the SAT. The data demonstrates that the Catholic secondary school averages are above the average scores reported by the College Board for SAT test-takers in Delaware, Maryland and the nation in Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing.
| Evidence Based Reading & Writing | Math | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diocese | 550 | 510 | 1070 |
| Delaware/Maryland | 449/546 | 477/529 | 968/1075 |
| Nation | 529 | 521 | 1050 |