AHC Admissions Viewbook

find YOURSELF

here

prove Y O U R S E L F

Fulfill your true P O T E N T I A L .

Learn to handle social, spiritual, and intellectual C H A L L E N G E S with G R A C E and SELF-CONFIDENCE.

Show the world, and

those who love you, W H AT Y O U C A N D O – at The Academy of the Holy Cross.

As a Catholic school founded by the Sisters

Beyond the classroom, Holy Cross girls are

of the Holy Cross, we have educated young

encouraged to grow and excel in many ways.

women of courage, compassion, and scholarship

You can develop your physical strength and

since 1868. You can count on our caring teachers

competitive spirit through our outstanding

to help you succeed and shine academically,

sports program. Christian Service projects will

and you can take your scholarship to new

show you the power you have to make a difference,

levels by participating in honors courses,

and our Campus Ministry program will support

Advanced Placement courses, the Madeleva

you in expressing and deepening your faith. In

Scholars program, and the International

all these ways, and many more, we are here to

Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme.

help you do your very best, in school and in life.

T HE A CA DE MY O F THE HO L Y CR O SS

push Y O U R S E L F

IMAGINE

how much you could

achieve as a Holy Cross girl – in your FAV O R I T E C L A S S E S

and A C T I V I T I E S ,

as well as your T O U G H E S T S U B J E C T S and N E W E N D E AV O R S .

At Holy Cross, you will be part of a caring,

you on and encouraging you to reach new

supportive community that helps girls

heights. It takes courage and confidence

stay focused and motivated. Your teachers,

to embrace challenges and try new things.

counselors, and coaches will always be

But as you push yourself to grow and learn

there for you, giving you the guidance and

to step outside your comfort zone, you won’t

personal attention you need to succeed.

be alone. You will be surrounded by people

Your classmates will be there, too, cheering

who believe in you.

— 2 —

ANNIE / class of ’15

My teachers support me, challenge me to my highest limits, and make sure that I master difficult material.

HOLY CROSS HELPS ME BELIEVE IN MYSELF.

Did You Know?

IN 2017, HOLY CROSS WILL CELEBRATE ITS

150th ANNIVERSARY!

— 4 —

T HE A CA DE MY O F THE HO L Y CR O SS

RAFIAT / class of ’13

I knew I was smart and a pretty good singer.

Now I’m also an actress, dancer, basketball champion, archery lover, and student leader.

I CAN TRY ANYTHING I WANT TO TRY.

surprise Y O U R S E L F

Think of yourself as a jewel, with many FA C E T S that can catch the light.

What are your H I D D E N TA L E N T S ?

Are you ready to discover N E W A B I L I T I E S and S H I N E in unexpected ways?

We know you are eager to pursue the subjects

sports. You can also pursue new hobbies

and activities where you already excel, and

and interests in more than two-dozen

we’re here to help you do that. But high

student clubs, ranging from archery to

school is also a time to expand your horizons.

filmmaking. Maybe you’re a math whiz

Start with your faith. As a Catholic school,

with an undiscovered gift for poetry.

Holy Cross is a place where you can grow in

Maybe your confidence on the court would

your faith and practice Christian leadership,

serve you well on the stage. Maybe you’re

including opportunities to read at Mass and

the quiet type but will find your voice by

train to be a Eucharistic Minister. When it

serving on the Student Council. You probably

comes to sports, Holy Cross offers something

have more abilities than you realize.

for everyone: we field 26 teams in 17 different

Why not try something new?

T HE A CA DE MY O F THE HO L Y CR O SS

— 8 —

Did You Know?

EVERY HOLY CROSS GIRL COMPLETES A

60 HOUR

senior project TO EXPLORE A CAREER THAT INTERESTS HER

T HE A CA DE MY O F THE HO L Y CR O SS

know Y O U R S E L F

SELF-KNOWLEDGE

and S E L F - C O N F I D E N C E

go hand in hand. At Holy Cross, you will have many O P P O R T U N I T I E S to gain a deeper sense of your STRENGTHS,

your S P I R I T U A L I T Y, and

your P U R P O S E in the world.

Part of knowing yourself is appreciating and

annual retreats, culminating in a four-day

cultivating your academic talents, as well

senior Kairos retreat. At each grade level,

as learning how to succeed in those subjects

you will cultivate your capacity for compassion

that don’t come as easily. But self-knowledge

through regular Christian Service. Reaching

reaches beyond the classroom to your role

out to people in need will expand your horizons

in the community. As a Holy Cross girl, you

and show you the difference you can make in

will strengthen the bonds you feel with your

your community. As you learn more about the

classmates and deepen your faith during

world, you will learn more about yourself.

— 10 —

TAYLOR / class of ’13

Holy Cross has taught me that serving others is a way of life, not just an academic requirement.

I HAVE A PASSION FOR SERVICE. T HE A CA DE MY O F THE HO L Y CR O SS

— 12 —

Did You Know?

THE STATUE OF THE BLESSED MOTHER WAS FIRST PLACED AT HOLY CROSS IN

1924 WHEN OUR CAMPUS WAS LOCATED ON UPTON STREET

T HE A CA DE MY O F THE HO L Y CR O SS

MARIBETH / class of ’14

When I first walked into Holy Cross, it felt like I was at home.

In every class and activity, I am supported and respected.

I LOVE FEELING CONFIDENT AND HAPPY.

enjoy Y O U R S E L F

Be part of wonderful T R A D I T I O N S , and create some new ones of your own.

Your high school years should be full of SMILES

and L A U G H T E R , in a school where

you can make lasting M E M O R I E S and lifelong F R I E N D S .

Our students take their studies seriously,

sometimes means feeling happy in a

but the school year is full of fun, too. From

quiet way. Every day at Holy Cross offers

traditions like Holy Cross Day, to coming

opportunities for simple joys and positive

together to cheer for our many sports teams,

energy, from giggling with good friends in

our girls are known for their incredible school

the courtyard, to reaching out to someone

spirit. Enjoying yourself sometimes means

in need, to quiet moments of prayer and

jumping up and down (Go Tartans!) – and

contemplation in the chapel.

T HE A CA DE MY O F THE HO L Y CR O SS

— 16 —

Did You Know?

CLASS RINGS ARE BLESSED AND PRESENTED TO JUNIORS AT A RING CEREMONY THAT CELEBRATES

CLASS UNITY and SISTERHOOD

T HE A CA DE MY O F THE HO L Y CR O SS

be Y O U R S E L F

We can’t wait to get to know you!

We think school should be a place where all the things that make you special are C E L E B R AT E D and C H E R I S H E D .

Discover W HO Y O U A R E – and W H O YOU WA N T T O B E

–

at The Academy of the Holy Cross.

Holy Cross is a place where you can always

the day you graduate, the entire Holy Cross

be yourself. After all, how can you focus on

community will be there for you – the real you.

preparing for college and pursuing your

We’re here to support you on your personal

dreams if you’re pretending to be somebody

journey to becoming a young woman of

else? From your first day on campus until

courage, compassion, and scholarship.

— 18 —

m e s s a g e T O PA R E N T S

We know you want for your daughter what she wants for herself: the opportunity to achieve her full potential in a supportive, challenging environment that prepares her for success in college and beyond. Here are a few aspects of Holy Cross that we know matter most to parents.

OUTSTANDING ACADEMICS Holy Cross offers excellent value for your educational dollar with a rigorous, comprehensive curriculum that provides girls with an exceptional foundation for college success. Our campus facilities support academic excellence across disciplines, from the sciences to the performing arts, including a beautiful library, a computer lab, science labs, art studios, a dark room, a kiln room, and a state-of-the-art 400-seat theatre. In 2010, we became an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, and the academically demanding IB Diploma Programme has proven popular with our students.

PERSONALIZED COLLEGE ADVISING When the time comes to apply to college, our college counselors will guide you and your daughter through the college application and financial aid process, step by step. For the class of 2012, we assisted 138 students in completing 977 applications to 248 colleges and universities, with an average of seven applications per student. The class of 2012 was awarded more than $14.2 million in scholarships over four years. Over a five-year span (2008 to 2012), 76 percent of graduating seniors were awarded some type of scholarship or honorarium.

college team. We are equally proud of our outstanding performing arts and fine arts programs, which allow girls to discover and develop their talents – from singing and dancing to painting and photography – while laying the groundwork for a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

SUPPORTIVE ALL-GIRL ENVIRONMENT Some girls are immediately attracted to the idea of attending an all-girls school. Those who are less sure soon realize the advantages of single-sex education once they are immersed in studies and social activities at Holy Cross. If your daughter has questions, encourage her to talk to Holy Cross girls, past and present, to get their perspectives. Many of our faculty and staff are alumnae, and our students are always our best ambassadors.

EMPHASIS ON FAITH AND COMPASSION Holy Cross is a Catholic, college-preparatory school with a faith tradition that reaches back to our founding in 1868 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Our four-year Christian Service program connects each girl with meaningful, rewarding opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others, and our Campus Ministry program provides spiritual support and fellowship.

ROBUST EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES One of our goals is to help girls mature into well-rounded young women, and we offer an array of activities to appeal to a wide range of interests and abilities. We are proud of our diverse and highly competitive sports program.

We field 26 teams in 17 sports, ranging from basketball and field hockey to golf and crew, and compete in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. From the class of 2012, 10 percent of graduates were signed to a

SAFE, CONVENIENT CAMPUS Holy Cross is located on a 28-acre campus just off Rockville Pike, two miles north of the Capital Beltway (I-495) and a short walk from the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station. The school is also served by several bus lines. Students spend their days on a beautiful, secluded campus that features plenty of green space, including two enclosed courtyards.

We encourage you to visit our campus if you have not already done so. We offer tours, an annual open house, and shadow visits. As you endeavor to choose the very best high school for your daughter, we stand ready to answer any questions you may have. Please be in touch, and thank you for considering The Academy of the Holy Cross.

T HE A CA DE MY O F THE HO L Y CR O SS

To Connecticut Avenue/ Route 185

Strathmore Avenue

To Rockville Pike/ Route 355

15 16

THE ACADEMY OF THE HOLY CROSS 1

Main/Entrance 1

12 Gym

2

Visitor Parking

13 Gym Lobby/Entrance 3

3

Chapel

14 Entrance 4

4

Library

15 Field 1

5

Courtyard

16 Field 2

6

Cafeteria

17 Softball Diamond

7

Auditorium

18 Field 3

8

Statue of the Blessed Mother

19 Field 4

9

Moreau Hall

20 Field 5

10 Theatre

21 Staff/Faculty Parking

11 Theatre Lobby/Entrance 5

22 Senior Parking

— 20 —

19

17

20

18

9 10

11

8 3 14

4 5

12

7 1

13

6

2

22

Shortcut to Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station

All-Girls

Grades 9–12

4920 Strathmore Avenue

301.942.2100

Kensington, MD 20895

AHCTARTANS.ORG

The Academy of the Holy Cross is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.