Mount Saint Joseph Academy Profile: 2019-2020

P R O F I L E

At Mount Saint Joseph Academy, we believe that “on the education of women largely depends the future of society,” and therefore educates young women to be transformational leaders, steeped in the tenets of service to the dear neighbor.

Agents of Tr ansformation Transformational education is not just about the lessons taught in the classroom. It is about high-impact educational practices that promote learning on a significantly deeper level. This is the differentiator that is at the core of the Mount Saint Joseph education.

Diversity and Global Learning

Intensive Writing Not restricted to English courses, Mount students experience comprehensive writing across various disciplines such as Theology, Social Studies, Business & Technology, and various Arts offerings. Mount also provides extracurricular writing opportunities including: • The Campanile: student-produced newspaper • The Muse: student-produced literary magazine

Collabor ative Learning

The Mount offers multiple courses focused on global learning, including: • World Literature Themes • Music & Cultural Identity • World Religions There are also extra-curricular • Human Geography activities focused on global issues: • Genocide in History • Diversity Club • A.P. World History • Model United Nations • Mock Trial

Block scheduling at the Mount promotes collaborative learning across all disciplines. Longer classes allow students to delve deeper into topics and lessons, and also allows them to spend time in smaller groups to discuss and debate. Team-based assignments are common and group study is encouraged.

Service Leadership “Women as Founders” course Committed to empowering young women through both education and hands-on service, this capstone course explores the women’s reform movement and current women’s issues. Students research how women have influenced society for the common good. Culminating senior project topics ranging from local and global service projects to youth leadership and self-image endeavors to women in science initiatives are presented to the Mount community during Women As Founders Week.

Community Service Corps Mount students carry on the legacy of the Academy’s founders by seeking out those in need of help and who are marginalized in society. Some examples of CSC programs include: • Serving at soup kitchens • Visiting the sick and elderly at various facilities • Working with animal rescue organizations • Special collection and distribution projects

Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph Student Leadership Conference Each summer, Mount students have the opportunity to attend this service and leadership workshop with students from other SSJ-sponsored schools across the country. They attend sessions on leadership, relationships, environmental justice, and service to the dear neighbor and then participate in various community service projects in their host city.

Campus

Block Scheduling

78acres

Mount Saint Joseph Academy is situated on in Springfield Township, Montgomery County. The picturesque campus lies just outside of Philadelphia.

Admission Admission is through a competitive examination.

Scholarships for academic achievement, service, and the arts are available. All are based on merit. Grants are offered to those who qualify for financial aid and meet the requirements of the specific grant. Financial aid is also available for those who qualify.

The Mount has operated on a “block,” or intensive, schedule for more than 20 years. The school year is divided into two terms; students take 3 or 4 subjects per term for a total of 7 or 8 per school year. Students are assigned their courses each year and may not choose which semester to take certain courses. Most AP courses are held in an intensive block on alternating days for the length of the entire school year.

Campus Ministry The Campus Ministry team at Mount Saint Joseph Academy is dedicated to finding creative and practical ways to lace the values and charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph into various mission-focused experiences including: • Liturgy • Retreats • Opportunities to “serve the dear neighbor” • • CSSJ Leadership Workshops •

“To live and work so that all people may be united with God and with one another.”

Class R ank Mount St. Joseph Academy does not rank its students. This decision was derived from a philosophy which encourages care for the individual. As the Mount has a selective student body and a rigorous college preparatory program, class rank is not an accurate measurement of individual achievement. Further, class rank can also be misleading in determining a student’s ability to successfully complete college work.

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGR AM

Advanced Placement Examinations AP Score Summary for 2019

Class of 2019

4 Finalists 12 Commended

Total AP Students at MSJA: Total exams:

5

4

3

Number of Exams

87

111

153

Percentage of Total Exams

21

26

36

Number of AP Students

57

78

112

AP SCORE

NATIONAL HISPANIC RECOGNITION PROGR AM

2.5%

Two students scored in the top on the PSAT/NMSQT among all Hispanic and Latino test-takers in the region.

2019 Testing Profile SAT results 2019 (maximum score: 1600) ERW

MATHEMATICS

TOTAL

MSJA

632

617

1250

STATE

545

537

1082

National International

531

525

1059

(score range: 1-36) MOUNT

AP Score Summary compared to State and Global Scores MSJA

PA

GLOBAL

Total AP Students

193

77,275

2,812,144

Number of Exams

448

139,447

5,097,657

AP Students with Scores 3+

171

52,698

1,724,567

% of Total AP Students with Scores 3+

88.6

68.2

61.3

AP Scholars Total Scholars:

Number of Scholars Average Score

ACT Composite Scores

421

193

88

Average Score:

3.89

AP SCHOLAR

AP SCHOLAR WITH HONOR

AP SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION

42

14

32

3.43

3.84

4.18

AP Scholars received scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.

STATE

75th Percentile

29

28

50th Percentile

26

24

AP Scholars with Honor received scores of 3 or higher on four or more AP Exams and an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken.

AP Scholars with Distinction received scores of 3 or higher on five or more AP exams and received an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken.

90.1%

HIGHLIGHTS Eighteen Eight Twenty-two

scored 3 or higher on at

of the Class of 2019 least one AP Exam at any point during high school.

students took

Eight

students took

Calculus AB. Three

AP European History. All eight

students took

All twenty-two scored a

Seven students achieved

4, and seven scored a 3.

students achieved a 5.

3 or higher.

a 5.

students took

scored a 5, eight score a

scored 3 or higher. Seven

AP AP Physics. All nine Computer Science. scored a 4 or higher.

Faculty The faculty at the Mount is composed of both Sisters of Saint Joseph and lay teachers: 49 full time and 4 part-time.

The majority of faculty members (90%) holds advanced degrees.

SPECIAL CURRICULUM FEATURES • Advanced Placement Program • Diocesan Scholars Program: Dual enrollment agreement with local Catholic colleges and universities • Co-curricular Robotics Team • Women as Founders Seminar Course • One-to-one iPad for all students • Student proficiency in Microsoft Office GR ADUATION REQUIREMENTS Theology (4 years) English (4 years) Physical Education (1 credit) Mathematics (3 credits) Science (3 lab sciences) Social Studies (3 credits) Foreign Language (3 consecutive years /same language) Fine Arts (1 credit) Computer Literacy (.5 credit) Health Education (.5 credit)

Students

Student : Teacher ratio

15

100%

Average Class Size

of Mount graduates attend post-secondary institutions

Course Weighting Courses are weighted according to the degree of challenge presented to students. Major courses are classified as Advanced Placement, Honors/Accelerated, or College Preparatory.

An overview of these course types are as follows: Advanced Placement Courses • AP Courses are offered to grades 10-12 • AP Exam is mandatory • AP courses are taken throughout the entire school year • Due to the academic rigor of our school and our holistic approach to education, we highly recommend that students limit the number of AP courses that they take in a given year.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGR AMS

Honors/Acceler ated Courses

Art History Biology (2 credits) Calculus AB Calculus BC Computer Science Principles English Literature & Composition European History French Latin Music Theory Physics 1: Algebra-Based Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism

• Offer more in-depth study of specific subjects • Expanded opportunities for independent work • Freshmen students are limited to three honors courses

Physics C: Mechanics Psychology Spanish Statistics Studio Art U.S. Government & Politics U.S. History U.S. History: Colonial-1877 U.S. History: 1877-Present World History World History: Modern

• Provide students with the skills and knowledge imperative for college success • All major courses not otherwise designated are College Preparatory

Gr ading Equivalencies

HONORS COURSES Algebra I, II American Literature Anatomy & Physiology Biology British Literature Chemistry I, II Concepts of Physics Europe: 19th & 20th Centuries Films of the ’50s &’60s Geometry Government, Politics, & Economics Human Geography Independent Art

College Prepar atory Courses

Introduction to Writing & Literature Language III, IV Modern Europe Music Theory Physiology Pre-Calculus Theater Workshop U.S. History: 20th Century-Cold War U.S. History: Korean War-Present Women As Founders World History

GRADE QUALITY/POINT QPE HONORS QPE AP NUMERICAL EQUIVALENT EQUIVALENCY

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F

4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.0

4.3 4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.7 1.3 0.0

4.7 100-94 4.3 93-91 4.0 90-88 3.7 87-85 3.3 84-82 3.0 81-79 2.7 78-76 2.3 75-74 2.0 73-2 1.7 71-70 0.0 69-

Selected Recent College Acceptances Amherst College Barnard College Boston College Boston University Brown University Bucknell University California Polytechnic State University Carnegie Mellon University Clemson University Colgate University College of the Holy Cross College of William & Mary Columbia University Dartmouth College Duke University Fordham University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Harvard University Haverford College Johns Hopkins University Lafayette College Lehigh University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University Maryland Massachusetts Institute of Technology New York University Princeton University Rensselaer Polytechnic University Stanford University Stevens Institute of Technology Swarthmore College Syracuse University University of California, Los Angeles University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Richmond University of Southern California University of Virginia Vanderbilt University Villanova University Wake Forest University Wellesley College Williams College

120 West Wissahickon Avenue I Flourtown, PA 19031-1899 I 215-233-3177 www.msjacad.org

Administration:

"On the education of women largely depends the future of society.�

interim president: Sr. Mary Dacey, SSJ, M.A. principal: Judith A. Caviston, Ed.D. dean of studies: Donald Holdren, M.S.Ed. dean of student affairs: Kathleen Guyger, M.Ed.

Guidance:

director of guidance: Amy Balcer, M.S. school counselor: Lisa Boyle, M.S. Jonathan Fabrey, M.S. Mary Francis Traywick, M.A. academic coach: Rosemary Salvo, M.S.