Mount Saint Joseph Academy Profile 2020-2021

PROFILE

THE POWER OF SISTERHOOD By offering a comprehensive education that seeks to nurture the academic, emotional, physical, social and spiritual facets of our young women, we watch the transformation of each Mountie as she finds herself and her place in a legacy of exceptional women leaders who stand ready to shape our ever-evolving world. We focus on four core pillars:

1. AGENTS OF TRANSFORMATION

Transformational education is more than simply the lessons taught within the classroom walls. Instead, it refers to highimpact educational practices that promote learning on a significantly deeper level through diverse and well-rounded

3. GLOBAL LEARNING

We strive to inspire a self-awareness in our students that they are part of a larger global community through curriculum, partnerships and programs designed to help them see the world from a much broader perspective.

experiences, with an emphasis on social responsibility.

2. INTENSIVE WRITING

We firmly believe the ability to write both critically and creatively is a skill that will sustain a young woman throughout her lifetime, thus a focus on comprehensive writing is woven throughout our course offerings and

4. COLLABORATIVE LEARNING

Our signature block scheduling model promotes collaborative learning across all disciplines, as students take only three or four subjects at a time, instead of the traditional six or seven.

extracurricular writing opportunities.

Spirituality and Service Through religious education, retreats, liturgies and communion services we celebrate our faith and the spirituality of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, in an effort to grow both individually and as a sisterhood in humility and charity. This focus on faith inspires in us a spirit of social responsibility and service in which we look beyond our own lives and reach out to people in need — the young and old, the homeless and abused, the sick, and, sometimes, one another.

COMMUNITY SERVICE CORPS Mount students carry on the legacy of the Academy founders by seeking out those in need of help and lending a hand through a variety of CSC programs, such as: Serving at soup kitchens Visiting the sick and elderly at various facilities Working with animal rescue organizations

Executing special collection and distribution projects

SELECTED RECENT COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES Boston College Boston Conservatory at Berklee Boston University Bowdoin College Brown University Bryant University Calvin University Clemson University Colgate University College of the Holy Cross Cornell University Dartmouth College Drexel University Fordham University

CAMPUS

Mount Saint Joseph Academy is situated on 78 acres in Springfield Township, Montgomery County. The picturesque campus lies just outside of Philadelphia.

Georgetown University Johns Hopkins University Lafayette College Lehigh University

ADMISSION

Admission is through a competitive examination. The Mount offers merit-based scholarships for academic achievement, service and the arts. Grants are offered to those who qualify and meet the requirements of the specific grant, while financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Manhattan School of Music New York University Northeastern University Oberlin Conservatory of Music Pennsylvania State University

BLOCK SCHEDULING

The Mount has operated on a “block,� or intensive, schedule for more than 20 years.

The school year is divided into two semesters. Students take 4-5 subjects per semester for a total of 8-10 subjects per school year. Most AP courses are held in an intensive block on alternating days for the length of the entire school year.

Princeton University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Savannah College of Art and Design Smith College Spelman College

CAMPUS MINISTRY

The Campus Ministry team is dedicated to finding creative and practical ways to integrate the values and charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph into various missionfocused experiences including liturgy, retreats, workshops and service opportunities.

Stevens Institute of Technology Syracuse University The College of William and Mary The George Washington University The Juilliard School The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

STUDENTS & FACULTY

University of Georgia

100%

of Mount graduates attend post-secondary institutions

10:1

Student to teacher ratio

90%

of faculty members hold advanced degrees

92%

of faculty members have full-time hours

237

492

86.5%

of students scored 3+

AP students

AP exams

University of Michigan University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Virginia Vanderbilt University Villanova University Virginia Military Institute Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University West Virginia University Wheaton College Xavier University

15 STUDENTS/CLASS AVG.

Academics CLASS RANK The Mount does not rank its students. This decision was derived from a philosophy which encourages care for the individual and feels class rank can be misleading in determining a student’s ability to successfully complete college work.

As the Mount has a selective student body and a rigorous college preparatory program, class rank is not an accurate measurement of individual achievement.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS 2020 AP SCORE SUMMARY 150

5

120

4

237

3

AP Students

492

AP Exams

90

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

60

3 National AP Scholars with an average score of 4.69

30 0

The class of 2020 had four finalists and eight commended.

AP SCORE SUMMARY COMPARED TO STATE & GLOBAL SCORES MSJA

PA

GLOBAL

237

77,275

2,812,144

Number of Exams

492

139,447

5,097,657

AP Students with Scores 3+

205

52,698

1,724,567

86.5%

68.2%

61.3%

Total AP Students

2020 TESTING PROFILE SAT SCORE RESULTS 2020 Maximum score: 1600

% of Students Scoring 3+

ERW

MATH

TOTAL

MSJA

654

639

1293

STATE

545

537

1082

NATIONAL/INTL

531

525

1059

NUMBER OF AP SCHOLARS AP Scholar

With Distinction

AVERAGE SCORE 3.30 AP Scholar 1 3.96 With Honor 2

31

ACT COMPOSITE SCORES MOUNT

STATE

75th Percentile

29

28

50th Percentile

26

24

18

34

4.18 With Distinction 3

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

2. 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.

3. 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.

77.6% of the Class of 2020 scored 3 or higher on at

least one AP exam at any point during high school.

With Honor

20 students took AP Calculus AB. 8 scored a 5, 5 scored a 4, and 7 scored a 3.

6 students took AP European History. All 6 scored 4

or higher. 4 students achieved a 5.

15 students took AP Physics C: Mechanics. All 15 scored a 4 or higher. 10 students achieved a 5.

COURSE WEIGHTING

SPECIAL CURRICULUM FEATURES

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

• Advanced Placement Program

• Women as Founders Seminar Course

• Diocesan Scholars Program:

• One-to-one iPad for all students

Dual enrollment agreement with local Catholic colleges & universities

• Co-curricular Robotics Team

• Student proficiency in Microsoft Office

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

• 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 they take in a given year

• 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)

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAMS

Honors / Accelerated Courses • Offer more in-depth study of specific subjects

• Art History

• Expanded opportunities for independent work • Freshmen students are limited to three honors courses

• Biology (2 credits) • Calculus AB • Calculus BC

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

• Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism • Physics C: Mechanics • Psychology

• Computer Science Principles

• Spanish

• English Literature & Composition

• Statistics • Studio Art

• European History

• U.S. Government & Politics

• French

• U.S. History

• Latin

• U.S. History: Colonial — 1877

• Music Theory

• U.S. History: 1877 — Present

• Physics 1: Algebra-Based

• World History • World History: Modern

GRADE EQUIVALENCY CHART

HONORS COURSES QUALITY/ POINT EQUIVALENT

QPE HONORS

QPE APE

NUMERICAL EQUIVALENCY

A

4.0

4.3

4.7

100-94

A-

3.7

4.0

4.3

93-91

GRADE

• Algebra I, II • American Literature • Anatomy & Physiology • Biology • British Literature

B+

3.3

3.7

4.0

90-88

• Chemistry I, II

B

3.0

3.3

3.7

87-85

B-

2.7

3.0

3.3

84-82

• Europe: 19th & 20th Centuries

C+

2.3

2.7

3.0

81-79

• Concepts of Physics

• Films of the ʼ50s & ʼ60s • Geometry

C

2.0

2.3

2.7

78-76

• Government, Politic & Economics

C-

1.7

2.0

2.3

75-74

• Human Geography

D+

1.3

1.7

2.0

73-72

• Independent Art

D

1.0

1.3

1.7

71-70

F

0.0

0.0

0.0

69-

• 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

OUR MISSION Mount Saint Joseph Academy, a college preparatory school, empowers young women to realize their fullest potential. Imbued with a spirit of unity and reconciliation, the charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Mount Saint Joseph Academy fosters excellence tempered by gentleness and compassion.

Enriched by the values of the Catholic Church, Mount Saint Joseph Academy offers academically rigorous programs, which challenge students to shape the future. In a student-centered, collaborative environment, Mount Saint Joseph Academy provides a holistic education with an emphasis on global responsibility.

Faithful to “educating founders,” Mount Saint Joseph Academy enables students to be agents of transformation in the face of moral and ethical challenges in an ever-evolving society. Trusting in the wisdom echoed by the Constitution of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the mission asserts, “On the education of women largely depends the future of society.”

Ready to find yourself at the Mount?

Our admissions team is here to answer any questions you may have and schedule a tour:

Visit admiss@msjacad.org or call 215.233.9133

120 W. Wissahickon Avenue, Flourtown, PA 19031