FAITH A COMMUNITY OF FAITH THAT WELCOMES AND EMBRACES ALL FAITH TRADITIONS DIVERSITY & INCLUSION A COMMUNITY THAT IS PURPOSEFULLY DIVERSE AND INTENTIONALLY INCLUSIVE ACADEMICS A COMMUNITY THAT IS PREPARING THINKERS AND LEADERS IN AN ACADEMICALLY ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT SERVICE A COMMUNITY MOTIVATED BY FAITH TO SERVE OTHERS
PURPOSELY DIVERSE, INTENTIONALLY INCLUSIVE FXW holds the pillars of diversity and inclusion as central to our School’s mission and the overall value of an FXW education. Situated in the heart of the Chicago metro area, we strive to maintain a community of belonging where diversity, equity, and inclusion thrive and all voices are heard and valued. Middle Eastern/North African or Native American/Alaska Native 2%
Geographic Information Northwest Chicago 31 Wrigleyville/Ravenswood/Lakeview 64
ASIAN/ SOUTH ASIAN 14%
MULTI-RACIAL 17%
Bucktown/Logan Square/ Irving Park 81 Lincoln Park 54 River North/Gold Coast 106
BLACK/ AFRICAN ASIAN AMERICAN 14% 15%
MULTIRACIAL
Garfield Park/Austin 4 West Loop/West Town 285 Downtown/Streeterville 35 South Loop/Chinatown/Bronzeville 71
17%
HISPANIC/ LATINX 7%
Kenwood/Hyde Park/South Shore 47 University Village/Pilsen/Bridgeport 45 Archer Heights/Midway 11
CAUCASIAN HISPANIC/ LATINX 45% 7%
South/Southwest Chicago 10 Southeast Chicago 4 Suburbs 18
28%
2023–2024 Tuition Assistance We empower children and families to reach for and achieve their dreams by providing over $1.9 million in need-based assistance. Average grant for the 2023–2024 school year is $11,100. 14%
Student Enrollment by Division: Preschool............................................................................... 114 students 10:1 Student:Teacher Ratio 20%
Kindergarten, Grades 1 & 2.............................. 248 students 12:1 Student:Teacher Ratio 16%
Grades 3, 4 & 5.................................................................245 students 21:1 Student:Teacher Ratio Grades 6, 7 & 8.................................................................259 students 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
14%
Over $15,100
Total Enrolled................................................... 866 students 12,100-15,000
$9,100–$12,000
$6,100–$9,000
$3,100–$6,000
$1,000–$3,000
8%
93% FXW student retention rate
FXW also partners with the Alvin D. Sims Scholarship program, the Children at the Crossroads Foundation, Empower Illinois and Horizons for Youth in securing need-based assistance.
FXW Faculty by the Numbers 92% faculty retention rate
74% of FXW teachers have over 5 years of teaching experience
Nearly half of FXW teachers have over 10 years of teaching experience
High School Acceptance FXW Classes 2022 and 2023 American School of Milan (Italy)
The Latin School of Chicago
Beacon Academy
Lincoln Park High School
The Cate School (California)
Loyola Academy
The Chicago Academy of the Arts
Mount Carmel High School
Chicago Hope Academy
Oak Park and River Forest High School
Cranbrook School (Michigan) De La Salle Institute
Nazareth Academy
DePaul College Prep
Radnor High School (Pennsylvania)
Episcopal High School (Virginia)
Saint Ignatius College Prep
Evanston Township High School
Senn High School
Fenwick High School
St. Rita of Cascia High School
Francis W. Parker School
University of Chicago Laboratory School
Hinsdale Central High School Jones College Prep
1,266 service hours completed by the Class of 2023
Walter Payton College Prep
Kenwood Academy High School
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
Lane Tech College Prep
Wolcott College Prep
94% of FXW graduates were accepted into their first choice Catholic high school Compared to the citywide average, FXW Graduates were 2X as likely to gain admission to a CPS Selective Enrollment High School
“The High School Guidance team is highly committed to individual students and families, and that commitment is reflected in the individual family meetings, as well as the guidance offered. The team does not push for a particular school, but rather, maintains a student-centered approach in their guidance.” —Class of 2023 Parent
THE VALUE OF AN FAITH FORMATION
SERVICE LEARNING
10 faith traditions represented at FXW 2 religion curriculums offered (Catholic and Multifaith)
31 Community outreach partner organizations 170 meals are prepared each week for Blessings in a
In the sacramental years, Grades 2-3 and 7-8, students participate in either a Catholic religion class (Moonbeams) or a multi-faith religion class (Shooting Stars). Based on a robust curriculum rooted in 6 Pillars of Faith, both curricula mirror one another with the Catholic students focusing much of their learning on First Communion (Grade 2), First Reconciliation (Grade 3), and Confirmation (Grades 7-8).
Service learning is a crucial part of students’ experiential education. Service projects aligned with our mission allow students to develop social consciousness and make a positive impact in the community. At each grade level, students apply their classroom knowledge to local agency projects, realizing they can make a difference in the world around them.
In Grades 1 and 4-6, students are grouped heterogeneously to increase their overall knowledge of Catholicism and how it connects and compares to the teachings of other faith traditions. For example, in Grade 6, all students learn about the stories of the Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures as well as the tenets and traditions of the Jewish Faith. A whole class Passover Seder, led by Jewish teachers, parents, and students, is a much-anticipated highlight of the year. In Grade 1, students study the prayerful spaces of their classmates, highlighting the common threads of reverence and community as well as honoring the unique characteristics of places of worship. Throughout the year, all students participate in interdenominational prayer services and masses as lived expressions of their faith experience. As an intentionally inclusive community, FXW School values the opportunity for multi-faith dialogue, which involves parental engagement, school-wide learning opportunities, and within the classroom, listening, learning and asking questions to further not only knowledge but also understanding. The celebration of Catholic holy days and seasons, as well as holy celebrations in other faith tradition, are part of our lived faith experience as well.
Pillars of Faith ♦ Tenants of Faith ♦ Liturgical Education: Rituals, Traditions, and Worship ♦ Morals, Ethics, and Values ♦ Prayer and Meditation ♦ Life, Community, and History ♦ Living the Legacy: Service and Social Justice
Backpack by FXW preschool and kindergarten students
Living the Legacy: FXW Community Service Through the Living the Legacy service program, FXW students and families consistently lend a helping hand to the Chicago community from serving meals and cleaning up parks to spreading holiday cheer.
FXW EDUCATION Technology n
G rades K-5 students utilize 1:1 classroom iPads
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G rades 6–8 students utilize 1:1 Surface Laptops
Technology at FXW is thoughtfully integrated to enhance students’ learning experiences. Faculty and students utilize technology to foster creativity, critical thinking, and mastery of concepts, empowering them to explore new ideas and produce original work. Technology serves as a tool to engage and inspire students, preparing them to be proficient problem-solvers.
Communicating Student Progress Student progress is communicated using various data sources, such as checklists, teacher observations, assessments, self-assessment, and portfolios. This information is shared through standards-based reports and parent/teacher conferences. The focus is on timely and clear communication, promoting shared responsibility for supporting student growth and development, considering the “whole child.”
Social Emotional Learning We aim to develop socially and emotionally competent children who can succeed in both school and life. Working alongside parents, our goal is to support children in developing self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills. This collaboration fosters a school culture where these skills and attitudes are practiced and embraced daily.
PRESCHOOL
3 & 4 year olds
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KINDERGARTEN, GRADE 1, 2
Primary School
Play as the foundation for all learning. The importance of social and emotional development with an emphasis on relationships, self-regulation, and initiative. Nurturing growth mindset and sense of belonging in the community of the classroom. Modeling and fostering the development of empathy and compassion to enhance relationships. Teaching critical thinking skills through discussing, questioning, and exploring. Providing choices to foster motivation to learn and to experience the joy of learning.
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Building body awareness by strengthening gross motor and fine motor muscles. Supporting the religious and spiritual faith of all children through prayer and music.
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Encouraging self-help skills to build independence and pride. Child readiness for learning with sensitivity to individual differenes and needs. Partnering with parents to establish goals in order to support and nurture children’s development.
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ur co-teaching model allows for more individual attention O and student support and enrichment in primary grades. iteracy classes consist of differentiated reading instruction L that instruct students from “Learning to Read” to “Reading to Learn.” I n math, students learn through collaboration and openended questions which allow them to gain confidence and discover various problem-solving strategies. ver time, students acquire the skills necessary to write O clearly, passionately and convincingly, while also developing an appreciation for a variety of writing genres geared toward authentic audiences. cience focuses on learning skills and building vocabulary S through a hands-on approach. tudents love school at this age, and teachers foster this love S of learning through lessons designed to provide relevant connections to the student’s own life experiences. tudents also explore Chicago through curriculumS connected field trips.
The Benefits of Multi-Age Preschool FXW Preschool classrooms adopt a multi-age structure, with 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children together. This approach is backed by compelling evidence demonstrating social and cognitive advantages for both the youngest and oldest students within this diverse learning environment. Younger students gain valuable insights by observing and learning from their older peers. Simultaneously, older students have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and engage in activities like mentoring, explaining, teaching, and sharing, which are more pronounced in comparison to same-age classroom settings. Furthermore, research underscores that students in multi-age classrooms exhibit enhanced emotional regulation and heightened sensitivity to the needs of their peers.
Community and Collaboration Highlights Pre-K—Blessings in a Backpack Service Learning Project K— Blessings in a Backpack Service Learning Project, Lambs Farm 1st— Catholic Extension “Make Your Dollar Grow” Service Learning Project 2nd— Misericordia—Sharing Life with Individuals with Intellectual & Developmental Differences 3rd— Veterans’ Support Projects
GRADE 3, 4, 5
GRADE 6, 7, 8
Lower School
Middle School
In Grades 3, 4, and 5…
In Grades 6, 7, and 8…
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tudents shift from the co-teaching model to a S developmentally appropriate single-teacher model and eventually rotate through a semi-departmentalized schedule starting in Grade 5. This encourages students to build independence, increase their executive functioning capabilities, and further develop their problem-solving skills. s students are still learning patience and perseverance, A their schedules provide a variety of academic experiences throughout the day.
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tudents use the foundation of concrete and pictorial math S strategies to create abstract methods in problem solving. iterature includes global themes of equity, social justice, L and empathy.
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s students further define their identity, collaborative work A and conversations play a large role in instructional strategies. cience is designed to nurture curiosity and develop inquiryS based theories. ocial Studies curriculum is designed from the NCSS S (National Council for Social Studies) focusing on the use of varied, diverse sources which supports investigation.
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Experiential Learning Highlights Grade 3—Chicago Architectural Cruise
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Grade 4—Discover Springfield, IL Grade 5—Dozin’ with the Dinos* *Indicates an overnight experience
Exploratory Day Each spring, Grade 4–8 students venture out into Chicago to experience all that the city has to offer. This day-long adventure allows students to choose from over 25 unique field trips—ex. museums, sporting events, cooking, kayaking, etc.
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Students continue to develop executive functioning skills, specifically in time management, as assignments and projects are given in a larger capacity to develop skills in planning ahead, setting goals, and meeting deadlines. Students continue to pursue the “why” behind what they are learning, while moving towards more abstract thinking in their problem-solving mathematical approach. Students continue using the readers and writers workshop model as they move into informational and argumentative writing, including units on Afrofuturism, resume writing, and an identity project. Students explore science concepts related to climate change and space, what it means to be “living” by delving into cells, genetics, and dissections, as well as physics through performance assessments, projects, and labs. In Social Studies, students develop an understanding of ancient history, world geography through themes related to each continent, as well as units on Chicago history and the U.S. Constitution. Students further develop communication skills through live debates as well as tech communication, presentations and podcasts. A ll FXW students are enrolled in an accelerated math program beginning in Grade 6. This means that students will complete four years of math instruction in three academic years. All Grade 8 students take Algebra I published by Open Up, which is a high school level course. Experiential Learning Highlights Grade 6—Irons Oaks Team Building & Explore Milwaukee* Grade 7—Explore St. Louis* Grade 8—Discover Washington, D.C.* *Indicates an overnight experience
The Frances Xavier Warde School is a Catholic elementary school in downtown Chicago that provides an academically excellent, valuesoriented education to students of all ethnic, religious, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds in a child-centered urban environment. As a keystone of its diverse community, The School provides need-based scholarships to 30 percent of its students, partners with its families, nurtures faith development for its Catholic students, and engages all students to learn about and respect other faith traditions. FXW follows a rigorous curriculum that enables students to grow, clarify their values, and develop decision-making skills and a sense of responsibility for themselves and the world they will inherit.
HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL CAMPUS
Campuses Preschool–Grade 3 Old St. Patrick’s Campus 120 S. Desplaines, Chicago IL 60661
Grades 4–8 Holy Name Cathedral Campus 751 N. State Street, Chicago IL 60654
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It is the policy of the School not to discriminate in violation of the law on the basis of age, race, sex, gender, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability which are unrelated to the ability to work or enjoy the benefits of the School’s programs, facilities, or services. All persons are encouraged to apply.