Admissions Brochure 2023-2024

OUR MISSION

Centered on Jesus Christ and faithful to the teaching of the Catholic Church, Mount de Sales Academy offers young women a college preparatory education that promotes flourishing of the whole person. Anchored in faith and rooted in the Visitation and Dominican traditions, the community of Mount de Sales Academy is committed to academic excellence, virtuous integrity, compassionate service, and the inherent dignity of the human person.

PROFILE OF A GRADUATE

MORALLY GROUNDED

She is rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She is able to defend and live her faith in a joyful manner. She knows how to apply moral principles based on a well-formed conscience. She values the dignity of human life. She is able to think for herself and to be a good decision maker. She has a strong sense of social justice.

ACADEMICALLY COMPETENT

She is academically prepared and proficient. She can communicate effectively in oral and written format. She is a life-long learner

CIVICALLY RESPONSIBLE

She is a leader with a strong moral compass. She is an active and responsible citizen. She values loyalty to her faith, family, school and community.

MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY BALANCED

She is able to balance commitments. She values physical and emotional wellness. She sets realistic goals and accepts challenges with confidence.

PERSONALLY AND SOCIALLY WELL DEVELOPED

She is socially confident, poised, reliable and responsible. She is self-motivated and generous of spirit. She is empathetic and respectful. She is committed to making a positive difference in the world.

DOMINICAN DIFFERENCE

Mount de Sales Academy was founded in 1852 by the Georgetown Visitation Sisters from Washington, D.C. The first Catholic institution in Baltimore County to offer education to young women of all denominations, Mount de Sales was a boarding school until 1933. It is now a day school for girls in grades 9-12.

The Dominican Sisters of the Saint Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, Tennessee have administered Mount de Sales since 1985 and fill the roles of principal and some of our faculty members.

The faithful presence of our Dominican Sisters makes a profound difference in the lives of our students as they help our young people to become strong, faith-filled, and confident young women for today’s world. With a gentle spirit, the Dominican Sisters joyfully share the truth of the Gospel, bringing others closer to Christ. They radiate happiness and share their academic expertise with the entire MDSA community.

“As our daughters progressed through their years at Mount de Sales, they learned a lot in their classes, but they also learned a tremendous amount from the Sisters. They learned how to be strong young women of faith. But the Sisters taught more than just our daughters, they taught us. Through the Sisters’ example of dedication to the education of the whole person, and by their way of living each day so joyfully, we desire so much more for our own daughters and ourselves. We all know that as our children grow, the worries grow with them so I appreciate the “instruction” I’ve gained by witnessing the Sisters. The Dominican Sisters will always hold a special place in our hearts not only because of the impact they have had on our daughters, but also because of the impact they have had on us.”

Karen, P’14 ’16 ’21

WHY ALL GIRLS?

• 96% of single-sex students said they receive more feedback on their course work.

• 95% feel supported by their teachers and 90% report feeling supported by other students.

• 87% of all-girls students say their opinion is respected at their school.

• 80% of all-girl students held leadership positions after graduating.

• 60% of single-sex graduates report higher self-esteem compared to their coed peers.

• All-girl graduates are 6 times more likely to pursue STEM Majors and 3 times more likely to consider engineering careers.

• 2/3 of all-girls students report that they expect to earn graduate or professional degrees.

Source: National Coalition of Girls Schools

“I cannot imagine a better educational experience for a young woman than the all-girls environment. Nothing else builds her confidence than the freedom to express herself in an accepting environment. As the Mount de Sales girl experiences that she is accepted and valued for her contributions, she becomes less afraid to volunteer an answer—and realizes that her questions are an important and valuable part of the learning environment. By senior year, she is confident and unafraid with her peers and teachers. When she goes to college, she will realize the gift she received at Mount de Sales. She was surrounded for four years by a community of encouraging young women, a bond that will last her entire life, and that gave her a confidence that will not be taken away.”

- Sister Albertine, O.P., MDSA Science Department

“Mount de Sales instills in you the true definition of love your neighbor as yourself. The girls here exude that spirit every day. We are each other’s strength.” – Abby D. ‘23

ACADEMICS

Four levels of classes are offered at Mount de Sales Academy:

College Preparatory Level 1: offered for those students needing skill development in English or Math as they build up to the Level 2 program.

College Preparatory Level 2: offered for those students performing at grade level in a college preparatory environment.

Honors: available for students performing above grade level who seek a greater level of challenge and a more demanding workload.

Advanced Placement: available for those junior and senior students who wish to undertake a rigorous college-level workload with the hope of gaining college credit. Students in AP courses are required to take examinations given by the College Board in the spring.

Honor Societies:

International Thespian Honor Society

National Art Honor Society

National English Honor Society

National French Honor Society

National History Honor Society

National Honor Society

National Honor Society for Dance Arts

National Latin Honor Society

National Mathematics Honor Society

National Spanish Honor Society

Science National Honor Society

Tri M Music Honor Society

MDSA Graduation Requirements

English Credits 4

Religion Credits 4

Mathematics Credits 4

Lab Science Credits 3

Social Science Credits 3

Foreign Language Credits 2

Philosophy Credits 2

Elective Credits 2

Fine Arts Credit 1

Physical Education Credit 1

ACADEMIC POINTS OF PRIDE

• MDSA has been a recipient of the Catholic Education Honor Roll School of Excellence Award every year since 2004.

• MDSA course catalog includes 38 Honors classes and 14 AP courses as well as 20 Fine Arts opportunities.

• 34 AP Scholars

• 73% of students who took AP exams scored 3 or higher (on at least 1 AP exam), exceeding the Maryland and global averages.

• 6 Knott Scholars

STUDENT SUPPORT

School and College Counseling are an integral part of every student’s experience at Mount de Sales. Counselors work with all students individually, in small groups, and in the classroom to support them in their academic, personal, social, and emotional growth and college/career readiness. Counselors take a collaborative approach with school community members, creating programming that is developmentally appropriate and addresses students’ unique needs.

The Sacred Heart Program

The Sacred Heart Program provides academic support through small group and individualized instruction in executive skills to meet the needs of college-bound students with identified learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD.

The primary goals of the program are to enable each of our students to discover her learning strengths, build on these strengths, and become a strong advocate for her own education. Accommodations provided are individualized to the needs of each student in the program and based on a full educational-psychological evaluation.

SH students make up 13% of student body at MDSA

Average Seminar Class Size: 4-5 students

Percent of SH students who applied to fouryear colleges accepted to at least one: 100% since 2017

College Counseling

College Counseling helps students to look within themselves for clues as to what will be important in the search for an appropriate post-high school experience. The objectives are to address individual college needs and ensure that each Mount de Sales student is an active, energetic and investigative participant in the process.

Starting in junior year, Mount de Sales students and their families will work with the college counselor to navigate the college process. This includes:

• Annual Mount de Sales Academy & Mount Saint Joseph College High School College Fair

• Junior College Visit Day

• Individual Meetings and Group Lessons with College Counselor

• College Essay & Application Workshops

• Use of Naviance Family Connection

• Visits & Presentations by College Representatives

• Financial Aid Night

• Informational Parent Coffees for Junior & Senior Parents

• Guidance on Choosing Best Plan for Standardized Testing

• Each family is given a handbook on the College Process at Mount de Sales.

Accomplishments OF THE CLASS OF 2023

62 colleges and universities

13 Catholic universities ATTENDING

2 IVY LEAGUE matriculations

COURSES

ENGLISH

Literary Genre Survey I

Literary Genre Survey II

American Literature

AP English - Language & Composition

British Literature

AP English - Literature & Composition

Creative Writing: Various Genres

Study of the Holocaust

Survey of African American Literature

Faith and Culture Seminar

RELIGION

Scripture and Doctrine

Sacraments and Morality

Christology and Discipleship

Apologetics and the Call to Holiness

PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy of the Human Person

Introduction to Ethics

Applied Ethics

Philosophy Seminar

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

French I, II, III, IV

AP French

Latin I, II, III, IV, V

Spanish I, II, III, IV

AP Spanish

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Physical Education

Health

Dance Fitness

Lifetime Fitness

Conditioning for Athletes

MATH

Algebra I

Geometry

Algebra II

College Algebra

Statistics

Precalculus

Calculus

AP Calculus AB

AP Calculus BC

AP Statistics

Personal Finance

History of Mathematics

SCIENCE

Biology

AP Biology Chemistry

AP Chemistry

Anatomy & Physiology

Marine Science

Environmental Science

Forensic Science

Physics

Honors Research in Science

STEM Explorations

Introduction to Computer Science

AP Computer Science

FINE ARTS

Line and Color

Graphic Communications

Honors Portfolio

Honors Advanced Portfolio

Honors Independent Portfolio

Form and Sculpture

Fiber Arts

Yearbook

Acting 1

Honors Acting Ensemble

Theatre Arts

Chorus

Honors Concert Choir

Symphonic Orchestra

Honors Advanced Orchestra

Honors Chamber Ensemble

Dance Fundamentals

Ballet Technique

Modern Dance

Honors Dance Company

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Western Civilization

American Government

United States History

Modern United States History

AP United States History

AP U.S. Government and Politics

AP World History

Geography and Global Issues

Psychology

AP Psychology

Introduction to Economics

Academic Spotlight: Philosophy Program

The philosophy program, unique to Mount de Sales, offers students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and to apply timeless principles to today's questions. Students are encouraged to become thinkers by using the harmony of faith and reason to come to logical conclusions. Throughout the program, students explore:

• Essential questions of what it is to be human and what accounts for the dignity and the destiny of every person

• Philosophical reflections on what makes actions good and how virtue leads to true and lasting happiness

• Bioethical questions as well as questions of pursuing the good, the true, and the beautiful in work and leisure

• Primary source readings from the thinkers who shaped western philosophy and whose perennial insights still enrich the pursuit of wisdom today

“Our Philosophy of the Human Person class taught me to ask questions more fundamental than I ever had before and to take arguments to their root to find the truth.”

-Jane C. ‘22

FAITH & SERVICE

Anchored in Faith

Learning and living the Catholic faith, and participating in its liturgical and sacramental life, is at the center of the mission lived out daily at Mount de Sales Academy.

Students have an open invitation to keep Our Lord at the center of their lives by visiting the Chapel of St. Francis de Sales, appropriately located in the heart of the school.

Service

Charity is the greatest of all virtues, and we encourage every member of the Mount de Sales community to give of herself in order to draw closer to the heart of Christ. Students discover their gifts and the joy of giving as they practice the spiritual and corporal works of mercy within the Mount de Sales community, in the surrounding region, and even beyond our borders.

Religious and Service Opportunities Include

• First Friday All-School Masses

• Monthly Reconciliation and Adoration

• Vibrant Campus Ministry

• Daily Prayer

• Annual Retreats

• Canned Food Drives

• Adopting Families for Christmas

• Mercy Nights

• Pro-Life Marches

• Lenten Projects

• Bag Lunches for the Homeless

• Leadership Workshops

• Living Rosary

• Youth Conferences and Retreats

STUDENT LIFE

The school spirit at Mount de Sales Academy is evidenced by three characteristics: mutual respect, personal responsibility, and support for one another and for the school as a whole. These qualities help to build and nurture a sense of belonging for every Mount de Sales girl. Students have many opportunities to develop leadership skills and explore current and new interests. The school community bonds during annual treasured tradtions such as Fall Festival, Big Sister and Little Sister lunches, and Spirit Day.

Examples of current clubs:

Academic

Architecture, Construction, Engineering

Art Club

Environmental Club

Medical Club

Mock Trial

Newspaper/Publication Club

Robotics Club

Leadership

Academy Ambassadors

Dream Club

Mock Trial

Guardians of Life

Sodality

Student Council

Special Interest:

Style Club

Dance Club

Drama Club

Support the Troops

Ultimate Frisbee

Wellies Club

FINE ARTS

Mount de Sales offers classes in visual arts, theatre, dance, choral music, instrumental music, and graphic communication. Sharing real-world experience and passion, the fine arts faculty encourages their students to identify and refine their talents.

Visual Arts

One goal with our visual arts students is to help them understand why their instinctive skills are able to create beautiful quality works and what concepts are at play when they create and design.

Mount de Sales graduates attend some of the nation’s most outstanding art institutions and have gone on to major in medical illustration, graphic design, animation, illustration, architecture and industrial design.

Theatre and Dramatic Arts

Housed in the campus’ new Center for Performing Arts and Student Life, drama classes provide opportunities to develop both performance technique and technical skills. The curriculum promotes self-awareness, confidence, and the use of careful analysis for expressive choices.

Music

Vocal and instrumental music courses cultivate appreciation for a wide variety of musical genres and traditions. Students work to advance the technical skills necessary to become proficient and confident performers while also reinforcing the tools necessary to read music effectively.

Dance

Dance students at Mount de Sales acquire technique skills through participation in a variety of classical and contemporary dance forms. Students have the opportunity to create dance by learning and applying current trends in composition.

Dance program alumnae have studied at prestigious college dance programs, such as University of the Arts and Towson University, as well as joined internationally renowned dance companies.

ATHLETICS

Mount de Sales believes fair play, good sportsmanship and teamwork are an important part of each student’s growth toward maturity. Athletics promotes school spirit and provides a unique opportunity to nurture respect for our athletes, opponents, fans and coaches — all of which are means of imitating Christ in our daily lives. The Sailors are charter members of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM).

More than 50% of Mount de Sales students participate in the athletic program.

FALL SPORTS

Cheerleading (V)

Cross Country (V)

Field Hockey (JV & V)

Mountain Bike (V)

Soccer (JV & V)

Tennis (JV & V)

Volleyball (JV & V)

WINTER SPORTS

Basketball (JV & V)

Cheerleading (V)

Indoor Track & Field (V)

Swimming (V)

SPRING SPORTS

Golf (V)

Lacrosse (JV & V)

Outdoor Track & Field (V)

Softball (JV & V)

“The rigorous education at Mount de Sales serves two purposes. The curriculum broadens each student’s knowledgebase, allowing them to walk into any room and have an intelligent, well-rounded conversation. It also cultivates a skill set that is used every day as an adult. The assignments that are given mirror what we do in our careers now.” – London S. ’16

DISTANCE IS NO OBSTACLE.

BUS SERVICE

Mount de Sales partners with Mount Saint Joseph High School on bus services. Current routes service families in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, and Howard counties.

CARPOOLS

Mount de Sales helps enrolled families coordinate carpools by providing contact information upon request starting in the spring each year.

Our students come from:

127 PLACES OF WORSHIP

82 SCHOOLS

Typical Freshman Schedule

Literary Genre Survey I (English)

Western Civilization (Social Science)

Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II (Mathematics)

Biology (Science)

98 ZIP CODES

Spanish, French or Latin (Foreign Language)

Scripture and Doctrine (Religion)

Intro to Philosophy (Philosophy)

Fine Arts class or P.E./Health class (Elective)

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

TUITION

The Board of Trustees and Administration of Mount de Sales are committed to keeping Catholic education affordable. We offer need-based financial aid and a variety of scholarships to ensure our school remains accessible to young women everywhere. We also accept scholarships from third parties, such as parish organizations.

$17,675 Tuition for 2023-24

$4,820 Sacred Heart Program Fees for 2023-24

49% of Mount de Sales families are receiving financial aid during the 2023-24 school year

SCHOLARSHIPS FROM MDSA AND SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIPS

St. Francis de Sales Scholarship

St. Thomas Aquinas Scholarship

Anchor Scholarship

St. Cecilia Music Scholarship

Fra Angelico Art Scholarship

St. Martin de Porres Scholarship

Guardians of Life Scholarship

Semper Fi Scholarship

Cupola Grant

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Grant

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Fill out an inquiry form

•Schedule your Sailor Visit and Parent Tour

•Attend Open House on November 5, 2023

•Take High School Placement Test

•Submit admissions application and scholarship applications by December 15, 2023

•Complete FACTS application for tuition assistance by January 5, 2024

MDSA Admissions Team

Mattie Wood '04 Director of Admissions

mwood@mountdesales.org

410-744-8498 x270

Jen Blake '15

Assistant Director of Admissions

jblake@mountdesales.org

410-744-8498 x276

Mount de Sales Academy for Girls does not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policy, athletic or other school administered programs.

When applying, applicants “understand and acknowledge that receiving the application does not constitute a commitment by Mount de Sales Academy, and that Mount de Sales Academy may deny admission if they determine that enrollment of the Applicant in the Academy would not be appropriate.”

All acceptances are conditional upon the successful completion of eighth grade. All decisions regarding the acceptance of a student into Mount de Sales Academy are done with the highest emphasis placed on what is in the best interest of the individual girl.

"Be who you are and be that well." - St. Francis de