OUR CAMPUS
Students
ACADEMIC LIFE
Choosing the Mount means distinctive opportunities that empower students to boldly lead as future founders. A personalized and dynamic curriculum allows the young women in our care to engage in collaborative STEM learning, participate in college-level courses, serve others while gaining research experience—and much more.
BENEFITS OF THE BLOCK
Our collegiate-inspired block scheduling has become a definitive part of a distinctive Mount education, having operated on this schedule for more than 20 years. Traditionally, a high school student takes eight 40 minute classes every day, all school year. At the Mount, we redistribute that time in order to give our students a comprehensive and engaging education.
Modeling college schedules, the Mount school year is divided into two semesters and classes are held in four 76 minute blocks for each half of the school year. 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.
What students say about the Block:
“In grade school my classes were 45 minutes and looking back on it, I remember during math class we would check homework and then go to start a new lesson and we’d have 10 minutes left. We never actually got much done so then I’d have a ton of math work for homework.”
-Senior Student
“The block schedule is so helpful because you’re able to check your homework, ask your teacher questions and collaborate with your classmates in ways that help you to delve deeper into subjects. It also helps because you’re not reteaching yourself lessons at home — you actually learn a complete lesson in your 80 minute block. I love the block!”
-Senior Student
A Mountie School Day
WELCOME PRAYER & PLEDGE 8:15 BLOCK 1 8:15 - 9:33 ADVISORY 9:36 - 10:02
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Mount Saint Joseph Academy requires 28 credits for graduation (at least 7 credits per year).
CREDITS EARNED INCLUDE
4 (1 credit per year)
4 (1 credit per year)
(3 distinct classes fulfill this requirement unless given special accommodation)
HONORS & AP
28 HONORS COURSES OFFERED
22 AP COURSES OFFERED
SPECIAL COURSES AND CURRICULAR FEATURES:
Diocesan Scholars Program: Dual enrollment agreement with local Catholic colleges and universities
Women as Founders Seminar Course: A mission-aligned course where students select a research project centered around a social issue of personal significance
Integrated math and science curriculum where teachers collaborate to effectively teach the subjects together
Principles of Engineering and Design course
4 & ANNOUNCEMENTS 1:44 - 3:00
FRESHMAN CLASSES INCLUDE:
Theology I English I
Exploring Technology
SSJ Mission: Laced in Legacy Science
Language elective Art, Choral, Instrumental Ensemble, etc.
Some students may add a second level of mathematics and/or language
Print and Broadcast Journalism courses
For a full list of classes, view msjacad.org/academics