The Academic Program

St. Sebastian’s is a school, whose primary mission is to educate. We believe that all young persons are fundamentally good, uniquely created, and eager to be fully engaged in the learning process. St. Sebastian’s seeks to develop graduates who will pursue truth for its own sake.

The unusually small classes stimulate honest discussion, allow for individual attention, create an intimate learning community, and foster the pursuit of truth. The academic program is rigorous and flexible. The faculty is both demanding and caring and provides each student with the structure and support he needs to develop as a thinker. Our entire liberal arts curriculum is centered on meeting the needs of the individual student. The faculty is devoted to ensuring the success of each student in this intellectually challenging environment.

The job of the student at St. Sebastian’s is first and foremost to learn, to love learning. From the computer room to the biology lab, from the library to the writing center, from Honors U.S. History to Advanced Placement Latin or Spanish, from Religion papers to Math problems, each student is given every opportunity to become well educated. Through the relentless pursuit of excellence in all academic endeavors, he will form the habit of learning and become what the School hopes for him—a lifelong learner.

In order to help our students become lifelong learners we have developed a traditional, focused, classical academic program. The curriculum is based upon the belief that students need to develop the necessary skills and habits to think critically and clearly, and to express themselves articulately and persuasively in both the written and spoken word. We want our students to develop the capacity to reason mathematically and scientifically, and to solve problems logically. The structure of our academic program encourages them to make connections between disciplines and to draw inferences about the interrelationships of ideas.

The School’s curriculum is based on a clear philosophy that students are best served by courses that enable them to explore core subjects in great depth. Rather than offer a cornucopia of electives, which tend to foster a disjointed academic experience, the St. Sebastian’s curriculum features thoughtfully prescribed courses in every discipline, building a strong foundation for future study.

Because of our classical and focused curriculum, our students are well prepared for the rigors of the most competitive colleges and universities in the nation, and ready to meet the challenges which life will inevitably present to them.

ADVANCED COURSES AND SEMINARS AP Art History AP Art 2D AP Art 3D AP Biology AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC Multivariable Calculus: Advanced Seminar AP Chemistry AP Computer Science AP English Language AP English Literature AP Latin Latin V: Advanced Seminar AP Modern European History AP Music Theory AP Physics 2 AP Physics C AP Spanish Language AP Spanish Literature Spanish: Advanced Seminar AP Statistics AP Studio Art AP U.S. Government AP U.S. History

“Our students gain admission to and suceed in the finest colleges and universities in the country. But our hopes and dreams for them transcend academic success: we want them to be honorable, courageous and virtuous men who will dedicate their lives in generous service to others.” - Michael Nerbonne

Assistant Headmaster and Dean of Studies

Michael P. Nerbonne, who joined the St. Sebastian’s faculty in 1986, currently serves the School as Assistant Headmaster and Dean of Studies. He earned his B.A. at the College of the Holy Cross, graduating summa cum laude, and later earned his M.A. at the University of Michigan. A member of the Classics Department and a teacher of ancient Greek, Mr. Nerbonne oversees the School’s academic program and works closely with both students and faculty to ensure that each student is fully challenged and supported. He also coaches the School’s Debate Team.