Academics

Saint Francis School is a fully-accredited, non-sectarian, coed, college-preparatory school. The school comprises the Elementary School (grades K – 5), the Middle School (grades 6 – 8), and the High School (grades 9 – 12).

MISSION

The mission of Saint Francis School is to provide a college preparatory program to students with diverse academic ability in a structured environment that is challenging and supportive.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

  • Courses are offered on multiple levels: AP/ Honors, Traditional, and Support.
  • Small class settings
  • Multi-modal presentations
  • Assistive technology
  • Solid preparation in reading/literature, mathematics, science, and history
  • Significant emphasis on developing strong writing skillsgood organizational habits, and study techniques as well as problem solving and critical thinking skills
  • Additional instructional opportunities include: art, music, drama, physical education, library, guidance, and technology
  • Homework-study time at the end of the school day allows students to begin their homework and receive assistance from their teachers

UNIQUENESS OF THE PROGRAM

  • Low teacher-pupil ratio permits us to maximize learning potential in all curriculum areas.
  • Accommodates different ability levels within the student body
  • Recognizes that students learn in different ways and that a school must focus its academic presentation to meet the learning strengths of the student.
  • Challenges each and every student to the maximum of his or her ability and offers the support necessary as they prepare for college
  • Structure, organization, and process are the hallmarks of Saint Francis’ mission

TEACHING OBJECTIVES

Saint Francis School’s overriding goal is to provide a program where students are challenged and supported.  Achievement of this goal requires tremendous commitment on the part of the teaching faculty, for each child is unique and can have different needs for different subjects or even within the different subskills of a singular subject.  Our task as educators is to address the needs and challenges while moving the student through a college preparatory curriculum.  The strategies we utilize to meet these objectives are as follows:

  •  Present materials in a multi-modal fashion that recognizes students have  different levels of processing ability. 

  • To supplement presentations with supportive aides such as note cards, study guides, mapping charts, practice tapes, fact practice sheets, etc. to allow students to get the most out of class presentations as well as providing maximum assistance for home study

  • Present material in reasonable segments so that new concepts can be clearly understood and fully internalized

  • Assign reasonable amounts of homework in each area so that skills taught in school can be practiced at home

  • Build review and reinforcement into our teaching strategies so that students can better retain and internalize presented material

  • Follow the curriculum outlines as designated by the subject coordinators so that a sense of consistency is established on each grade level and a sense of continuity is established from one grade level to the next

  • Recognize that development of appropriate thinking, reading and writing skills are our primary academic objectives and are the responsibility of every staff member

  • Recognize that development of appropriate organizational and study skills are key elements to a successful academic program and must be practiced in each and every classroom

ACCREDITING AGENCIES AND MEMBERSHIPS

Saint Francis is accredited by Cognia, Advanced Ed, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), and is a member of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) and the Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools (AAAIS).