Academics

At Sacred Heart Area School, our academics are rooted in Catholic Christian virtues, fostering a love of learning, academic excellence, and the development of the whole child ~ mind, body, and spirit.

WCEA Accreditation: A Commitment to Excellence

Sacred Heart Area School is proud to have earned full accreditation with a Status of Candidacy from the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA). This accreditation marks an exciting milestone in our school’s journey, signifying our commitment to providing a high-quality, faith-based education.

WCEA is a respected organization that sets high standards for academic excellence, faith formation, and operational quality in Catholic schools. Schools accredited by WCEA must meet rigorous criteria, ensuring they offer a well-rounded education that nurtures both academic success and spiritual growth. This accreditation also connects us to a network of Catholic schools dedicated to continuous improvement and high educational standards.

Being accredited by WCEA allows Sacred Heart Area School to proudly display our dedication to offering the best possible education for your child. We are also able to list our WCEA accreditation with SEVIS for those applying for F-1 student visas.

At Sacred Heart, we are committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment where your child can thrive academically and spiritually. We invite you to be part of our school community, where excellence, faith, and continuous growth are at the heart of everything we do. Enroll today and give your child the opportunity to grow and succeed in a school that is committed to their future!

Mission

At Sacred Heart Area School, we are dedicated to nurturing the whole person by integrating our Catholic faith in Christ into every aspect of our students' lives. We strive to foster both spiritual and academic growth within a compassionate and supportive environment. Through our commitment to love and respect for all, we aim to inspire each student to achieve their fullest potential and to live out the Gospel values in service to others.

Philosophy

Sacred Heart Area School believes that education is a journey of faith, knowledge, and service. Rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church, we are committed to developing each student's spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth. We believe that a strong faith foundation enhances academic excellence and that every child is a unique gift from God, deserving of respect, encouragement, and the opportunity to succeed.

Our philosophy is guided by the following principles:

Faith Integration: We infuse Catholic values and teachings into our curriculum, helping students to deepen their relationship with Christ and to understand their role in the broader Church community.

Academic Excellence: We provide a rigorous and dynamic academic program that challenges students to think critically, solve problems, and pursue lifelong learning.

Character Development: We emphasize the importance of moral integrity, responsibility, and service, encouraging students to lead lives of compassion and justice.

Community and Respect: We create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere where every student, family, and staff member is valued and treated with dignity and kindness.

Service to Others: We encourage students to live out their faith through acts of service, understanding that their education calls them to be leaders and contributors to a just and caring world.

By living out these principles, Sacred Heart Area School seeks to prepare our students not only for academic success but for a life of faith-filled service and leadership in the world.

Philosophy of Assessment

At Sacred Heart Area School, our approach to assessment is deeply rooted in our Catholic faith and our commitment to nurturing the whole child—mind, body, and spirit. We believe that each student is a unique creation of God, deserving of an educational experience that honors their individual gifts and potential.

To ensure that we meet the needs of every student, we conduct comprehensive assessments at the beginning of each school year. These initial evaluations allow our teachers and specialists to develop personalized educational plans, tailored to help each student grow academically, spiritually, and socially in alignment with our Catholic virtues.

Throughout the academic year, we engage in ongoing assessments that provide clear, actionable information to both parents and teachers. These assessments serve as a tool to monitor student progress, identify areas of strength and growth, and ensure that every student is on a path toward fulfilling their God-given potential.

Our assessment process is dedicated solely to supporting student progress. We believe that through thoughtful, faith-driven assessment practices, we can guide our students not only toward academic excellence but also toward becoming compassionate, faith-filled members of the community.

Innovative Learning

  • STREAM

    What is STREAM at Sacred Heart Area School?

    At Sacred Heart Area School, we believe in nurturing the whole child—mind, body, and spirit. STREAM education integrates Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, and Math to provide students with a hands-on, faith-centered learning experience.

    Through STREAM, students explore God’s creation, develop critical thinking skills, and engage in real-world problem-solving ~ all while deepening their Catholic Christian faith. Whether they are building models, coding simple programs, creating sacred art, or studying the wonders of nature, our students learn to see the beauty of God’s design in all subjects.

    By blending faith with innovation, STREAM prepares students to be lifelong learners, compassionate leaders, and creative thinkers who serve their communities with knowledge and purpose.

    Click here to review our STREAM by Grade Level implementation ~ 2025-26.

  • Hybrid Options for Homeschoolers in 2025-26

    Hybrid Enrollment for Homeschool Families

    At Sacred Heart Area School, we recognize that every family’s educational journey is unique. Our Hybrid Enrollment option is designed to support and enrich homeschooling by providing faith-based instruction, social opportunities, and academic resources—all while allowing families to maintain the flexibility of home education.

    With Hybrid Enrollment, homeschool students can attend classes on campus while continuing their core studies at home. This option allows students to participate in subjects like science labs, math, language arts, religion, technology, and the arts, benefiting from structured lessons, hands-on experiences, and expert instruction in a Christ-centered environment.

    Why Choose Hybrid Enrollment?

    ✅ Faith-Based Learning: Catholic Christian virtues integrated into all subjects
    ✅ Social & Peer Engagement: Build friendships and teamwork skills
    ✅ Access to School Resources: Enjoy labs, library, and technology
    ✅ Extracurricular Participation: Join Mass, service projects, and field trips

    Our Hybrid program offers the best of both worlds ~ a personalized homeschool experience with the support of a Catholic Christian school community. If you’re looking for a way to enhance your child’s education while keeping the flexibility of homeschooling, Sacred Heart’s Hybrid Enrollment may be the perfect fit!

    Interested? Contact us today to learn how your family can get started!

    Click here to review our Hybrid Program.

Curriculum

  • Scope & Sequence

    At Sacred Heart Area School, we want parents to feel informed and confident about their child’s learning journey. A Scope & Sequence is a roadmap for what students will learn throughout the school year. It outlines the key skills, topics, and concepts covered in each subject and grade level, ensuring a well-structured and faith-filled education.

    Scope refers to the breadth of learning—the specific topics and skills students will study.

    Sequence refers to the order of learning—how these topics build upon each other over time.

    For example, in math, younger students might begin with basic number sense before moving on to addition, subtraction, and eventually multiplication. In reading, they will start with phonics and comprehension before advancing to more complex texts and critical thinking.

    Our curriculum is designed to support academic excellence while nurturing Catholic Christian virtues, character formation, and a love of learning. If you have any questions about what your child is learning, we’re happy to help!

    Please click here to review our:

    2024-25 Scope & Sequence (March, April, May)

    Summer 2025 Learning Plan

    2025-26 Scope & Sequence

    Summer 2026 Learning Plan

  • Cursive

    Exciting Update: Cursive Writing Returns to Sacred Heart!

    At Sacred Heart Area School, we are committed to providing our students with a well-rounded education that nurtures both academic excellence and essential life skills. As part of this commitment, we are excited to reintroduce cursive writing into our curriculum!

    Why Cursive?

    Research shows that learning cursive improves brain development, reading skills, spelling, and writing fluency. It also helps students develop focus, creativity, and discipline… skills that benefit them in all areas of learning. Additionally, cursive is an important lifelong skill for reading historical documents, signing their name, and personal note-taking.

    Our Plan

    Starting March 31, 2025, all students in 2nd grade and up will begin learning cursive, with the goal of completing at least 50% of their written assignments in cursive by the end of the school year.

    For the 2025-26 school year:
    ✅ 2nd grade will officially begin cursive instruction and write at least 50% of assignments in cursive.
    ✅ 3rd grade and up will transition to 100% cursive for all written work.

    Supporting Our Students

    We understand this will be a new skill for many students, and we are committed to making this a positive and encouraging experience. Teachers will guide students with age-appropriate lessons, plenty of practice, and support to ensure success.

    We are excited to see our students build confidence and develop this valuable skill! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

    📖✍️ Sacred Heart Area School ~ Where Tradition Meets Excellence!

    Click here to review our Implementation of Cursive Writing Plan.