Mater Academy Preparatory's school environment will expose students to a program that addresses Rigor, Relevance, and Relationship in a college preparatory mindset environment. The goal is to create a quality learning environment in support of the mission, to serve all students and accommodate diverse needs and learning styles:

-High quality instruction and rigorous curriculum.

-The abundance of relevant opportunities for students to advance, to receive assistance, and to exercise curricular autonomy.

-A “second home” school culture, project-based learning initiatives, and support of extracurricular activities to foster growing relationships.

Curriculum: 

Teachers will begin the school year with a thorough review of student academic data and will administer diagnostic assessments in Reading and Math during the first weeks of school. This will allow the school to gather the most current data to determine areas of students’ strengths and weakness, to make accurate placement decisions and to provide differentiated instruction and appropriate interventions/support services.  The school will use a continuous improvement methodology wherein student assessment results guide differentiated and targeted standards-based instruction, leading to consistent and increased student performance and achievement outcomes.

Assessment:

Teacher content teams will work to identify, and utilize standards-based assessments, targeting specific benchmarks and adjusting instruction based on student performance. Teachers and other support staff will use data from all other available assessments, including iReady Diagnostic assessments and KRA (Kindergarten Readiness) assessments, to develop and target instruction to meet the needs of all students through differentiated instruction so that each child can attain his or her highest potential. Units of instruction, within and across all grade levels/courses, will provide a vertically articulated curriculum framework that scaffolds the skills and knowledge required for success while providing teachers with continuous feedback on student progress.

Growth Mindset:

In addition, the school will engage students in a Growth Mindset, encouraging students to set goals aligned to their specific abilities and needs. Teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators will work with students to monitor progress in attaining these goals. Students will be encouraged to celebrate incremental progress and thrive on challenges, seeing failure not as evidence of unintelligence, but as a springboard for learning and achievement. Teachers will infuse a Growth Mindset throughout all core subjects and special area classes by celebrating efforts and strategies above intelligence and focusing on the value of learning. In addition, teachers will design classroom activities that involve cooperative, rather than competitive or individualistic work, encouraging students to feel a sense of responsibility and allowing them to experience positive feedback and success in a group setting.'