Students in Preschool through 8th Grade encounter a lively and life-changing curriculum that prepares them well for future success and happiness.
Higher Achievement
Research from New York City, our nations largest school district, found that entering a stand-alone middle school causes a sharp drop in student achievement. It is one that students might never recover from. Read more >>
Better Behavior
Although many U.S. educators embraced the middle school concept during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, some educators refused to jump on the bandwagon. As a result, parents, teachers, and administrators at many schools that remained K–8 discovered anecdotally that their students demonstrated fewer behavioral problems and higher academic achievement than many of the students who enrolled in stand-alone middle schools. Read more >>
Less Transition: More Stability
Moving from one school to another adversely affects student performance. Read more >>
Greater Opportunities for Leadership
It is good for younger kids to have older role models in the building every day; it gives them an understanding of the purpose and progression of education . . . it is good for older kids to be role models and mentors; this arrangement gives them more of a sense of accountability to their younger admirers. Some feel that this configuration lends itself to a more community type atmosphere. Read more >>
The Saint Patrick Academy curriculum is integrated, experiential, and value-based. It provides a foundation for the love and pursuit of wisdom. Preschool through 8th Grade encounter a lively and life-changing curriculum that will prepare them well for future success and happiness.
Recently, Saint Patrick Academy updated the math curriculum in all grades to strengthen student experience with mathematical language and conceptual understanding through problem based learning. The enVisions Math curriculum by Scott Foresman was selected for Kindergarten through Grade 8. This program supports student learning through a variety of instructional approaches and includes resources for teachers to personalize instruction for students. Teachers often collaborate to ensure optimal skill growth across levels.
In Grades 6 through 8, we offer two math courses per grade:
6th Grade Math or 6th Grade Accelerated Math, 7th Grade Math or
Pre Algebra, and 8th Grade Math or Algebra.
These offerings allow us to even better meet the needs of our students through smaller class sizes and differentiated pacing and depth of content. Our math curriculum is structured to lead our graduates into honors level math courses in high school.
In an atmosphere of Christian values, Saint Patrick Academy prepares today’s children for tomorrow’s world by encouraging students to: revere and respect creation, explore the connection between Faith and scientific investigation, and develop a better understanding of themselves, others, and the world in which they live. Through their study of Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science, students learn and practice the scientific method by forming questions, designing research approaches, developing hypotheses through observation and laboratory experiences, analyzing and synthesizing data, and finally, evaluating and communicating results.
The goal of Saint Patrick Academy’s social studies curriculum is to help students understand human relationships within an ever-widening circle. After examining connections with each other and their family, they begin to understand the personal and civic relationships between friends, school, neighborhood, city, state, nation, and the world. Our educators harness children’s natural interest in stories and use the narrative power of history to reveal continuities between the past and the present. In their formal study of US history, students learn about the history of New Hampshire and the development of the United States with special focuses on colonization, independence, expansion, immigration and the Civil War. World history gives students the chance to learn the stories of Ancient empires, Medieval Europe, and the Industrial Revolution.
The Catholic faith is the main focus of our school ministry. Our faculty are committed to living the faith and, through their examples and expectations, they transmit our faith tradition and Gospel values. Teachers stress the importance of Catholic values in everyday life. Learning to live as joyful Catholics is the primary goal of Saint Patrick Academy.
Each week, all students participate in Holy Mass where our older students prepare readings. Students also take part in traditional Catholic devotions throughout the year, including the Stations of the Cross, Advent prayer services, recitation of the Rosary and the May Crowning to honor Our Blessed Mother. Students select organizations and take an active role in special charitable efforts during the seasons of Lent and Advent.
Through our authentic approach to living our faith, our students come to understand religion as the integral part of life that it is. Religion is not treated as a single subject, but is at the very center of our curriculum.
Saint Patrick Academy sees the early years of development as a better predictor of future success than even the college years. Therefore, the curriculum is integrated, experiential, and value-based, providing a foundation for the love and pursuit of wisdom.
Preschool at Saint Patrick Academy is a safe, caring and playful environment for Early Childhood Education. We’ll help your child learn fundamental social, emotional and cognitive skills needed for primary school and beyond. Learn more about our preschool program here.
Lower School at Saint Patrick Academy includes grades K-4, where students begin to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Learn more about our lower school here.
Middle School at Saint Patrick Academy is where our students build upon the foundation from core coursework. We offer innovative academic enrichment programs and opportunities, such as our partnership with New Heights, and focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Learn more about our middle school program here.
Saint Patrick Academy
315 Banfield Road
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Saint Patrick Academy is committed to equal opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or gender in its educational programs and activities. Employees and students of any race, color, national origin, or gender are entitled to all rights, privileges, programs, activities, and services generally made available in the programs and activities. It does not discriminate in its educational policies, admission policies, athletics or other school-administered programs.
