The Cardinal Curriculum

"The glory of God is the human person, fully alive," said St. Irenaeus, and consistent with that, we encourage students to embrace a "Renaissance vision" for themselves, seeking to become not just scholars, or athletes, or good musicians or artists or people of faith,  but all of these things, together. In so doing, we believe students will live full lives, and grow into young men and women who are good, happy, confident in their futures and ready to lead others to what is holy and true. 

This "both-and," Renaissance vision is supported by a four year curriculum which allows students to take classes at the Collegiate Studies, Honors or Advanced Placement level, dependent on student aptitude and desire. Students are required to earn 28 credits for graduation, but may earn up to 32 credits, giving them the flexibility to customize schedules so as to join the band or chorus, play athletics, take additional A.P. classes and/or pursue other electives, without needing to choose one over the other. 

St. Michael requires, as do all high schools in the Archdiocese, four years of Theology, Math, English, History and Science and one year of Physical Education/Health. In addition, St. MIchael students take two years of Foreign Language and may elect to take a 3rd and 4th year, if they so choose. The Arts are central to the life of our school: Students take two years of the Arts as a minimum and are encouraged to take a 3rd and 4th year. 

Students will be placed in Collegiate Studies (the standard curriculum), Honors or Advanced Placement based on past performance, test scores and work ethic. As partners with the school, parents are welcome to discuss placements with the school and ask for modification of these placements based on their knowledge of their son or daughter. 

Click on the "Four Year Curricular Overview" link below for the course of study. In the event a child is out of sequence, particularly in the case of transfer students, we will work with families individually to get him or her back on sequence.