Walsingham Academy

Walsingham Academy is the independent school for students and families who value a holistic approach to learning grounded in Mercy Catholic values, enhanced by a nurturing community and driven by a commitment to prepare students to succeed in college and in life.

Walsingham Academy's Early Learners and Junior Kindergarten programs are developmentally appropriate, providing a model of education that is experienced-based, interdisciplinary, and collaborative. There is an emphasis on educating the whole child - the intellectual, emotional, social, physical, and spiritual aspects of each person. One of the most important organizing principles of education is that in order for children to learn in school and to become lifelong learners, they must interact with their environment (people, places, and things) and interpret their experience. For students in these programs, there is an emphasis on in-depth investigations, investigations that require children to explore areas of literacy, math, science, and social studies. Because those investigations are connected to real life experiences, understanding and knowledge is constructed because it is authentic.

Children work cooperatively in their learning communities as they explore, investigate, question, predict, and research topics of interest. Instruction is differentiated to meet the individual and unique needs of each member of the learning community. Models of Writer’s Workshop, Reader’s Workshop, and Math Workshop are fully implemented, and provide an authentic, predictable structure and framework that enables children to engage in reading and writing and concepts of numeracy daily.

Walsingham Academy’s Lower School serves students in Pre-Kindergarten through 7th Grade. Our faculty utilizes vertically coordinated curricula, allowing for continuity in their academic preparation while also focusing on real world applications for their skills and knowledge.

Students in Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd Grade work in self-contained classes with teachers utilizing flexible instructional groupings. Grades 4-7 are departmentalized for instruction in English, reading, math, social studies, and science. All students receive religious instruction with focus on the Catholic faith, awareness of basic Christian values, and their application to everyday life. Art, music, drama, physical education, technology, and foreign language studies provide varied opportunities for students to explore areas of interest and further develop their skills and talents.

Students in our Upper School, grades 8-12, always rise to meet the demands of our rigorous academic program. By incorporating 21st century skills into all facets of our curriculum, students spend time preparing for their future, not just prepping for a test. Our highly-qualified, engaging Upper School teachers guide students as they explore new territory and discover hidden talents. Through active participation in our challenging college preparatory program and access to a wide-range of extracurricular activities, Upper School students leave Walsingham with a profound understanding of life beyond the classroom.