Villanova Preparatory School is a Catholic school founded in 1924 by the Augustinian Fathers. Saint Thomas of Villanova, our patron saint, challenges us to search for the Truth. We want to deepen your spirituality, whether you are Catholic or of another religion. Within that spirituality, we are a school of service. We not only serve our nearby community but our global community as well. Our core values are Unity, Truth, and Love.
As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, we provide an educational experience that challenges students to excel in their academics and an avenue to lifelong learning. Our vast range of class offerings ensures we have something for every student.
In the Augustinian tradition, the Mission of Villanova Preparatory School is to graduate mature young adults of diverse backgrounds who reflect the qualities of Truth, unity, and love. The school does this by providing a challenging college preparatory curriculum and a Catholic environment that promotes mind, heart, and body. These young adults will think, judge, and act in ways that are sound and in keeping with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
We are a part of the Catholic religious order, which traces its origins to St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430). With this in mind, Villanova Preparatory School promotes St. Augustine's ideal of a community where its members are "of one mind and heart on the way towards God." An Augustinian approach to education seeks to create a community context in which learning can flourish. As an Augustinian school, Villanova Preparatory School is part of an international network of schools and universities in 38 countries worldwide.
But what we do find and what grounds Augustinian education are the unifying values that come from a reflection of his life and teachings. These values are the overarching and integrative values of Augustinian education and Villanova Preparatory School. Briefly, they are:
- With an understanding of all creatures' profound unity, based on God's creation and re-creation in Christ, our community strives to express this reality in service of the common good, respect for differences, and welcome to a diversity of cultures and talents.
- We are rooted in the Truth known by reason and faith about ourselves and the world with the knowledge that God is the source of all Truth. With faith and reason, like two great wings, we fly to Truth.
- The great commandment of Christ is the love of God and neighbor. He tells us, "God is love." The school community attempts to express Christ's commandment through "active friendship," which moves the heart and mind to action, often with sacrifice, for the good of others and of the community.
Our college-prep curriculum offers a breadth of opportunities to foster the intellectual achievement of each student. Small class sizes and highly qualified and dedicated faculty encourage academic excellence. Although the curriculum is rigorous, students view Villanova as a friendly and engaging place. Teachers are available daily for after school tutoring and welcome the opportunity to offer academic support. An iPad program allows technology to be integrated throughout the curriculum. In all curriculum areas, lessons are designed to provide active learning and personal responsibility to develop the interests and skills to be a lifelong learner. Our students are encouraged to work to their highest potential, achieve strong college preparatory skills, and gain a broad knowledge in the humanities, arts, and sciences. We consistently place students into many of the top colleges and universities in the nation.
We operate on the semester system, and students take seven courses each year. Our course catalog features honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) course offerings so that students will be able to test themselves in a supportive yet intellectually challenging, small-school learning environment. Our students are encouraged to develop a range of critical thinking skills and self-expression and mature into socially active global citizens. With this in mind, our academic curriculum enables students to become college-ready within a Catholic, Augustinian, values-based education.
Education technology at Villanova is integrated into every student's learning. All students maximize their learning through our 1:1 iPad program, where we work with them to utilize technology properly in an academic setting. With that in mind, all freshmen participate in a two-day technology "boot camp" to help them acclimate to a new digital learning environment. As technology becomes more and more harmonized into education, students must understand how to use it in the classroom appropriately.
Our college counselors provide academic, college, and wellness support for students through classroom programming and individual meetings. We provide support for parents and families through fellowship opportunities in morning and evening programming. With a cultivated network of expert individuals and professionals, our college counselors serve as a dynamic and up-to-date resource for parents and students to and through college.
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