Saint Patrick Catholic School - Norfolk, VA

Saint Patrick Catholic School is built on an educational framework committed to the intentional, whole formation of each student. It relies on the foundational document, The Characteristics and Abilities of the Saint Patrick Catholic School Graduate at Graduation, to guide all programming developing the relational, intellectual, physical, and spiritual life of every student. Unlike externally driven performance standards, the content of this document is intended to inspire students’ internal motivation and autonomy through a process of self-reflection and decision-making.

By determining their individual needs, setting goals for learning and then assessing their own progress, students grow as actively involved independent learners. Teachers use a unit development process focused on deepening student understanding and skill, while also integrating faith and culture. Teachers are empowered to differentiate a challenging curriculum so that every student can achieve competence.

In creating a learning community without fear and punishment, teachers make competent learning so possible that all students will refuse to settle for less. Across all grades, students are motivated when imparted with knowledge they perceive as useful, by teachers who they know care about them. The result is a strong student-teacher relationship and students who work harder to achieve quality in every phase of their lives.

Saint Patrick Catholic School is dedicated to the intimate collaboration between home and school to promote student growth and learning in and out of the classroom; it builds a better understanding of the student's uniqueness, a shared commitment to their welfare and an environment of differentiated learning.