Considering Houston Catholic Schools? Discover St. Agnes
St. Agnes Academy has long been regarded as one of the leading Houston Catholic schools. Learn why so many families trust St. Agnes to equip their daughters for future success.
Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most significant decisions you’ll make as a parent. With so many different schooling options available in Houston, it can be challenging to know which academic environment makes the most sense for your child and family.
Public schools, private schools, charter schools, and homeschooling all have their strengths, but parents and guardians must find the learning environment that best suits the needs of their one-of-a-kind students.
For families in Houston considering private schooling for their daughters, St. Agnes Academy stands out as an institution rooted in faith, academic excellence, and holistic student development.
For over a century, St. Agnes has been dedicated to providing the best possible educational experiences to young women of all backgrounds and abilities. We remain committed to the academic, personal, and spiritual development of our future female leaders.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what makes St. Agnes a leading choice among Houston Catholic schools and review how St. Agnes sets students up for success.
Why Choose a Catholic School?
First, we need to cover why Catholic schooling is such a popular choice for families in Houston and the surrounding areas. Catholic schools are known for their commitment to values-based education that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit, and there is plenty of research to support their far-ranging benefits. Just a few of these research-backed benefits include:
- Higher Graduation Rates: Catholic school students are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.
- Greater Academic Achievement: Catholic school students demonstrate higher levels of academic achievement compared to their public school peers.
- Smaller Achievement Gap: The student achievement gap for minority students in Catholic schools is smaller than the gap in public schools.
- Increased Civic Engagement: Catholic school graduates are more likely to vote and demonstrate higher levels of civic engagement across the board.
- Greater Spiritual Engagement: Catholic school students are more engaged in their faith communities and are more likely to pray daily and attend church regularly.
These are just a few reasons why families from all walks of life are drawn to Catholic academic institutions. For families here in Houston, find out why St. Agnes may be the right educational fit for your daughter.
St. Agnes Academy: A Legacy of Excellence
Founded in 1905, St. Agnes Academy is a premier all-girls Catholic high school in Houston. We are firmly committed to educating and empowering young women to become leaders of faith and integrity.
St. Agnes was founded and remains strongly rooted in the Catholic-Dominican tradition. Our faith values permeate every corner of our storied institution. We are dedicated to offering our students a safe and supportive environment to hone their academic skills, broaden their horizons, and deepen their relationships with God.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons St. Agnes Academy is considered among the leading academic institutions for young women in Houston.
1. Advanced Academic Programming
St. Agnes offers a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare students for success in college and beyond. Focusing on critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, our first-rate educators aim to provide students with a comprehensive and diverse learning environment that will empower them to succeed in their future studies and professional endeavors.
With an average student/teacher ratio of 10:1, the St. Agnes team can provide students with more hands-on, individualized attention than they would receive in many other academic settings.
Our personalized approach to education is specifically designed to help students capitalize on existing strengths, move them towards a greater sense of self-sufficiency, and enable ongoing progress in their growth areas.
For example, St. Agnes offers various courses tailored to each student’s skills and ability levels throughout their four years in high school. Some of our advanced curriculum offerings include the following.
Honors and AP Courses
Our robust selection of advanced courses challenges students academically. Plus, students enrolled in AP courses have the option to take standardized AP exams each year, which can be used to secure college credits.
At most higher learning institutions, students who score a 3 or higher on an AP exam may be able to “test out” of certain general education requirements. This arrangement makes AP courses an extremely wise investment for students planning to pursue a college education after they graduate from St. Agnes.
STEM Opportunities
We recognize the value of a top-tier education in the STEM fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to prepare students for the careers of tomorrow. Our educators are passionate about encouraging young women to pursue higher education and careers in these fields to address the current gender gap in these disciplines.
Elective Courses
In addition to our core curriculum offerings, St. Agnes provides a diverse selection of elective courses for students with diverse and varied interests. We offer elective courses in disciplines such as music, theater, dance, computer science, visual art, and more.
Students who take advantage of these courses will develop a well-rounded skill set that will serve them well in future academic and professional environments.
2. Faith at the Center
As a Dominican, Catholic school, St. Agnes integrates faith into every aspect of student life. Religious education, weekly Mass, and regular opportunities for prayer and reflection help students grow spiritually. For example, as part of the Dominican faith, we emphasize our commitment to social justice and championing the marginalized in society.
Consider some of the highlights of what makes faith an integral part of the high school experience at St. Agnes:
- Theology courses play a central role in our academic curriculum offerings.
- Each year of a student’s education is designed to build upon the previous year’s faith focus.
- Mass is held on campus every Thursday morning for those who wish to attend.
- A priest is available every week immediately prior to and following Mass.
- We hold school-wide celebrations on all Holy Days of Obligation.
- We observe Feasts that celebrate our Dominican Heritage as a school-wide community.
- Students can take advantage of faith-based extracurricular opportunities to advance their spiritual education.
- Our campus ministry program provides students ample opportunities to serve and minister to their fellow students.
- Campus ministers are entrusted with critical tasks like leading morning prayer, serving at Mass, completing service projects, and facilitating our liturgical celebrations and Feasts.
- Students may participate in annual prayer retreats and faith-based summer camps
- All students are required to complete a servant leadership project as a condition of graduation.
By seamlessly integrating our Catholic faith into all aspects of student life, pupils can keep Christ at the center of all they do, even while furthering their education and building their self-confidence.
3. A Focus on the Whole Student
St. Agnes prioritizes the holistic development of its students. We recognize the importance of balancing academics and extracurriculars with the need for personal health and well-being.
Our Student Support Services are designed to provide students with the comprehensive care and resources they need to navigate many common challenges associated with adolescence and young adulthood. These services include the following.
The Wellness Center
The Wellness Center at St. Agnes Academy facilitates preventative programming, small group meetings, and individual counseling sessions designed to equip students with the life skills and self-care strategies they need to develop into healthy and well-adjusted adults.
For example, freshmen and sophomores primarily receive academic advising from our Wellness Counselors to help ease the transition from middle school to high school and provide students with a comprehensive wellness toolkit from the get-go.
Each year, the Wellness Center offers hands-on workshops and even hosts care dogs on campus throughout the semester to aid students with stress relief and relaxation opportunities when they need them most.
Student Success Center
The Student Success Center is responsible for providing students with the accommodations and academic support they need to thrive.
For example, students with disabilities and specific learning needs receive hands-on support through the Student Success Center. Our specialists also work with students to hone their executive functioning and time management skills to maximize their academic achievement across all areas of study.
Overall, our team aims to provide students with tailor-made resources and tools like organizational apps and planners to help them stay on top of their responsibilities while laying a firm foundation for future success.
College Counseling
With a collective 80 years of experience in college counseling, our College Counseling team provides students with unmatched access to the resources, services, and support they need to navigate the college application and admissions processes seamlessly.
Juniors and seniors receive ongoing, hands-on support from our college advisors to help them search for colleges, complete applications, and secure financial aid. We also host several workshops for our upper-level students aimed at helping them acquire the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their college admissions efforts.
How St. Agnes Stands Out Among Houston Catholic Schools
St. Agnes is widely regarded as one of the best academic institutions in the Houston area for all of the reasons outlined above and more. That’s why we are ranked the #1 all-girls, private high school by the Houston Business Journal.
We are pleased to provide students with a safe and supportive single-gender environment within which they can grow, change, and explore without the ongoing distractions so commonly found in co-ed institutions.
Finally, St. Agnes is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome students from diverse backgrounds because it is vital to cultivating a vibrant and Christ-like community.
We are pleased to provide students with a safe and supportive single-gender environment within which they can grow, change, and explore without the ongoing distractions so commonly found in co-ed institutions.
Finally, St. Agnes is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome students from diverse backgrounds because it is vital to cultivating a vibrant and Christ-like community.
We believe that diversity enriches the learning environment and prepares students to navigate a global society. While St. Agnes is rooted in the Catholic faith, we honor and respect families from all faith backgrounds, and our students are taught to embrace the beliefs of their peers.
Experience the St. Agnes Difference
The choice to enroll your daughter in a Catholic high school is about more than just academics. You are making a choice that will shape your child into a confident, compassionate leader with the skills she needs to make a difference in the world. At St. Agnes, students receive an education that prepares them for life – not just college.
If you’re considering Houston Catholic schools for your child, St. Agnes Academy offers a transformative education rooted in faith and excellence. With a rigorous curriculum, Christ-centered community, and dedicated faculty, St. Agnes fosters unprecedented excellence and well-roundedness in young women from throughout the city.
To learn more about our admissions process, curriculum offerings, and campus life, reach out to speak with a member of our team. We will happily offer personalized reasons why your child will thrive at our school.
