St. Lawrence Seminary High School follows a seven period class day, with two additional study hall periods. The periods are forty-five minutes in length. The overall academic curriculum of St. Lawrence reflects a strong bias toward college preparation. Here are some quick facts about SLS classes:
- 9:1 student to teacher ratio
- 15-18 student average class size
- 100% graduation rate
The following subjects are available to students:
Freshmen
- Freshman Theology
- Physical Education 9
- Freshman English
- World History
- Freshmen Guidance
- Algebra or Geometry
- General Science or Biology
- Foreign Language or Design and Process
Juniors
- Christian Morality
- World Religions/Church History
- Physical Education 11
- American Literature
- US History* (from Cardinal Stritch University)
- Advanced Algebra or Pre-Calculus
- Chemistry or Physics
- Foreign Language (if needed)
- Health (if needed)
- Other Elective
Sophomores
- Jesus of History, Christ of Faith
- Prayer and Sacraments
- Physical Education 10
- English 10
- American Government
- US History
- Geometry or Advanced Algebra
- Biology or Chemistry
- Communications
- Foreign Language
Seniors
- Senior Theology
- Physical Education 12
- World Literature*
- Pre-Calculus, Algebra 3, or Calculus*
- Physics, Advanced Chemistry, or Biology II
- Humanities
- Other Electives
Electives
- Woodshop
- Advanced Woodshop
- Art
- Advanced Art
- Mechanical Drawing
- Advanced Mechanical Drawing
- Accounting
- Business Law
- Creative Writing
- Social Problems I & II
- Psychology I & II
- Economics
- Trigonometry
- Probability and Statistics
- Literary Genres*
- Modern World Literature*
- Introduction to Christian Theology*
Foreign Languages
- Spanish
- German
- Latin
* Dual Credit Course option is available
* St Lawrence Seminary High School partners with Marian University of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to offer students the opportunity to earn college credit while taking courses at St Lawrence. The courses are taken on campus and are taught by St. Lawrence instructors. Students can earn up to 20 college credits. To be eligible for this program, the student must have a GPA of 3.20 or higher and be a junior or senior. St. Lawrence Seminary does not charge any extra fees for participation in the dual credit program. However, students do pay an additional charge directly to Marian University which includes a discounted fee per credit hour.
Vacation Reading
Students have some required reading assignments over the summer and Christmas breaks.
Drivers’ Education
Drivers’ Education is a non-credit course for juniors and seniors. It offers classroom instruction on Sunday nights and behind-the-wheel experience.
ACT / SAT Tests
Juniors begin the college application process by taking either the ACT and/or SAT tests. About 90% of SLS students take the ACT, achieving an average composite score of 23.2, higher than the State of Wisconsin (20.3) and national averages (20.9), and compares well with other similar private schools in Wisconsin. Additionally, SLS students have an average ACT STEM score of 23.5, compared to the State of Wisconsin (20.3) and national averages (20.7).
College Prep Curriculum
Our students are engaged in college prep curriculum that includes a variety of subjects ranging from religion, music and foreign language to mathematics, history and computer science. The academic program is challenging but students find their instructors are available for additional assistance when needed.
STEM/STREAM Education
STREAM education is an approach to learning that uses science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue and critical thinking. It also incorporates reading, writing and religion. Using STREAM education results in students who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem-solving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative process. These are the innovators, educators, leaders, and learners of the 21st century! At St. Lawrence Seminary, we use STREAM curriculum. Learn more about the specifics of our STEM/STREAM programs in our blog: STEM/STREAM Education at St. Lawrence Seminary.
Graduation Requirements
Total Credits Required – 24
Of the credits needed for graduation, the following are the State of Wisconsin requirements:
4.0 credits – English, including writing and composition
3.0 credits – Social Science, including state and local governments
3.0 credits – Mathematics
3.0 credits – Science
1.5 credits – Physical Education
0.5 credits – Health education, taken from 7th to 12th grade
In addition to the State of Wisconsin requirements, St. Lawrence requires some courses for graduation. Specific course requirements may be waived for transfer students.
Religion – Each semester, appropriate to the grade level
Freshman Guidance – Two semesters (freshmen year)
Computer Applications – One semester (sophomore year)
Music – One semester (sophomore year)
Humanities – One semester (senior year)
Quarterly Evaluations
At the middle and end of every quarter, the faculty, along with the student supervisory staff, meets to discuss every student’s progress. These discussions attempt to measure the student’s success in fulfilling the school’s objectives and the student profile, both academically and behaviorally. Prior to the meeting, the Academic Dean compiles a list of names of those students who are academically deficient (receiving a D or F) in their classes. Recommendations for assistance for the student may be made at this time, such as extra study halls, mandatory tutoring, working one on one with teachers, or assigning them to a faculty mentor. Parents will be notified about any area of concern brought forward at these meetings. The fourth quarter evaluation also addresses the question of the student’s return for the next year. This judgment is made on an individual’s overall growth during the past year. A student whose behavior and academics show reasonable progress will be invited to return.
Academically, SLS prepared me extremely well for the university. I never felt behind or lacking. The personal discipline instilled in me at SLS is part of the reason I finished my degree in four years and worked all throughout college.
Jeffrey Krieg, Class of 1981
The academic rigor of SLS really gave me an upper hand for college.
Edward Benoit, Class of 1998
I felt that academically, I was well prepared for college. My first year of college was a breeze and felt like another class in senior year.
Joseph Truong, Class of 2000