Sacred Heart education emphasizes serious study, educates to social responsibility, and lays the foundations of a strong faith. In relating this purpose to its own programs, Woodlands strives to educate the whole person, providing a value-based environment that supports rigorous intellectual training and opportunities for emotional, religious, and social growth.
The school year is divided into quarters. Classes are held five days a week. Each girl is expected to carry five major subjects a year. Well-qualified students are permitted to carry six.
A sampling of the courses available includes such diverse offerings as British literature, acting, ceramics, chorus, painting and drawing, photography, French, Latin, Spanish, psychology, sociology, comparative government, political theories, math functions, Christian ethics, peace and justice, physics, anatomy, and driver's education. Advanced Placement courses are offered in English, Spanish, French, calculus, biology, and U.S. history.
Junior and senior girls may receive college credit for selected freshman classes at either Barat College or Lake Forest College. All Sacred Heart schools participate in an exchange program that enables girls to attend affiliated schools in the United States and, upon arrangement, in England, France, and other countries in which Sacred Heart schools are located.
The average class size is 12-15 students, and the ratio of students to full-time faculty is approximately 9:1. In many courses, class sections are organized on the basis of ability and level of skill development. Assignments average 30-40 minutes per subject each day. Parents receive progress reports every five weeks. Students are given preparation for the American College Testing Program and College Board examinations; international students take the Test of English as a Foreign Language.
Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Independent Schools Association of the Central States; it is approved by the state of Illinois and the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.
