Welcome to St. Francis High School, the School of Thought!
There are many reasons why people often tell us that we are Louisville’s best-kept educational secret. Our name is a bit misleading. Founded in 1976, we are still rather new to the scene, by area school standards. People pass our entrance on Third Street in downtown Louisville daily, without noticing we are here (our building is designated on the National Register of Historic Places, so our signage is small and unassuming).
So, what is St. Francis High School? Here’s a quick checklist. We invite you to explore the website to further unlock Louisville’s best-kept educational secret.
St. Francis High School is…
coeducational boys and girls
interdenominational students represent many faiths; no uniform/dress code issues here
an accredited Independent school (accredited by ISACS)
deliberately small average class size of 11; student:teacher ratio of 7:1
college preparatory rigorous academics; extensive course offerings, including 13 AP classes; College Advisor with 30+ years experience; impressive college acceptance list; virtually all graduates go to college
life preparatory graduates are prepared for the world, not just prepared to take a test
amazingly diverse religious, racial/ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic; 34% of our students are minority or foreign born; more than 40% of our students receive financial aid
centrallylocated in the vibrant community of downtown Louisville on major TARC routes
student-centric students are a guiding force in school policy and extracurricular development
“The School of Thought” the school of intellectually challenging academics where critical, independent thinking is prized
founded in the progressive educational tradition addressing the unique needs of each individual; no tracking; founded by John Dewey and Francis Parker; progressive schools are student-centered, community service-minded, diverse, experiential, participatory, tolerant, and are focused on the process and the journey of learning as opposed to the product of an education, or traditional definitions of success, such as standardized test scores and other metrics
St. Francis High School is unlike any school you have ever experienced. You’ve got to see it to believe it! Contact us to plan a visit today.
Mission Statement
The mission of St. Francis High School is to prepare students academically and personally for college and life in a rigorous educational environment that challenges them to think independently, respect individuality, and act with integrity.
Vision Statement
St. Francis High School is the regional center of progressive learning where students grow into mindful, informed young adults.
Core Values
You can see our Core Values in action every day at St. Francis. An education here is:
PARTICIPATORY
sense of ownership
interactive
expressive
ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGING
engaged, active learning
college expectations
experiential city campus
DIVERSE
race, ethnicity
talent, socio-economic level
values, religion
