Ave Maria Academy was founded to form students in truth, goodness, and beauty through an authentically Catholic and classical model of education. Rooted in the life of the Church and supported by a strong parish partnership, the Ave Maria Academy offers a carefully designed educational pathway beginning with a play-based Catholic preschool and culminating in a rigorous classical liberal arts education for grades 1–8.
The early childhood program at Ave Maria Academy honors the natural wonder, curiosity, and developmental needs of young children. Our play-based preschool fosters joyful learning through purposeful play, rich language experiences, imaginative exploration, music, movement, and hands-on discovery—all grounded in the rhythms of Catholic life.
Students are gently introduced to prayer, Scripture, liturgical seasons, and the love of Christ in an environment that nurtures social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive growth. This foundation supports the formation of the whole child while preparing students for the academic and moral habits necessary for success in later grades.
A distinctive strength of Ave Maria Academy is the involvement of the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, whose charism of humble service, Marian devotion, and love for the education of children enriches the life of the school. As staff members, the Sisters bring a lived witness of faith that supports young children through gentle guidance, reverence, and personal attention.
Their philosophy emphasizes:
This nurturing approach provides a seamless bridge from early childhood into the Ave Maria Academy’s classical elementary and middle school program.
As students matriculate into grades 1–8, Ave Maria Academy transitions intentionally into an authentic classical model of Catholic education. This approach emphasizes the cultivation of wisdom and virtue through time-tested methods of instruction, a rich liberal arts curriculum, and deep integration of the Catholic faith across all disciplines.
The classical model:
Ave Maria Academy is proud to be a member school of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE). This partnership affirms our commitment to best practices in Catholic classical education and provides ongoing professional development, curricular guidance, and mission alignment for faculty and leadership.
Through ICLE, Ave Maria Academy remains connected to a national community of Catholic schools dedicated to renewing education in fidelity to the Church and the intellectual tradition of Catholicism.
Families today are seeking an education that forms both intellect and character—one that provides academic excellence while anchoring children in faith, virtue, and purpose. Ave Maria Academy responds to this need by offering a coherent, faith-filled educational journey that begins in early childhood and grows intentionally through adolescence.
By uniting a play-based preschool, the witness of religious sisters, and a rigorous classical curriculum, Ave Maria Academy forms students to know, love, and serve God, preparing them to become thoughtful scholars, faithful Catholics, and joyful witnesses to Christ.