Profile
Mount Saint Joseph Academy
120 West Wissahickon Avenue
Flourtown, PA 19031-1899
215-233-3177 • Fax 215-233-4734
www.msjacad.org
History and Tradition: Established in Chestnut Hill in 1858 by the Sisters
of Saint Joseph, Mount Saint Joseph Academy is a private, selective day school for young
women in grades 9 through 12, offering a college preparatory education in the Catholic
tradition and context. The Mount is dually accredited by the Pennsylvania Association
of Independent Schools (PAIS) and Middle States Association of College and Secondary
Schools and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Campus:
Mount Saint Joseph Academy is situated on 78 acres in Springfield
Township, Montgomery County. The picturesque campus lies just outside Chestnut
Hill, a historic, culturally-rich, urban village within Philadelphia. The location is readily
accessible to Center City and the surrounding five counties, as evidenced by our student
body who commute daily from 27 school districts in the Delaware Valley.
National Merit Scholarship Program
Class of 2014
9 Semi-Finalists (Status until spring 2014)
18 Commended Students
Class of 2013
7 Finalists
4 National Achievement Finalists
13 Commended Students
Admission: Admission is through a competitive examination. Approximately
50% of those who apply for Grade 9 are accepted each year. Scholarships for academic
achievement, service, and the arts are available. All are based upon merit. Grants are
offered to those who qualify for financial aid and meet the requirements of the specific
grant. Financial aid is also available for those who qualify.
Students: Enrollment for the 2013-2014 academic year is 567 students; the current
student-teacher ratio stands at 10 to 1, and the average class size is 20 students. Faculty: The faculty at the Mount is composed of both Sisters of Saint Joseph and
lay teachers. The majority of faculty members (over 84%) hold advanced degrees.
Administration:
President: Principal: Dean of Studies: Dean of Student Affairs: Guidance:
Director of Guidance: School Counselor: School Counselor: SAT Results 2013
(Mean)
SAT: MSJA v. National and PA Overall
MSJA
National
PA
S. Kathleen Brabson, SSJ, MA
Dr. Judith A. Caviston, EdD
Mr. William J. Rooney, M.Ed.
Mrs. Connie D’Angelo, MA
Mrs. Amy Balcer, MS
Mrs. Lisa Boyle, MS
Ms. Marybeth Competelli, MA
Educ ating Founder s Since 1858
Graduation
Requirements
Honors Courses
English (4 Years)
Physical Education (4 Years)
Theology (4 Years)
Mathematics (3 Credits)
Science (3 Lab Sciences)
Social Studies (3 Credits)
Foreign Language
(3 Consecutive Years/
Same Language)
Fine Arts (1 Credit)
Computer Literacy (.5 Credit)
Health Education (.5 Credit)
Advanced Placement
Programs
Art History
Biology (2 Credits)
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
English Literature & Composition
European History
French Language
Latin Literature
Music Theory
Physics C: Mechanics
Psychology
Statistics
Spanish Language
Studio Art
U.S. Government & Politics
United States History
I
Advanced Drawing & Painting
Algebra I
Algebra II
American Literature
Art History I, II
Biology
British Literature
Chemistry I, II
Colonial History
Concepts of Physics
Europe: 19th & 20th Centuries
Film Appreciation
Geometry
Independent Art
Introduction to Writing and Literature
Language III, IV
Multi-Media Technology
Music Theory
Physics
Physiology
Pre-Calculus
U.S. History from 1877
Women as Founders
World History
Advanced Placement
Examinations 2013
Total Candidates: 339
Total Exams: 436
Grade of 5: 91
Grade of 4: 147
Grade of 3: 133
Block Scheduling
M
Course Weighting
Courses are weighted according to the degree of challenge presented
to students. Major courses are classified as Advanced Placement,
Honors/Accelerated, or College Preparatory. An overview of these
course types are as follows:
Advanced Placement Courses
• AP courses are offered to grades 10, 11, and 12
• AP Test is mandatory
• Block Scheduling limits the number of AP course that
each student can take
Honors/Accelerated Courses
• Offer more in-depth study of specific subjects
• Expanded opportunities for independent work
• Freshman students are limited to three honors
courses
Duquesne University
Fashion Institute of Technology
Fordham University
Franklin and Marshall College
Georgetown University
George Washington University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Haverford College
Ithaca College
James Madison University
Lafayette College
La Salle University
Lehigh University
Loyola College In Maryland
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Provides students with the skills and knowledge
imperative for college success
• All major courses not otherwise designated are
College Preparatory
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
Quality Point
Equivalent
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.0
QPE Honors
QPE AP
4.3
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
0.0
4.7
4.3
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
0.0
Numerical
Equivalency
100-94
93-91
90-88
87-85
84-82
81-79
78-76
75-74
73-72
71-70
69-
Diocesan Scholars’ Program
The Diocesan Scholars’ Program offers eligible seniors the
opportunity to take up to two courses per semester on the
campus of a participating college or university. Participation in
this program is highly selective.
Selected Recent College Acceptances:
American University
Boston College
Boston University
Brown University
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon University
Catholic University Of America
Clemson University
Colgate University
College of the Holy Cross
College of William and Mary
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Drexel University
College Preparatory Courses
All AP students must take the AP exam.
Results, by law, may only be released to
colleges and universities by students.
n September 1997, Mount Saint Joseph Academy adopted
“block,” or intensive, scheduling. The school year is divided
into two terms; students take 3 or 4 subjects per term for a total
of 7 or 8 credits per school year. Students are assigned their
courses each year and may not choose which semester to take
certain courses. Most AP courses are held in an intensive block on
alternating days for the length of the entire school year.
Class Rank
ount Saint Joseph Academy does not rank its
students. This decision was derived from a
philosophy which encourages care for the individual.
As the Mount has a selective student body and a
rigorous college preparatory program, class rank is not
an accurate measurement of individual achievement.
Further, class rank can also be misleading in
determining a student’s ability to successfully complete
college work.
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Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Parsons the New School for Design
Penn State University
Princeton University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhode Island School of Design
Saint Joseph’s University
Sarah Lawrence College
Savannah College of Art and Design
School of the Museum of Fine Arts
Swarthmore College
Syracuse University
Temple University
Tufts University
Tulane University
United States Military Academy
United States Naval Academy
University of Chicago
University of Miami
University of Notre Dame
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Richmond
University of Scranton
University of South Carolina
Vassar College
Villanova University
Wake Forest University
Yale University