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Academics and Learning

Academic Departments

A complete curriculum 
for every kind of learner

Discover subjects that grab young men’s attention — with the right level of challenge to sharpen their skills. Salesianum delivers a comprehensive curriculum backed by teachers who know what students need to succeed.  

Get to know the courses, departments, and faculty who help young men reach their full potentials. 

Salesianum Curriculum Overview

A more personalized phasing system

Salesianum is a diverse school with young men of all learning levels. To provide a more personalized education, students are grouped into phases with the right balance of challenge and support. 

This phasing is fluid and subject-specific. For instance, a young man may be on the “College Prep” level in mathematics, and on the “Honors” level in English, with those phases changing as his skills grow. 

Phases typically differ in terms of breadth and depth of content instruction, pacing, rigor, and homework, as well as expectations for composition, analysis, research, and rhetorical capabilities. 

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  • See phasing details

    • College Prep Foundations (CP)
      Available for 9th and 10th-grade English, Mathematics, and Spanish, courses with the “Foundations” label provide lower student-teacher ratios and focus on study and organization skills, frequent assessments, scaffolding (moving progressively toward greater understanding), and a variety of methodologies including guided discussion.
    • College Prep (CP)
      These courses emphasize fundamentals in preparation for the college level, actively guiding students toward academic independence. This phase is characterized by frequent assessments, scaffolding, and a variety of methodologies for helping students build composition, research, and rhetoric skills.
    • Accelerated (AC)
      Characterized by increased pace, depth, and connections among unit concepts, these courses cognitively engage students for independent work, challenging them to rapidly reach higher-order thinking. Students must consistently demonstrate their established composition, research, and rhetoric skills. When calculating GPAs, 0.2 points are added to AC courses.
    • Honors (HN)
      These courses feature deeper and more complex content, with tasks rapidly proceeding from content introduction to higher-order thinking, pushing students to connect concepts and to apply knowledge to new situations. Formative assessment (monitoring student learning) is included, but summative assessment (evaluating student learning) drives the grading. Students should build upon established composition, research, and rhetoric skills and anticipate high expectations. When calculating GPAs, 0.3 points are added to HN courses.
    • Advanced Placement (AP)
      These college-level courses follow the curriculum set by the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board, and all syllabi are College Board-approved. After successful completion of the corresponding examinations, students may earn college credit or advanced standing. When calculating GPAs, 0.4 points are added to AP courses.

Explore Our Comprehensive Programs

  • Arts & Innovation

    Dynamic and diverse, our Arts and Innovation program extends beyond typical STEM programming by embracing traditional music and arts as well as the latest in business, product, development, performance, design, production, computer sciences, and media communications.

  • College & School Counseling

    Our College & School Counseling team supports students throughout high school by assisting with their transition, offering grade-specific advisories, and helping them achieve their post-graduation goals. We provide personalized guidance to help students explore their interests, set goals, and navigate college or career paths.

  • Educational Support

    Educational Support Services assists students at Salesianum in becoming self-sufficient and academically successful learners through the structure, consistency, and support of the Brisson and Trinity Programs.

  • English

    Discover courses designed to help young men write at a university level. Salesianum alumni consistently say that the writing they did here helps them excel at college.

  • Health & Physical Education

    Salesianium values the connection between a healthy mind and healthy body. That’s why our Health and Physical Education curriculum highlights the correlation between personal behavior and wellness.

  • Mathematics

    At Salesianum, students learn to appreciate the math that surrounds us every day by diving into problem-solving via lectures, classroom discussions, collaborative work, and independent study.

  • Science

    Our state-of-the-art Abessinio Center empowers students to take scientific exploration, analysis, and research to the next level. With 10 science laboratory rooms, eight classrooms, 12 lab stations, and two independent study labs, it’s where young men see science come to life.

  • Social Studies

    Our Social Studies curriculum plays a major role in the ongoing formation of a Salesian Gentleman. Here, young men learn to appreciate historical events, achievements in all humanities fields, and the diversity and commonality of the world’s peoples.

  • Theology

    Salesianum’s religious education focuses on empowering young men who embody the Salesian values of compassion, humility, service, and brotherhood — leading their lives committed to others, especially the marginalized and poor.

  • World Languages

    A Salesian Gentleman is an effective communicator who can build meaningful relationships in global environments and situations. Our talented faculty brings a wealth of diverse cultural knowledge and expertise to help students become more confident and articulate.
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Learn more about Salesianum academics

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Salesianum School

1801 N. Broom Street
Wilmington, DE 19802

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Salesianum School educates and develops the whole person based on the teaching of Saint Francis de Sales, whose spirituality can be summarized in “Live Jesus.” As an independent Catholic secondary school founded by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in 1903, Salesianum challenges young men through dynamic college preparatory and extracurricular programs to live as Salesian Gentlemen devoted to faith, community, and service.