Philosophy

Integral Formationsm is the harmonious development of all dimensions of the human person.  The Highlands School guides students to realize their full potential, by focusing on the following four areas of formation.

Intellectual Formation
The rigorous college preparatory program of sciences, history, mathematics, literature, religion, and philosophy prepares students for the college or university of their choice.  Students are guided in their study through lectures, small seminars, and laboratory work.  The Highlands School embraces personalized attention with dedicated faculty in the Pre-K through twelfth grades.

Spiritual Formation
Our students are taught to live their Catholic faith and begin a lifelong friendship with Jesus Christ.  A special emphasis is placed on loving as Jesus loved.  Priests and seminarians of the Legionaries of Christ, and consecrated men and women of the Regnum Christi Movement, guide students’ integral formation and also provide individual spiritual guidance.

Apostolic Formation
Highlands’ students are called to serve others through the example and life of Christ.  We have ongoing individual and group outreach programs and apostolates. Our goal is to develop young men and women prepared to respond to the spiritual and material needs of those around them with all the vigor of their youth.

Character Formation
Students are taught to be mature, responsible young men and women with solid Christian values, who will assume leadership roles in a competitive and changing world.  The school develops leadership qualities through mentoring and supporting students’ participation in academic and extra-curricular programs.

The School

The Highlands School was founded in 1986 and in 1999 became a fully accredited Catholic School by the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department (TCCED) and by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2006 (SACS).

Facilities
In addition to classrooms, campus facilities include a chapel, library, full service cafeteria, computer resource room, chemistry and physical science labs, art studio, music facility, gym, football and soccer fields.

International Education System
The Highlands School belongs to a growing international network of schools implementing Integral Formationsm, the Legionary method of education.  Our students benefit from the many opportunities that this worldwide association provides.

Intellectual Formation

The Highlands School successfully develops each student’s intellectual capabilities and cultivates a love for learning and truth.  The academic expectations are high, yet attainable.

Individual Attention
Teachers strive to learn the strengths, weaknesses and interests of their students in order to help each student reach his or her full potential. 

Pre-K and Kindergarten
The Pre-K and Kindergarten years are a child’s first steps outside the home into the greater world. Through phonics, storytelling, art, music, arithmetic and conversational Spanish, children develop wholesome learning skills and cultivate a great imagination.

Visual perception and coordination are developed through supervised games and activities.  Creative toys aid students in acquiring mathematical skills such as measuring, counting, addition and subtraction.  A phonics based pre-reading program develops reading skills.

1st through 3rd Grade
The Highlands School cultivates good habits of honesty, dedication, cheerfulness, reverence and perseverance.

At this elementary level, special emphasis is given to phonics, spelling, grammar, geography, and arithmetic.  Religion classes meet daily.  All students learn to use the computer and continue to study Spanish.

Instruction in these grades is rooted in the fundamentals with an emphasis on communication skills.  Students keep journals to enrich writing skills, practice recitation and public speaking and begin to prepare multi-media presentations.

Boys and Girls School 4-12 Grade
Many studies have proven that a single-gender setting consistently produces deeper student participation in the classroom.

The core curriculum for both boys and girls schools is liberal arts.  The Highlands School College Preparatory Program of sciences, history, advanced mathematics, literature, religion and philosophy develops and prepares qualified leaders for tomorrow’s communities.  Guided study is offered through lectures, small seminars and laboratory work.

Math
The Highlands School follows the Saxon Math  Program through Fifth Grade. Prentice Hall Math curriculum is followed in grades 6 through 12. 
This course of study prepares students, not only for Advanced Placement Calculus, but more importantly to succeed in the math portion of the SAT I and II.

Science
All students are required to take Physics, Biology, and Chemistry, and most students take an Advanced Placement course in one or more of those subjects.

English
Students are exposed to a wide range of English, American and European literature.  All courses are designed to perfect and develop each student’s writing style. AP classes are offered in Language and Literature.

History
Course offerings include European, World and American History, as well as Advanced Placement European History. The History Department strives to develop students’ critical and analytical abilities, particularly the ability to present a reasonable argument based on evidence.

Languages
Spanish and Latin  are offered at The Highlands School as well as AP classes in both languages.

Fine Arts
Art and music are taught throughout Middle School and High School.  Some of the course offerings include:  Drawing, Intro to Art, Ceramics, Choir, Drama, and Music Theory.

Technology
There is an emphasis on computer technology both integrated in the classroom and as dedicated course work.  The Highlands School offers a wide range of technology courses including Web Design and Computer Applications.  The Highlands School graduate will possess a logical order of thought, clarity of expression, critical thinking, inner reflection, public speaking and writing skills and the technical knowledge to support learning objectives at higher levels.

Faculty

There are 55 faculty members  with Bachelor’s degrees.  Those with Master’s degrees include: 3 in the Lower School, 6 in the Middle School and 12 in the High School.  There are two Ph.D.’s in the High School and one in the Middle School.

Counseling and College Placement

The College Counselor assists students in discerning appropriate colleges and universities.  98% of our graduates have gone on to a four year university.  Faculty advisors help find the best college or university for each student. Colleges our graduates have attended include Austin College, Baylor, Benedictine College, Berklee College of Music, Boston College, Bryn Mawr, Christendom College, College of St. Thomas Moore, Franciscan University, George Washington University, Hillsdale College, Hollins University, Loyola, Mount Saint Mary’s College, North Carolina State University, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Our Lady of the Lake, Randolph Macon, Women’s College, Santa Clara College, Seton Hill College, Smith College, Southern Methodist University, Spelman College, St. Edward’s University, St. John’s College in Santa Fe, St. Mary’s College, Stanford, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Texas Christian University, The Citadel, Thomas Aquinas College, Thomas More College, Tulane, The Universities of Texas at Arlington, Austin and Dallas, The University of Dallas, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt, Villanova and Xavier.

Athletics

The Highlands School believes that athletics and physical activity are an important part of a well-rounded, well-formed student.  High School athletics include: soccer, football, track, volleyball, basketball, baseball, cross-country, golf and tennis.  The High School plays in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.  The Middle School and Lower School are currently playing through the Dallas Parochial League and independent associations in Irving and Coppell.

Extracurricular  Activities

We offer a growing variety of extra-curricular activities.  These activities are important in developing a well-rounded student, who has experienced success and yearns to learn even more.  Activities include: Model UN, Drama Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, Choir, Yearbook, Student Ambassadors, Conquest Club and Challenge Club, Math, Student Newspaper, Science and Chess Clubs.

Daily Life

Mass is celebrated in the chapel every morning at 7:30 am. All families are welcome. Grade level Masses are a part of the school day program each week with Lower School Mass on Wednesday and Middle and Upper School Mass on Tuesday  and Thursday. The school day begins at 8:05 a.m. Dismissal for Lower Middle and High School is 3:00 p.m. Lower School dismisses at 2:45 p.m. on Wednesdays. Any students not picked up by3:30 p.m. will be taken to After- School Care, and a fee may be assessed.

After School Care

The After School Care hours of operation are from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm for those days school is in session.  There will be no care on early release days or school holidays.  The yearly rate for the program is $1,400 per child.  There are two payment plans options: 1.) Pay for the full year of service by August 1, 2009 and receive a 5% discount ($1,250 per child), 2.) Pay for the year of service in two installments of $700 on August 3, 2009 and January 4, 2010.  These rates are for service provided Monday through Friday, 3:30 to 6:00 pm.

Cost and Financial Aid

Tuition and co-curricular fees for the 2009-2010 school year:

There is a $500 discount given to every student that is registered in a Catholic parish.  Sibling discounts are available to all families who have more than two children attending The Highlands School for full days.  The discount for a third and fourth child is 15%. For each additional child after the fourth, tuition is free.  New families who wish to receive the Catholic discount must present a letter from their parish.

Admissions Procedure

A $75 application fee must accompany a completed application form; testing for grades Kindergarten through 4th  is included in this fee.  Grades K-4 must take The Highlands School Entrance Exam, grades 5-12 must take the ISEE Standardized test.