Signature Programs

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Preparing for a lifetime of success.

We learn because we want to pursue our dreams. But these passions rarely involve a lifetime listening to lectures. Holy Cross girls actively participate in the learning process. They work with technology and venture into the real world to try future careers. Our girls develop practical skills that will help them succeed in college and in life.

STEM Focus

We recognize that Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) affects every aspect of our daily lives, and so we adapt our curriculum accordingly. Our girls investigate the physical world, embrace the scientific method, and conduct experiments in state-of-the-art laboratories. Through our 1:1 iPad program our girls always have a wealth of educational resources at their fingertips, allowing them to explore classroom topics on a deeper level and realize the accessibility of innovations being made around the globe. The award-winning Holy Cross robotics team, the “AHC Transformers,” competes in tournaments against regional high schools. Our Project Lead the Way Engineering Program empowers our girls to solve actual engineering problems, such as designing houses and programming electronic devices.

Students educated in an all-girls school are three times more likely to pursue engineering careers than girls in co-ed settings.

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Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment

Holy Cross seniors in strong academic standing can earn college credit through a partnership with Marymount University. The Academy offers four dual credit courses, Creative Writing, Short Fiction, Religions of the World, and Microeconomics, which are all taught by Holy Cross faculty who have also attained adjunct faculty status at Marymount University. Seniors who complete a dual credit course will receive both high school and college credit, which may be transferable to other colleges and universities, depending on the school’s policy.

Holy Cross also offers dual enrollment with Marymount University. Beginning in the summer before senior year, Holy Cross students may take any introductory course at the university at a deeply discounted rate. Through the dual enrollment program, students may access the university’s athletic, academic, and research facilities.

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Senior Project

It’s hard to know what career to pursue from a classroom desk. That’s why every Holy Cross girl completes a Senior Project before graduation, which immerses her in the day-to-day demands, challenges, and rewards of a potential career. Through the 60-hour, off-site internship, students gain firsthand experience in a professional setting and draw connections between their academics and the world around them. In recent years, our girls have worked with The Washington Post, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and National Institutes of Health (NIH).

“It was such a pleasure to host your student. She was a very delightful student and was so excited that she was given this opportunity. We always welcome students who are pursuing a career in medicine, but especially when they are interested in Pediatrics/Neonatology.” –Ninian Kring, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

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One Schoolhouse

We don’t limit learning opportunities to the physical classroom. Students can enroll in online classes as part of the online education community One Schoolhouse, expanding course offerings to include more STEM classes, specialized electives, and AP courses. Fully accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools and the International Coalition of Girls Schools,

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