St. Ambrose Academy

St. Ambrose Academy is a Roman Catholic elementary school and high school located on the west side of Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 2003, the school's stated purpose is to offer "a classical education rooted in the Catholic faith."[1]

St. Ambrose Academy
Address
602 Everglade Drive

Madison
,
(Dane County)
,
Wisconsin
53717

United States
Coordinates43°4′28″N 89°30′0″W
Information
TypePrivate, Coeducational
MottoOmnia Christus est nobis!
(Christ is everything for us!)
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)St. Ambrose of Milan
Established2003
PresidentKen Ballweg
DirectorJoan Carey
PrincipalScott Schmiesing
Head of schoolJoan Carey
Faculty10
Grades6–12
Enrollment111 (2020–2021)
Color(s)Red and gold   
SportsBasketball (co-op), volleyball (co-op) cross country, soccer (co-op)
Team nameGuardians
AccreditationNAPC*IS
Director of Classical EducationConstance Nielsen, PhD
Dean of FacultySean Monahan, PhD
Grades 6-8 tuition$7,995
Grades 9-12 tuition$8,575
Websitewww.ambroseacademy.org

Education wing of St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Parish

History

Established in 2003, with classrooms at a facility of Cardinal Stritch University in Madison, by 2004 the school had 14 students.[1] That year the Madison Plan Commission granted a conditional use permit to St. Thomas Aquinas parish at 602 Everglade Drive for up to 60 students.[2] The school continues to operate in the religious education wing of St. Thomas Aquinas parish.[3]

In 2006 and 2007 students attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C.[4] Scott Schmiesing became principal of St. Ambrose Academy in July, 2008.[5] In 2009 the school was accredited by NAPC*IS, the National Association of Private Catholic* and Independent Schools.[6] In 2010 the City of Madison Plan Commission approved enrollment of up to 140 at the school's St. Thomas Aquinas Parish quarters.[7] In 2018, plans were announced to move to a new school building by September 7, 2021.[8]

After the County health office on August 21, 2020, ordered St. Ambrose Academy and all county schools to close in-person instruction in grades 3-12 effective August 24, 2020, the school joined with other Dane County parochial schools in demanding that the county revoke the emergency order August 28, 2020, on the grounds that the order was unconstitutional and unlawful.[9] On August 28, 2020 the school was joined by seven Dane County parochial schools in filing an original action in the Wisconsin Supreme Court challenging the County health office's emergency order on religious liberty grounds and as lacking statutory authority.[10] The school launched a crowdfunding website which raised over $100,000 within days to cover anticipated legal fees.[11] On September 10, 2020, the Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily enjoined Dane County from closing schools.[12]

Curriculum

The six core subjects are English, history, Latin, math, religion, and science. Topical studies that follow a historical progression are taught in a four-year cycle for the senior high and a three-year cycle for the junior high. Each cycle's historical topic is integrated in history, English, and religion, with the other courses reinforcing these studies where possible, yielding a "unified and interdisciplinary approach to each historical period." High school students are required to take two years of Latin.[13]

St. Ambrose Academy high school core curriculum
HistoryReligionScienceEnglish
One AncientsThe Church in the Pagan World/LogicBiologyAncients
Two Medieval/RenaissanceScriptureChemistryMedieval/Renaissance
Three America/GovernmentMoral Theology, Liturgy & SacramentsPhysicsAmerican/Government
Four Enlightenment/The Modern WorldThe Church in the Modern WorldAdvanced ScienceEnlightenment/The Modern World

Religion instruction focuses on "the analysis and understanding of the Scriptures and significant Church documents (such as papal encyclicals and the Catechism)."[14]

Reading Institute

In 2016 [15] the school established the St. Ambrose Academy Reading Institute to assist Catholic school students with dyslexia. This program became the independent Learning Atrium in 2020.[16]

References
  1. Purpose, St. Ambrose Academy website
  2. "West Side Parochial School Ok'd", The Capital Times, Madison, Wis., October 19, 2004.
  3. "Faith Haven" Archived 2008-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, The Capital Times, Madison, Wis., October 13, 2006.
  4. Wagner, Kat (January 17, 2008), "St. Ambrose students to attend march", Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald, p. 8
  5. "St. Ambrose Academy names Scott Schmiesing as new principal", Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald, p. 8, April 24, 2008
  6. http://www.ambroseacademy.org/joomla/index.php St. Ambrose Accredited by NAPC*IS
  7. "City approves request to expand enrollment at St. Ambrose Academy", Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald, June 3, 2010
  8. "New developments at St. Ambrose Academy", Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald, April 26, 2018
  9. "'The rug was pulled from under us': Catholics fight Wisconsin county ban on in-person school", Catholic World Report, August 27, 2020
  10. St. Ambrose Academy, Inc. vs. Parisi
  11. "GiveSendGo, Our Kids Need to Be Back in School"
  12. State Supreme Court temporarily blocks Dane County school order, September 10, 2020
  13. Course of Study
  14. What is Classical Education?, St. Ambrose Academy website
  16. "The Learning Atrium expands its vision", Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald, July 30, 2020
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