INTENTIONAL.
OUTSTANDING.
A Timeless Legacy, A Bold Future
St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, the foundress of Sacred Heart education, believed that the path to a more just and peaceful world was through the education of girls. Building upon St. Madeleine Sophie’s vision, for the last century, Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart has provided access to a transformative education to girls, in an environment specifically designed for them.
Through an empowering learning environment that centers the experiences of girls and women, that shapes its pedagogy and curriculum around how girls learn best, and that provides ample opportunity for our students to discover and use their voices, we prepare our graduates to participate, shape, and lead in our ever-changing world.
See How Our Alumni Are Changemakers in Their Communities and Beyond
Portrait of a Graduate
When we envision the Forest Ridge graduate, we see not just scholars, but authentic leaders and global citizens. These individuals possess the intellectual acumen, moral compass, and emotional resilience necessary to effect positive change in the world. Our Portrait of a Graduate serves as a compass, guiding us toward the cultivation of essential competencies and values that transcend disciplinary boundaries and prepare students for the complexities of an interconnected world.
Today's Learners, Tomorrow's Leaders
Forest Ridge’s academic program prepares our students to lead lives of meaning and purpose. Through an intentional blend of challenging core curriculum, multi-disciplinary courses, and engaging experiential learning opportunities, our students grow in the competence, confidence, and courage needed to grapple with the most pressing dilemmas of their generation, preparing them to meet the needs of tomorrow’s world.
Our dynamic and supportive faculty, robust course offerings, and innovative bell schedule ensure our students are equally challenged and supported. With an average class size of 12, our students are empowered to explore new intellectual horizons, delve deep into their academic interests, and take ownership of their own learning.
The Mod Schedule
As a school committed to preparing our students to lead in the world to come, not the world that once was, we are tasked with reimaging our approach to education by asking the deeper questions, discerning what is best for how girls learn, and then making it a reality. Backed by researched, and intentionally designed with the well-being of our students in mind, Forest Ridge is proud to be among a select group of highly-regarded independent schools in the United States to offer the Mod schedule.
Here, in our upper school, our college-like schedule, takes the traditional 180-day school year and divides it the best way possible for our students. Offering six learning modules, each lasting approximately six weeks, Forest Ridge students are engaged and focused on their learning and not overwhelmed. Taking 3.5 classes at a time, Forest Ridge students stretch their learning in 80-minute blocks, allowing for more focus on ambitious learning and retention.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart prepares students for the future to come, not the world we once knew. This commitment drives us to re-envision the way our faculty teach, the way our students demonstrate their learning, and the way we structure our day. Responding to the needs of today’s students positions us to effectively prepare them to be tomorrow's leaders who address humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Experiential
Providing hands-on learning opportunities that connect academic concepts to real-world experiences.
Multidisciplinary
Integrating knowledge and skills from multiple subjects to provide a comprehensive understanding of complex topics.
Future-Focused
Emphasizing the skill development and knowledge acquisition necessary to prepare students to meet the demands of tomorrow's world.
Mission-Aligned
Educating the whole-student- heart, mind, and will –preparing students to make a positive and meaningful impact on this world.
Global
Exploring diverse perspectives, fostering cultural understanding, and preparing students to engage responsibly and effectively in an interconnected world.
Collaborative
Fostering shared learning experiences where students work together in groups to achieve shared learning goals, active participation is supported, and collective knowledge construction can thrive.
Assessment, Feedback and Promoting Growth
At Forest Ridge School, we leverage the latest research-grounded assessment and grading practices to enhance student learning and foster a growth mindset. Our approach ensures that grades accurately reflect students' mastery of content and skills, rather than capturing mistakes made during the learning process. This provides the most accurate information about what a student has learned by the end of the learning process or unit of study.
Key Features of Our Grading System
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Mastery: Assessment-Focused Grading: In both divisions, grades are based entirely on students' formal assessments. Traditional homework, practice assignments, or any formative work where students have not yet received feedback are not included. This means our grades reflect true mastery, free from the influence of early mistakes.
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Teacher as Guide: Our grading approach positions teachers as supportive guides in the learning process. Research shows that students, especially girls, are more motivated, engaged, and achieve higher when they learn in supportive classroom environments anchored by positive teacher-student relationships.
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Environment of Risk-Taking: Our grading system seeks to motivate and empower students, encouraging them to take risks and tackle challenges. This leads to greater success and deeper learning, avoiding the patterns seen in traditional grading where fear of failure can hinder engagement (Barron & Harackiewicz, 2001; Grant & Dweck, 2003).
Division Specific Grading Practices
At Forest Ridge School, our innovative grading practices ensure that students receive the most accurate and supportive evaluation of their academic process, setting them up for success and a lifelong love of learning.
Middle School
We use Standards Based Grading to provide students and families with a deep, narrative understanding of the student's mastery of content and essential learning habits, supporting their success in our rigorous academic program.
Learn More About our middle school program
Upper School
Grades are reported on an A-F scale, continuing our commitment to accurately reflecting students' knowledge and skills.