Academic Vision & Philosophy

The John Carroll School is a Catholic, independent, secondary school for young men and women that exists as a corporation within the secondary school system of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The school offers a challenging college preparatory curriculum that incorporates a spectrum of courses and activities to complement the needs and interests of our students.

The following quotation from “Documents of Vatican II” best defines the philosophy and mission of John Carroll School:

A true education aims at the formation of the human person spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically…

John Carroll teaches Catholic and democratic principles and is aware of its responsibility to give consistent attention to Catholic moral and religious training of young men and women along with the academic and physical disciplines. Since we believe parents have the primary duty and right to educate their children in the manner of their choosing, we exist as an alternative to a strictly secular education.

The family, church, community, and the nation simultaneously play respective roles in the education of our youth. John Carroll assists these agencies by undertaking the role of Christian education; a role we believe requires sterling qualities of mind and heart, qualified academic preparation, and constant readiness to begin anew. We recognize our responsibility to elevate the consciousness of our students concerning the role of stewardship in the world. We encourage Catholic Christian beliefs, democratic values, and academic excellence.

We endeavor to develop in our students, the attitudes, values, knowledge, and skills to enable them to contribute actively, intelligently, and responsibly to a better world, as they strive daily “to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8)

Objectives of a John Carroll Education

Motivated by the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Roman Catholic Church; and fully aware of the importance of our mission and message, John Carroll School strives to:

  • Provide Catholic secondary education that upholds the values and ideals of the Roman Catholic Church while still enabling students and faculty of all faiths to feel at home.
  • Guide students to realize that Christianity is a way of life based on eternal truth that must affect their attitude and conduct in every life situation.
  • Promote a global perspective that leads to involvement in the world and concern for others throughout the world.
  • Enable students to understand world cultures, generations, and lifestyles; and appreciate their positive contribution to our nation and our world. The school will afford students opportunities to learn new languages, experience diverse values and traditions of world cultures, and learn to live in a modern, pluralistic world.
  • Enabled each student to reach their full potential by implementing curricula that foster academic excellence, and promote a systematic approach to learning.
  • Develop academic integrity by establishing standards of integrity and an honor code.
  • Develop skill in communicating ideas through writing, speaking and creative expression.
  • Develop skill in using technology as a primary learning tool.
  • Develop the ability to reason and analyze through a carefully planned curriculum in mathematics and the sciences.
  • Promote responsible and active citizenship in our democratic society by providing opportunities for decision making, arbitration, voting, and leadership.
  • Promote the fine arts disciplines in order to provide avenues for emotional health, critical thinking, defining values, and creativity.
  • Prepare students to make post-secondary and vocational choices in keeping with their interests and abilities by providing individual guidance, testing services, print materials, positive student-teacher relationships, field trips, and guest speakers.
  • Emphasize the importance of competitive sports and physical education, and to promote healthy lifestyles by educating students about important health issues including the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, and sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Promote increased professional competency through regular department meetings, continued formal study, administrative supervision, participation in professional development programs, and membership in professional organizations.
  • Work with parents to develop an educational partnership with the school.