We believe St. Gregory provides the supportive learning community and educational program excellence which best prepares our students to be skilled and knowledgeable 21st century leaders and innovators.

How are we different?

In each of the following ways, we believe that St. Gregory offers an educational quality superior to that of any other school. In doing so, St. Gregory provides the premier eduational program in Southern Arizona for students in grades six through twelve.

More Engaging: We know students learn best when actively engaged in the work of learning, when motivated to pursue their passions, and when enjoying a genuine and love of learning that will last a lifetime.  At St. Gregory, students are vigorously engaged: able to participate actively and widely in small classes, to work closely with teachers, and to inquire deeply into their interests.   Our school participates annually in a national survey of student engagement, and we earn high scores for our achievement in student engagement.

Better Preparation: To succeed in college and beyond, students require strong mastery of subject content, and they need excellent skills in analysis, critical and creative thinking, and written and oral communication.  St. Gregory graduates thrive in college and in careers with the benefit of our preparation.  We regularly survey our alumni to learn how we can do better in our preparation, and we are the only school in Arizona to use a comprehensive national test evaluating our program's quality in preparing students' thinking skills for college and work readiness.

Greater Leadership Education: St. Gregory has offered leadership education for thirty years.  Our students have more opportunity to lead teams and clubs, and to speak publicly than at almost any other school.  Our magnificent campus hosts an outstanding ropes challenge course at which students learn to take risks, build confidence, and lead teams.   Although our program promotes leadership education to all students at every grade level, our leadership institute provides a unique leadership diploma to those students who complete a wide array of leadership preparation experiences.

Stronger Education for Innovation: With a long history of excellence in the fine and performing arts, with science laboratory facilities rivaling those of many colleges, and with a deep commitment to expressive and creative writing, we have the programs necessary to instill in our students the skills of creativity, ingenuity, and innovation.   If the proficiencies most necessary for success in our new era of global change and competition can be reduced to one word, "innovation" is that word.  We are committed to preparing students with this proficiency.  Our new institute for innovation education informs all that we do to best cultivate in our students the deep curiosity and the powerful problem-solving which are hallmarks of an innovator.

Smaller Classes: St. Gregory class sizes average under fifteen, and our teachers have average student "loads" of fewer than sixty.   This results in more personal attention, more mentoring, and more feedback on student work.   Students also benefit from more opportunities for classroom participation, more leadership opportunities, and greater comfort and security in class.  One teacher recently explained that students cannot not participate in his language class, because he calls on each of his eleven students an average of seven times a period.  Research has demonstrated repeatedly that small class sizes provide better and greater learning for all students.

More Inspiring Teaching: The faculty is the cornerstone of any school. At St. Gregory, we are proud of the proven experience and academic credentials of our teachers, most of whom hold advanced degrees in the fields in which they teach.  But more than mastery of their fields, our teachers have a genuine love of teaching and a commitment to being mentors and role models for students in close, trusting relationships.

Broader Program for All in Academics, Arts, Athletics, and Service: Some schools offer excellent academics in a narrow program that stints on athletics and arts; other schools offer great extra-curricular programs but without the small classes and academic culture St. Gregory does.  But even at a large school with a big sports program, it is hard to have a well-rounded program when only a select few students make varsity, or where students must choose to concentrate on one sport rather than three, or select sports but not theater.  At St. Gregory, students can play three sports, perform in musical theater, participate in community service, and take a full academic load to boot.  This is well-rounded education.

Educating the Whole Child: St. Gregory believes in educating the whole child (intellectual, physical, emotional, social, spiritual, aesthetic) in a supportive, student-centered school community that values the rigors and joy of learning and the dignity, self-worth, and potential of each individual.

More Personal College Counseling: Virtually all of our graduates continue their studies in colleges and universities of their choice. You will find St. Gregory graduates at Columbia and Dartmouth, the University of Michigan, and the University of Arizona Honors Program, Yale and Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, Bard, Johns Hopkins, and other fine universities.  Our personalized college counseling offers a full-time, highly trained, professional college counselor serving a smaller number of students than at almost any other school.  This offers a high value to our students, who work with our counselor to thoroughly evaluate a wide range of options and seek to make the perfect match of student and university.