In this age of constant evolution and passing fads, what actually goes into a truly great education? Shouldn’t it be more than facts? At Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, we view education as preparation for life—living a purposeful life grounded in integrity and wisdom.
Educating the Whole Person in the 21st Century
While modern education certainly has options, it can sometimes prioritize standardized metrics rather than a broader education for the whole person. Parents, in particular, look for an environment that encourages both intellectual engagement and moral character. Without a strong foundation of ethical thinking and a sense of right and wrong, what happens when an adolescent is left on their own to face the world of college or the workplace? A school that supports both academic excellence and character development is a community where students can find both.
A Classical and Virtue-Based Education
Classical charter school Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, in Salt Lake City, Utah, promotes a classical, virtue-based education. Its curriculum seeks to promote not just intelligence but a sense of Truth, Honor and Virtue as well. According to Maeser, “It is to awaken the power within to do good.” By combining a challenging college preparatory curriculum with a character-based, virtue-based education, Maeser gives students the necessary tools for success.
Students learn to read and discuss primary documents and the Great Books through the Socratic Method. In addition to a classical, virtue-based education that promotes Truth, Honor and Virtue, the school also develops critical thinking, clear writing, and other communication skills to help with a lifelong commitment to intellectual pursuits.
At Maeser, students belong to a small community. In this setting, teachers know them personally. Students don’t just read history; they study it to understand the lessons it can teach. The students in the school don’t read literature and then take tests; they analyze books and discuss what can be learned from them. They also learn Latin and study Greek, which give them insight into the origins of Western thought, improve their English and Latin vocabulary, and sharpen their intellects. The school teaches an integrated program in history, literature, art, and philosophy, showing how these subjects relate to each other and giving students a great appreciation of the liberal arts.
Maeser faculty members are teachers passionate about what they teach and students who are committed to helping students excel. From Maeser students’ challenging Winterim program, in which experiential learning is an important part of the curriculum, to their various capstone projects which show how they’ve developed in the program, Maeser students will know how to think deeply, honorably and faithfully.
Virtue-Based Education and Community Engagement
A great education at Maeser goes beyond academics and helps prepare students for life after college. We help young people mature into wise, virtuous leaders for an intricately complicated world by giving them opportunities to practice their intellectual and ethical preparation by serving others and leading others. Through parent engagement and the strength of our community, we create an environment that brings faculty, students, and parents all moving in the same direction for the pursuit of virtue and scholarship.
Evidence of Excellence: Preparing Students for College and Life Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy students have proven that our rigorous program is preparing them for college success. Maeser is recognized among the best charter high schools in Utah County and the #1 ranked high school in Utah by U.S. News & World Report. Our students maintain a 1330 average SAT score and our students have a 95%+ graduation rate, and most students will go on to college. Our high achieving students demonstrate our effectiveness as a college prep school in Utah County. Our students are demonstrating that truth, honor, and virtue will help prepare a student not only for university success, but for life success. Alumni students report that they credit their success in college and later in their careers to the critical thinking skills, the honor code, and the love of learning taught by a classical education and a virtue-based community like the one at Karl G. Maeser. This tells us that Truth, Honor, and Virtue are habits of the heart that will carry them through.
If you are considering a school for your child and you value the opportunity for them to strengthen their thinking ability, character and a pursuit of wisdom, we encourage you to learn more about the difference at Maeser. We will demonstrate to you how the classical approach and virtue-based education will help shape them into a thoughtful, honored, and valuable student and adult.
FAQ’s about Classical Education at Maeser
What is classical education, and why is it different than what we are used to? Classical education is a curriculum model for schools that is based on the original liberal arts curriculum and that focuses on primary sources, great books, and the Socratic method, rather than on career training or rote memorization, in an effort to develop the skills of critical thinking, speaking ability, and moral reasoning.
What is the “Socratic” Method and what does it look like in the classroom? In a Socratic discussion or seminar, the teacher facilitates the discussion, encouraging students to ask questions of each other and of the text, and then to explain and defend their opinions based on their reading and critical thinking, instead of just telling students the answers. This teaches students how to analyze and defend their thoughts and develop their own opinions.
Is classical education appropriate for all children? Maeser offers the classical education curriculum to any children who are self-motivated, curious about the world, and who seek a deep, purposeful education. It is rigorous but is designed to meet students where they are.
How does Maeser prepare my student for college? At Maeser, students develop strong critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills, and they engage with complex subject matter through our extensive college prep curriculum. All this will serve students when they get to college and beyond. The high SAT scores and college acceptance rate are evidence of this success.
What does the phrase “Truth, Honor, Virtue” mean at Maeser? Truth, Honor, and Virtue guide our curriculum, our classes, our student code of honor, our student-student relations, and our student-faculty mentorship and is a guiding principle for all that we do.
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