Amidst the clamor for test scores and admissions, many parents and teachers ask a more profound question of our educational institutions: how can we better equip our youth to lead lives of meaning, perseverance, and moral leadership in a fractured world? At Maeser Preparatory Academy, the answer is a single-minded devotion to Truth, Honor, and Virtue through a classical education.
A Virtue-Based Education: The Maeser Tradition
At Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, we are the charter school Utah families have been looking for to offer a virtue based education Utah. We operate on the fundamental belief that true education, as our namesake Karl G. Maeser said, is an “enabling of a person’s power to do good.” In other words, we are educating young people for college, but more importantly for life. That means nurturing the mind as much as the heart, cultivating critical thinking as much as compassion, and encouraging the love of knowledge so that it becomes a pursuit of wisdom.
As a top rated charter school Utah, we offer a classical education that embraces the liberal arts in which education is defined as the development of a free mind. In our school curriculum we integrate studies in the humanities (history, literature, philosophy) and STEM (math, science) to demonstrate connections between different fields. We also study texts from the past (great books and primary sources) that represent the best thinking across history. While this may appear old-fashioned, we find that students educated this way have minds that are more flexible and creative and able to reason and communicate more effectively.
Engaging Students at a Utah Charter High School
The experience of students attending this Utah high school includes the study of logic as well as the use of the Socratic Method. Students who attend this Utah high school are not simply memorizing facts in their classroom; rather they are discussing, reasoning, and exploring the ideas found in these texts through dialogue. The classroom community of this charter school in Utah County is a supportive environment built on trust, respect, and integrity. Through this process, students learn how to be civil, how to analyze the ideas of others, and how to develop ideas that are reasoned and persuasive. It is in the discussion with their fellow students where they gain confidence to speak up with their ideas in public forums as well as the humility to admit when they are wrong.
We are known for having small classes in a close-knit community. We know each student at this charter high school in Utah and offer mentoring and coaching for both academic and personal growth. With a strict Honor Code in place, students are held accountable to do their best, both in academics as well as in their character. Students are encouraged to pursue a variety of co-curricular opportunities to become engaged and develop leadership skills. Winterim offers an alternative way to study that allows students to apply learning in more practical ways, and our students have found great success.
Community Engagement and the Maeser Graduate
The education at Maeser Prep impacts individuals as much as it does the larger community. We believe an educated person needs to also be a virtuous one; a good citizen who is contributing to society as a leader and a person of integrity who makes decisions that are good for themselves and for the rest of us. Our graduates leave our halls not just with strong academic credentials but with moral clarity and character that will see them through life’s difficulties and help them positively impact this world.
Proof of our unique method
We are able to provide students with the aforementioned advantages while also achieving amazing academic results. Maeser is ranked among the best schools, including a #1 ranking in Utah by U.S. News & World Report. Our students receive an average SAT of 1330 with a 95%+ graduation rate, making us well-prepared to be the college prep school in Utah County. Most of our graduates earn acceptance into colleges and receive major scholarships. Yet more than any statistic can reflect, our success can be found in the development of our students into lifelong learners and good, virtuous citizens.
Frequently asked questions
What is classical education, and how does it apply to our world today? Classical education is an ancient educational approach that uses the liberal arts and sciences, and stresses the importance of critical thinking, rhetoric, and great books. Classical education is important today because it not only focuses on teaching students facts, but how to think, giving them the ability to use their brains and critical thinking in any field they pursue for the rest of their lives.
How does character formation help my child for the rest of his or her life? Character formation involves the teaching of virtue to students such as truthfulness, honor, and diligence. This is essential in the formation of lifelong good citizens who are prepared for the rigors of college, career, and marriage. Students who develop this skill and become more self-reliant are more likely to live a happy and virtuous life, as their internal sense of right and wrong will guide them in the difficult world.
Does classical education only apply to a certain type of student? Although classical education is an extremely high-level education, it is one that is meant for all students. In particular, it allows for a very active learning environment, discussion of ideas with peers, and the development of strong communication skills. Any and all students will benefit from these qualities as they help them to maximize their potential.
How is Maeser preparing its students for college? We prepare our students for college by focusing on a difficult curriculum, teaching the Socratic Method, and studying primary source works. These three things combined will prepare students in their ability to communicate their ideas on paper, think analytically, and read with an analytical mindset. This is exactly what colleges look for in the students they admit and why Maeser students earn scholarships and attend the best universities in the country.
What is the Socratic Method? The Socratic Method involves an interactive discussion where the teacher and students will actively engage in the exchange of ideas based upon the questioning of the other, using this process to uncover and understand what they actually know. This method allows students to not only learn material at Maeser but will also prepare them with critical thinking skills to use throughout their lives.
For more information regarding enrollment and to explore how Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy can teach your child to pursue Truth, Honor, and Virtue, learn more.