What if we could give our kids an education that isn’t simply about knowledge, but that also prepares them for life? What if education also helped them become good? It is at the heart of our educational philosophy at Maeser Prep: truth, honor, virtue.

What parents really want is an education that prepares their kids for life. How can we help students to grow in wisdom while also cultivating good character?

At Maeser Prep, the leading classical charter school in Utah, we focus on what our namesake, Karl G. Maeser, called “awakening the power within to do good.” We believe that truth, honor, and virtue are not just concepts that students learn, but are habits of the heart. We integrate them into every class and every moment at school, because we know that the ultimate purpose of a classical liberal arts education is to help students learn to think well and then live well. Our virtue based education in Utah encourages discussion about great books, the great events of history, and the great ideas of Western civilization.

The Socratic Method challenges students to learn in an environment of truth (seeking it diligently and carefully), honor (respecting one another even when we disagree), and virtue (discernment and prudence).

At Maeser Prep, the values of truth, honor, and virtue live in every classroom. Our discussion-based classes encourage students to speak up (with truthfulness and respect) and to question and seek. These skills are important to master in every course, whether it is a discussion about a classic novel or a question about an economic theory. This helps to cultivate a spirit that is inquisitive, engaged, and disciplined.

With our integrated curriculum, knowledge learned in one class feeds into another, helping students build a complete and connected understanding of the world. This helps students become the kind of citizens who are active in the community. Our integrated curriculum also includes Winterim, where students go on trips and learn to be brave, self-reliant, and helpful. Finally, our Capstone project requires students to show how much they have learned in school. All of these experiences prepare our students to become great students at a great Utah college, but they also prepare our students for success in life.

Karl G. Maeser Prep is a small, unified school. Because we live our values, our students work and live together with respect for one another. This is important to Maeser Prep because our students are not only a classmate. Together, we at Maeser Preparatory Academy will work toward an Honor Code that serves as the foundation of trust, honor, and love. This tight-knit community ensures that each student will be known and loved and that each will grow up to their full potential, intellectual and moral. It is where we develop strong and virtuous character, which is integral to an environment of support necessary for profound growth and authentic relationship.

Evidence of Goodness: The Product of Good Minds

Truth, Honor, and Virtue do produce good products. Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy consistently performs extremely well in national education rankings, including being rated #1 in Utah by U.S. News & World Report. Our graduates are incredibly well-prepared, as our graduates consistently score an average 1330 on SATs and graduate at 95%+ rates, and receive admission to top universities around the country not only for their academic achievement, but also for their excellent moral character, critical thinking, and capacity for leadership and service. These results confirm us as the best education near me because we are a true education that prepares our graduates in both body and soul.

FAQ: How Do Truth, Honor, and Virtue Work at Maeser Prep?

Truth, Honor, and Virtue are foundational principles that are taught and modeled at Maeser Prep. Truth is pursued in the classroom via primary source work and serious academic study, Honor is practiced in the classroom via Socratic classroom discussions and intellectual engagement, and Virtue is taught via character education topics, service projects, and the Honor Code. We seek to prepare our students in the virtue of all things and to teach Truth, Honor, and Virtue in all they do.

Does a Classical Education, with Focus on Virtue, Help Prepare My Student for Work After School?

We are not a vocational school; but, classical and virtue-based learning prepare the mind for anything. Classical, virtue-based learning prepares students by equipping them with the ability to think critically, to communicate well, to argue ethically, to solve problems, and to adapt to intellectual changes in the workplace. These are all highly valued skills by the modern employer and by universities and these skills are the keys to success in many fields and help create new ideas and new methods and new leaders of character in our society.

How Is Character Developed Outside of the Classroom at Maeser Prep?

Character growth is promoted at Maeser Prep via the Honor Code, character development topics, service projects, and the community we have established, and the various leadership positions and service opportunities, and via the Winterim program which promotes the development of the virtues via experiential learning.

What Types of Students Do Well at Maeser Prep?

Students do well at Maeser Prep if they are inquisitive, interested in the ideas, and willing to participate in classroom discussions. They value truth and they are willing to be open to new ideas and their own opinions being questioned and they value the relationships we build in a community, and value honor and respect and truth. Maeser Prep will appeal to them since the school is a small community and they value their own character and moral growth as well as their intellectual growth, all the while being academically challenging.

How Do I Apply?

We welcome you to find out more about how Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy can prepare your child with an education based on Truth, Honor, and Virtue and with excellent academic preparation to prepare your child for a good life. To learn more, please learn more about enrollment and become part of the community we have built to teach children to think and act with wisdom and virtue.