Academics
Innovative and rigorous
The college-preparatory curriculum at St. Teresa’s Academy is innovative, rigorous and proudly traditional. Students choose from more than 100 course selections available, ranging from calculus, chemistry and world languages to graphic design, computer programming and dance. Every year, STA graduates receive merit-based scholarships to prestigious colleges and universities. At STA, working hard, challenging each other and striving to be the best is the norm, not the exception.
St. Teresa’s Academy has maintained continuous accreditation since 1923, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to academic excellence and continuous improvement. In 2024, STA renewed its institutional accreditation through Cognia, a nonprofit organization that recognizes schools for meeting rigorous standards in leadership, learning environments, and student success.
Cognia recognizes schools that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation, and effective leadership. To earn Cognia accreditation, a school must submit to internal and external review. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement. Schools in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term.
The Academy’s “Institution Index of Education Quality” (IEQ), a measure of overall performance, was 366 vs. the Cognia network average of 253. Scores above 300 indicate the institution meets Cognia’s highest standards for accreditation.
STA IEQ: 366 vs. Network Average: 253
STA exceeded network averages on all seven high-level performance criteria:
- Stakeholder Feedback Analysis – STA score of 4.0 vs. network average of 3.1
- Student Performance Analysis – 4.0 vs. 3.1 average
- Learning Environments Analysis – 4.0 vs. 3.1 average
- Culture of Learning – 3.5 vs. 3.1 average
- Leadership for Learning – 3.5 vs. 3.1 average
- Engagement of Learning – 4.0 vs. 3.0 average
- Growth in Learning – 3.8 vs. 3.0 average
In addition, St. Teresa’s Academy has earned Cognia STEM Certification for the second consecutive cycle, recognizing its innovative STEM and STEAM programming. STA was the second all-girls’ high school in the United States and the second school in the Kansas City bi-state region to earn this distinction.
Through interdisciplinary, hands-on learning and real-world problem-solving, the Academy prepares students to explore new ideas and pursue opportunities in STEM fields.
In 2024, St. Teresa’s Academy earned Cognia School of Distinction status, an honor awarded to just 60 schools worldwide out of more than 1,950 accreditation reviews. STA was the only school in Kansas or Missouri to receive this recognition.
The distinction reflects the Academy’s commitment to academic excellence, effective leadership, and a culture of continuous improvement. STA earned an Institution Index of Education Quality score of 366, well above Cognia’s network average of 253.
The Modern & Classical Language Department is approved to award the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy to qualified students of French, Latin and Spanish. This program recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing one or more languages in addition to English. It offers an opportunity to demonstrate the linguistic and cultural skills these students possess to universities and future employers.
Criteria to receive the seal of biliteracy:
A. School criteria for English
- ACT score of 18 for the Missouri Seal
- ACT score of 21 for the Distinguished Seal
- SAT score of 940 for the Missouri Seal
- SAT score of 1060 for the Distinguished Seal
B. School criteria for languages other than English
Students need to fulfill one of the following:
- AP Language and Culture for French and Spanish. 3 or higher ( Missouri Seal) .5 (Distinguished Seal)
- STAMP4S for French and Spanish. Intermediate Mid ( Missouri Seal). Advanced Low (Distinguished Seal)
- ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview For French and Spanish. Intermediate Mid (Missouri Seal). Advanced Low (Distinguished Seal)
- ACTFL AAPPL for French and Spanish. Intermediate 3 (1-3) (Missouri Seal). Advanced (A ) ( Distinguished)
- COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (Certified by AATSP) for Spanish. B1 (Missouri Seal). B2 (Distinguished Seal)
- ACTFL (ALIRA; ACTFL Latin interpretative Reading Exam) for Latin, Intermediate Mid. (Missouri Seal). Advanced Low (Distinguished Seal)
C. Students need to demonstrate sociocultural competence
To demonstrate sociocultural competence, students need to fulfill the following requisites:
- Belong to the STA Language Honor Society in the year of application for the Seal
- Attend a cultural event related to their target language, discuss their experience in the target language with an STA language teacher, and write a 1-2 page analysis of the cultural significance of the event they attended.
D. Students need to complete four years of the language
Credits Required for Graduation: 26
- English – 4
- Mathematics – 4
- Science – 3 (core science requirements, 1 biology required and 1 chemistry or physics required)
- Social Studies – 3
- Modern & Classical Languages – 3 (2 consecutive and 1 of choice)
- Theology – 4
- Personal Finance – .5
- Computer Science – (.5 Beginning with Class of 2029)
- Communication/Visual/Performing Arts – 1
- Health & Physical Education – 1 (.5 Beginning with Class of 2029)
- Electives – 2.5
- Community Service Hours Required
STA uses a percentage-based grading system. GPA is calculated for each semester and cumulatively.
- The cumulative grade percent is weighted. Honors, college and AP courses receive an additional five points each semester if a student earns a 77.0% or higher.
- 100% is the maximum a student can earn in a regular course. Weighted courses can account for a maximum of 105%.
- 66.5% is required to earn credit in a course.
- STA does not utilize class rank.
- First Honors (93.0% and above) and Second Honors (87.0-92.99%) are awarded each semester.
- Grades of transfer students are not calculated into the cumulative STA grade percent.
- See additional grading policies in the Student/Parent Handbook.
The percentage-based grade system STA uses is very common in parts of the country. There is a lot of variation in high school grading scales and weighting or additional points for honors, AP, dual enrollment courses, etc. Many college admission offices recalculate all student GPAs on a rubric based on their institutional standards and may not include all coursework or additional weight.
The Common App (with 1000+ member universities and used by more than 70% of our seniors) includes a form that counselors complete on every student. The form asks for GPA and the GPA scale, the question is a drop-down menu with 100 as an option (along with other common GPA systems like 4.0, 5.0, 12.0, etc.).