About

Ursuline Academy is an independent, Catholic, college preparatory school for young women in grades 7-12. Founded in 1946, Ursuline Academy in Dedham operates under the sponsorship of the international network of Ursuline Sisters, the oldest religious teaching order devoted to the education of young women.

Admissions

Our Admissions team welcomes families for tours throughout the year, and we sponsor events designed for students to explore our campus, sit in on classes, and to get to know our community. Ours is a holistic approach to knowing each student as we review qualifications for admissions. Learn why families choose Ursuline, and how our graduates become young women of character, faith and scholarship!

ACADEMICS

Ursuline Academy offers a rigorous program of study designed to challenge and inspire students, and our faculty encourage their love of learning, reading, and scholarly exploration in the pursuit of truth. Our graduates are fully prepared to study, analyze, and communicate persuasively to meet the challenges of university work.

LIVING THE MISSION

The values of an Ursuline education– a Catholic education– were established centuries ago when Saint Angela Merici dedicated her life to forming a company of young women engaged in bettering their communities. At Ursuline, we challenge our students to live lives of integrity that reflect the principles of Catholic social teaching, and to be Christ to one another in today’s world. We welcome students of all faiths, and support every student on her spiritual journey.

Technology

The overarching goal of the technology curriculum is to provide the students with a basic understanding of technology and engineering design for educational and social usage. Technology curricula are always evolving to remain current with technological changes and trends. Upper level courses earn a math credit.

Technology Classes

Computer Science Discoveries

In this course, 7th and 8th grade students follow an introductory computer science curriculum that is mapped to Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) standards. The course takes a wide lens on computer science by covering topics such as problem solving, programming, physical computing, user centered design, and data. Students engage in a variety of projects, including: coding their own games, animations, and robots. The curriculum includes a variety of student-centered, inquiry-based activities, which allow for creative exploration of coding, electronics and mechanical engineering. Students in this course build on their coding skills progressively during 7th and 8th grade, and have opportunities to use fabrication equipment, including laser cutters and 3D printers, as they bring their ideas to life.

Programming in Python

In this course, students learn Python, a versatile, beginner-friendly, general-purpose programming language designed to be used in a range of applications. Often used to build websites and software, automate tasks, and conduct data analysis, Python is one of the most widely used programming languages today. As students gain understanding of the programming constructs that comprise Python, they also further develop their analytical and computational thinking skills, which will serve them well in any discipline they pursue in the future.

AP Computer Science Principles

In this course, students follow the curriculum as set by the College Board and may earn college credit through the Advanced Placement (AP) exam taken in the spring. Students learn the principles that underlie the science of computers and develop the thinking skills that computer scientists use. Students will work independently and collaboratively to creatively address real-world issues using the tools and processes of computation. The class encourages students to make connections between computing concepts, analyze computational work, and work collaboratively to solve problems. Coursework includes designing a program to solve a problem or complete a task, applying abstractions in computation and modeling, and communicating ideas about technology and computation.

AP Computer Science A

In this course, students follow the curriculum as set by the College Board and may earn college credit through the Advanced Placement (AP) exam taken in the spring. Students learn the concepts and tools of computer science as they learn a subset of the Java programming language. Coursework includes hands-on work to design, write, and test computer programs that solve problems or accomplish tasks. Students design a program, develop the algorithms it needs, and write code to implement them. Expectations include correcting errors, neatly documenting the development process, and explaining how program code works.

Why study Computer Science?

Hear from our students about why they study Computer Science at Ursuline!