Faith Formation & Theology

“In Jesus Christ, the whole of God’s truth has been made manifest.” (CCC, 2466)

Central to our program are faith formation, catechesis, and theology. The Catholic Faith is the foundation of a cohesive worldview that honors God as the source and summit of all that is true, good, and beautiful. Students learn the Catechism and the Faith, why it is true, and how to defend it. We incorporate prayer into daily school life. Students learn to pray, modeled by our staff and teachers. Most importantly, through prayer, we honor God and lift our hearts and minds to Him. This practice is the foundation of true learning. As St. Alphonsus said, “Without prayer, we have neither light nor strength to advance in the way which leads to God.”

Works of Mercy

We encourage our students to magnify the goodness of God through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “At the end of life, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by 'I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.'” Throughout the school year, our students have opportunities to serve others through volunteer work, pro-life outreach, and intercessory prayer.

History, Philosophy & Literature

At the core of our History and Literature program is the Humane Letters curriculum, which encompasses the historical, civic, philosophical and literary contexts at the foundation of Western Civilization. Through the analysis of historical primary source texts and the literature of each era, students practice critical analysis and learn how to identify ideologies and philosophies that have driven human actions throughout history. Students first study the development of civilization starting with the Ancient and Medieval worlds. Then they explore the ideas, philosophies, and events that shaped the European continent. The program culminates with a study of the discovery and settling of the New World and the history, government, and economics of the American Republic. 

Latin

Classical education is built upon the study of the civilizations from which Western culture arose. As such, Latin is a core component of our classical curriculum. The impact of the Ancient Romans on jurisprudence, government, and the arts, and the impact of the Medieval Scholastics on the comprehension of our Catholic faith, cannot be overstated.

The primary objective of the high school Latin program is to provide scaffolded formation in reading proficiency through the union of contextual, teacher-guided, reading fluency experiences in the classroom, with supportive grammar instruction, in order to achieve a holistic understanding of Latin texts.

Mathematics & Sciences

It is uncommon to hear the acronym STEM used in conjunction with a classical academy, however, the idea of STEM, science and mathematics with real world applications, is a classical one. Certainly, one can picture the natural philosophers and engineers of the Ancient world using mathematical models to achieve tour de force feats of engineering like the aqueducts or architectural marvels like the Parthenon. At Padre Pio Academy, we prepare our students for advanced study by developing the ability to think like a scientist and to perform mathematical computations with theoretical and practical applications. Technology changes quickly. The ability to think deeply, scientifically, inventively, and with precision is timeless.

The Arts

Instilling a love of beauty in our students is an important part of our high school experience. The Arts are a means by which people have expressed adoration for the Creator throughout the ages, from the tallest cathedral to the shortest poem. Our students have the opportunity to experience the fine arts, poetry, music, drama and theatre in and out of the classrooms. We offer experiences throughout the school year, such as field trips to the theatre and art museums, poetry recitations, musical performances, and participation in our theatre program.

Student Life & Physical Education

Fostering a joyful and wholesome school culture is an important part of our program. To that end, we incorporate fun into our calendar with activities like bonfires, canoe trips, cooking classes, school dances and more. Our location in downtown Lakewood provides many wonderful opportunities for students, including P.E. classes at the local rock climbing gym and bowling alley as well as hikes and snow shoeing at the regional Metroparks.

Additional Information

• All classes are taught from a Catholic perspective.

• Padre Pio Academy does not participate in Common Core.

• We provide our students with solid Catholic catechesis while aligning with the state of Ohio's high school graduation credit requirements.

• Standardized Testing - CLT, PSAT, National Latin Exam, ALIRA

At Padre Pio Academy we take seriously the formation of our students intellectually, spiritually, and culturally in the Catholic tradition. We aim to do this at the service of the universal call to holiness and to develop disciples of Jesus Christ. Padre Pio Academy does all this in fidelity to the Sacred Scriptures, Tradition, and the Catholic Church's Magisterium.

We invite you to visit our admissions page to schedule a visit or a tour.