Ursuline Academy (Delaware)

Saint Angela Merici founded the Ursuline Order in 1535. Her mission was to educate girls and her goal became known throughout the world.

On July 31, 1893, the Ursuline Nuns arrived in Wilmington from Bedford Park, New York. Ursuline Academy was created when they succeeded the Visitation Nuns who, up to that time, had conducted a boarding and day school at another location. Students received a strict education along with training in the Fine Arts.

In 1926 the cornerstone of the present Ursuline Academy was laid.

In 1954, a new building was constructed to accommodate the Lower School classes. A major development program began in the summer of 1977. At that time, the Lower School Auditorium-gymnasium was converted into instructional areas. After a period of temporary use of the auditorium and gymnasium by all Ursuline students, a modern gymnasium complex was constructed for use by the Academy in 1979. In 1992, classroom additions were constructed adjoining the Upper School to accommodate Middle School students.

In the summer of 1994, the convent was renovated to accommodate the Fine Arts Center. The full name of this building is the Rollins Fine Arts Center.

The entire second and third floors of the Upper School were renovated during the summer of 2002. In the fall of 2002, the second floor science labs and third floor instructional areas opened. In addition, the third floor is the home of the Chapel of St. Angela, where students go for reflection and prayer. Also in 2002, the Academy purchased the former Christian Scientist Church adjacent to the campus. The building is now Ursuline Academy's Performing Arts Center. Not to be confused with the Rollins Fine Arts Center, the Performing Arts Center (PAC) is the location of some school masses and performances. [2]

Ursuline Academy is located in the Cool Spring and Tilton Park section of the West Side of Wilmington.

Montessori The hallmark of the Montessori Method is individualized instruction using concrete materials designed to be sequential and to relate to other materials in the classroom.

Kindergarten A curriculum for kindergarten children would include open-ended Language Arts, reading skills, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, and an appreciation of the arts, technology, and activities that focus on fine and gross motor skills. Pre-reading and language skills are taught through thematic units, which focus on phonemic awareness and children's literature.

Primary A curriculum for primary children includes Religion, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, and an appreciation of the fine and performing arts.

Intermediate A curriculum for intermediate girls includes Religion, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, and involves critical thinking, problem solving, higher order thinking skills, and creativity and exploration through various forms of the fine and performing arts. This is accomplished through teacher-directed activities and cooperative learning, reading, discussion, varied strategies, and continuous assessment.

Middle School

Upper School

Advanced Placement courses are offered in Art History, Human Geography, European History, United States History, United States Government, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, French, Spanish, Calculus, Statistics, English Language, English Literature, and Studio Art.

Beginning in 3rd grade, students may participate in sports. 3rd to 8th graders participate in CYM sports, while 9th to 12th graders participate in the Division II Diamond State Catholic Conference. Sports offered in the high school are cross country, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, swimming, dance, indoor track & field, golf, lacrosse, outdoor track & field, soccer, and softball. If a student in 8th grade excels in a certain sport, she may be able to participate on the high school team.

• Erin Arvedlund, financial journalist[3]
• Elena Delle Donne, WNBA player for the Washington Mystics[4]; played collegiately at the University of Delaware[5]
• Aubrey Plaza, actress in Parks and Recreation and other movies[6]
• Marjorie Rendell, federal judge and former first lady for the State of Pennsylvania [7]
• Val Whiting, former WNBA player; athletic hall of fame inductee at Stanford University[8]

By most standards, exceptional scholastic achievements are the norm for the school. The majority of senior graduates, further applying to colleges, maintain a GPA of 3.87+.