Academics

at Holy Cross Lutheran School

Our School’s Mission & Vision

Christ-centered. Nurturing. Academically Excellent. For Children and Their Families.

As a bridge ministry of Holy Cross, the school serves children and their families by providing an academically excellent education within a Christ-centered and nurturing community.

Academics

The curriculum at Holy Cross Lutheran School is challenging, yet flexible, and designed to meet or exceed the standards set by the State of Indiana. Our teachers are dedicated to providing excellence in an atmosphere of personal warmth and Christian love, recognizing the individuality of each child and nurturing a positive self-concept.

Preschool

Ages 2-5

Kindergarten

Elementary

Grades 1-5

Middle School

Grades 6-8

Accreditation

Holy Cross Lutheran School is accredited through the Indiana Department of Education and through the National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA).  NLSA is a rigorous national accrediting process designed to evaluate schools based on their unique purpose as Lutheran schools. It helps schools evaluate not only the quality of the academics and programs, but also most importantly the spiritual dimension of the school. The “Standards for Lutheran Schools” and report forms are similar to those used by other accrediting agencies, both secular and religious.

    Standardized Testing

    Holy Cross Lutheran School administers the ISTEP+ test for students beginning in the third grade. In addition, Holy Cross has partnered with the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) for our student assessments.  Students at Holy Cross take tests called Measures of Academic Progress (MAP).  These tests are state-aligned, and are used to determine the instructional level of students, to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and to measure growth from year to year.  Students in Kindergarten and First Grade take tests in the areas of Reading and Math.  Students in Second Grade and above take tests in the areas of Language, Reading, Math and Science.  All of the tests are taken on a computer.  MAP tests are similar to standardized testing such as ISTEP, CAT, etc., however, they are unique in that they adapt to the student’s ability, accurately measuring what a child knows and what a child needs to learn.  The tests measure academic growth over time, independent of grade level or age.  As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing.

      High-Ability Program

      Holy Cross is committed to meet the needs of high-ability students whose performance is consistent with nationally-recognized criteria for giftedness. We provide them with advanced experiences beyond grade-level curriculum through acceleration and/or enrichment of the curriculum.