Academics
Holy Family’s curriculum is based on the state's standards called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Our school meets these standards and exceeds them when appropriate. As an accredited parochial school in Texas, these standards serve as a foundation for objectives to be covered within specific subjects and grades. Further, our religion curriculum is written and revised by the Diocese of Austin Religious Education Department.
Enrichment and Remediation
The early childhood years of Pre-K, Kindergarten, and first grade provide an opportunity for the child to grow socially, emotionally, and academically. Children begin to develop skills in language, reading, phonics, and mathematics; and while there are developmental milestones, each student progresses at their own individual rate. Teachers at these grade levels will have some benchmark goals for learning that they will share with parents throughout the year.
Standardized tests are given each year to students in the first through the eighth grades, and serve as a guide for any needed remediation and enrichment in instruction. Students whose scores fall within qualifying ranges in Reading Total or Math Total will receive enrichment or remediation in the regular classroom setting. Teachers will use a variety of methods to extend learning or remediate areas needing improvement.
Advanced Math classes begin at the 7th grade and include Math 7 Accelerated, Pre-AP Algebra in 7th, Pre-AP Algebra in 8th, and Pre-AP Geometry. Students must qualify based on standardized test scores, final course grades, and algebra readiness assessments. Instructional differentiation is provided in middle school English through writing and reading assignments.
DECATS
The DeBusk Enrichment Center for Academically Talented Scholars is a three-week summer enrichment camp, sponsored by the Diocese of Austin, for rising fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade students who attend Austin area Catholic schools. Qualifying students are nominated by their school and must meet the requirements set by the program director. The program director will notify students and their families by mail in the early spring. The DECATS summer program resides on the campuses of Holy Family Catholic School and St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School.
Testing Program
Students in Pre-K take a Kindergarten readiness test in the late winter that determines their developmental readiness for Kindergarten. The results will be made available to the family and school and will be used to make developmentally appropriate placement decisions.
Students in first through eighth grades take a MAP testing series in the early fall. This assessment will compare the students' scores with grade-level counterparts on the national level, provide information for future instruction and curriculum planning, and provide a broad picture of our school's performance. The student's individual scores will be sent home within six weeks of testing, along with a summary of all school scores by grade and sub-test.
Students in fifth and eighth grades take the ACRE, a standardized religion test, in the spring. Individualized test scores are not offered by ACRE, although the school receives an overall composite.
Students in sixth and seventh grade take an algebra readiness test at the end of the school year. This information, along with the MAP scores and report card grades are used to recommend placement in accelerated math classes.
Eighth-grade Spanish students take the National Spanish Exam during the Spring of their eighth-grade year.