Academic Distinction

Serious Academic Ambition Balanced with Deep Personal Formation

At St. Martin’s, academic excellence isn’t competitive pressure — it’s purposeful challenge: rigorous coursework, signature STeaM pathways, and intentional mentorship from teachers who care about who students become.

St. Martin’s combines rigorous academic challenge with a relational, strengths-based approach to learning. Students engage in advanced coursework, meaningful research, and interdisciplinary study while being known individually by faculty who invest in their growth, character, and intellectual curiosity.

Our student-centered curriculum is grounded in real-world relevance and college readiness. Our approach is innovative, student-centered, and intentionally scaffolded. We challenge students to stretch beyond what they thought possible—while providing the support they need to succeed.

St. Martin’s four-dimensional approach to curriculum is designed to help students develop in key areas:

• Knowledge: Deep, flexible understanding of core academic subjects and interdisciplinary concepts—empowered through challenging coursework and signature programs like our STeaM and Global Citizenship Diplomas.

• Skills: Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity—real-world skills students use every day in class, on stage, on the field, and in life.

• Character: Integrity, empathy, perseverance, and a sense of purpose—formed through relationships, service, and community life that calls forth the best in each student.

• Meta-Learning: Self-awareness, reflection, and the ability to learn how to learn—so students graduate not only knowing more, but knowing themselves.

This 4D framework shapes students who are not only ready for college, but ready to lead, no matter what field they choose—medicine, law, public policy, entrepreneurship, the arts, or careers yet to be imagined.

What Distinguishes Academic Life at St. Martin’s

At St. Martin’s, academic excellence is defined not by pressure or prestige, but by purposeful challenge, meaningful opportunities, and a commitment to developing thoughtful, capable learners.

• Rigorous Four-Dimensional Curriculum anchored in interdisciplinary thinking.
• Signature STeaM and Global Citizenship Diploma pathways.
• Advanced coursework, including AP and honors options. 
• Impressive academic achievements and competitive academic team outcomes.
• Personalized college counseling and alumni outcomes that speak for themselves.

Because at St. Martin’s, academic rigor is about more than tough courses. It’s about equipping students with the mindset, skillset, and heart to reach their full potential—and use it for good.

Signature Programs

This intentional, future-focused approach comes to life through signature programs that set St. Martin’s apart—including our diploma certifications in STeaM and Global Citizenship, and our Senior Internship Program.

These experiences go beyond the classroom, giving students the opportunity to apply their learning in meaningful ways, explore potential career paths, and graduate with a clear sense of purpose and direction.

Because at St. Martin’s, students don’t just study the world—they engage with it.

Senior Internship

The Senior Internship program is the capstone of the St. Martin's academic experience. Two weeks before graduation, Seniors must complete an internship in an area of their choice, such as government, business, medicine, law, the arts, or nonprofit organizations. Interns are required to keep a daily journal and write a reflection paper about how the experience has shaped them and prepared them for college and life. 

At St. Martin’s, education is more than preparation for college—it is preparation for life. Our Interdisciplinary STeaM and Global Citizenship Diplomas are powerful expressions of this philosophy. They reflect a commitment to nurturing students who are not only knowledgeable, but curious, courageous, and ready to make an impact. These specialized diploma tracks prepare students not just for college, but serve as a launchpad for a successful life because they:

• Foster Purpose-Driven Learning: By pursuing a STeaM or Global Citizenship concentration, students connect their academic work to real-world applications, discovering how their interests align with global needs and future careers.
• Cultivate Future-Ready Skills: With a foundation in St. Martin’s Four-Dimensional (4D) Framework, these programs emphasize interdisciplinary thinking, creativity, problem-solving, leadership, and ethical decision-making—skills that set our graduates apart.
• Encourage Bold Exploration: From internships to research, artistic innovation to global immersion, these programs challenge students to go beyond traditional learning and immerse themselves in hands-on, meaningful experiences.
• Align with Our Mission: Both diplomas reflect our mission to foster faith, scholarship, and service. Whether through innovation in science or advocacy in global affairs, students learn to use their gifts to serve a greater good.
• Signal Excellence to Colleges: Recognition at graduation and inclusion on college resumes provide students with a valuable credential that reflects depth, initiative, and distinction within a college preparatory curriculum.

STeaM Diploma

The St. Martin’s Interdisciplinary STeaM Diploma is for Upper School students who relish the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, combined with the creative thinking that occurs through fine arts. This concentration will require students to select classes from a body of relevant coursework that lies at the heart of the Four-Dimensional Framework’s interdisciplinary focus. In addition, students will be asked to participate in co-curricular activities that complement the coursework. A research or internship experience provides a culminating experience to equip graduates with a range of proficiencies that prepare them for opportunities in STeaM related fields. Students who successfully complete all requirements will be recognized at graduation and have the opportunity to highlight their participation in this program on their college resumes.

Global Citizenship Diploma 

The St. Martin’s Interdisciplinary Global Citizenship diploma is for high school students who are passionate about global issues in the context of the humanities. This concentration will require students to select classes from a body of relevant and in-place coursework that lies at the heart of the Four-Dimensional Framework’s interdisciplinary focus. In addition, students will be asked to participate in one of several co-curricular activities that complement the program. A culminating global experience involving either  study abroad, a regional internship, or  research project will provide graduating students with tools to prepare them for further opportunities in these interdisciplinary fields, while also meeting StM’s current graduation requirements. Students who successfully complete all requirements for this certification will be recognized at graduation and have the opportunity to highlight their participation in this program on their college resumes.

What Academic Distinction Looks Like in the Real World

An education is most meaningful when it prepares students to thrive beyond the classroom. At St. Martin’s, graduates carry forward the skills, confidence, and purpose shaped here into a wide range of fields — from healthcare and engineering to education, the arts, and service leadership. Their journeys illustrate how rigorous academics and intentional formation translate into real success in college and in life.

Where St. Martin’s Graduates Lead →