Faith, Reason, & Virtue

Our family has greatly benefited from the hybrid model at St. Athanasius. Our oldest son, Jake, plays baseball at a very high level. He practices baseball during the day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, when the practice facilities are empty, which is a more efficient use of his time.

This schedule also allows us to spend more time together as a family in the evenings. Recently, Jake has committed to play baseball at an SEC conference university. The SEC is the premier college baseball conference.

The rigorous classical Catholic education is preparing him to be a well-formed Catholic and a critical thinker priming him for a successful life.

We cannot say enough about St. Athanasius/St.Catherines Academy. We have been parishioners here at Christ the King Church for a very long time. When we heard about the school, our prayers were answered.

Our son Zachary has had the very best teachers, challenging classes, which has made him a better student, the honor of attending daily Mass, and he has made lasting friendships. We have been blessed to be a part of SASC.

We believe Saint Athanasius was a better fit for our homeschooled son than traditional full-time Catholic high schools, providing a variety of courses and teaching styles, opportunities for developing friendships, and the flexibility to participate in rigorous athletic programs.

Saint Catherine’s Academy has been a blessing for our family. Sending our daughter, Sophia, to St Catherine’s Academy was an influential part in helping her to grow as a high school student. The hybrid format allowed her to bridge from a strictly at home- homeschool Catholic education to a private Catholic education with faculty that are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the Catholic faith.

As a family we got to see her grow in virtues such as diligence and fortitude in her studies. Even more importantly, Sophia’s formation in her Catholic identity has matured with daily Mass, opportunity for confession and a community of friends with similar faith and values.

Last summer, Sophia was able to take what she had learned at St Catherines and complete a Certified Nurses Assistance course. She is now completing her Senior year in an internship for high schoolers interested in the healthcare field. Sophia has also been accepted into the College of the Ozarks for the fall of 2026 to begin working on a nursing degree.

Saint Catherines Academy has had a significant role in our daughter’s education and faith formation that we know was worth the 45 minute drive from North of the River!

Our daughter attended a highly rated public school in the area. However, as parents, we were not comfortable with the values she was picking up from the school. She had a friend group that chose a wrong path, and our daughter thought there was no harm in following their lead. We noticed her grades declining and saw negative traits developing in her. I met with her teachers multiple times, asking for help to address these influences, but I found none.

As God-fearing parents, we believe that our daughter’s character matters most. Even though it was difficult, we decided to withdraw her from public school and enroll her at St. Catherine.

We are very happy with that decision. Our daughter was blessed with teachers and a community of friends and their families who always encouraged her to do her best and live a God-fearing life.

She had the flexibility to attend school only two days a week, and she used her extra time to complete a CNA course in her junior year. She is now a certified CNA and is highly motivated to pursue higher studies in health sciences, nursing, and medicine. Her academic performance improved significantly, and she excelled in all her classes.

We are extremely grateful to the SASC community for bringing out the best in our daughter.