Academic Achievement
Standardized Testing
St. Raphael, like all Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville, administers the MAP (Measures of Academic Process) K-12 assessment from NWEA. Students in Grades K-2 will take the MAP Growth Reading and Growth Math in both the fall and the spring. Students in Grades 3-7 will take the MAP Growth assessments in Reading, Math, and Language Usage each fall and spring. Students in Grade 8 will take Reading, Math, and Language Usage in the fall and Algebra 1 in the spring. St. Raphael was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education in 2020 for its outstanding test scores.
Catholic elementary schools also administer the Assessment of Catechesis Religious Education (ACRE) to students in grades 5 and 8. ACRE provides questions to assess faith knowledge and questions related to religious beliefs, attitudes, practices, and perceptions to assist in the evaluation of religious education programs in Catholic schools and parishes. Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville consistently perform at the proficient level on this assessment.
Affiliation and Accreditation
Saint Raphael the Archangel Catholic School is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Louisville and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The U.S. Department of Education named Saint Raphael School a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2020. This is the third time St. Raphael has been named a Blue Ribbon school. It was previously honored in 1997 and 2003. St. Raphael was the first elementary school in the archdiocese to receive this award in 1997.
Curriculum
St. Raphael adheres to the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Catholic School curriculum. The Archdiocese curriculum framework: is created by teams of content-area teachers and is updated on an established cycle.
Catholic Schools help students integrate religious values with knowledge and life experiences, fostering their God-given gifts and spiritual growth. We bring all learners to their full potential, leading students to prayer and worship, building community, and transforming the world.
To learn more about our curriculum, please visit https://louisvillecatholicschools.com/join-us/curriculum/ or contact the school.
Learning Center
St. Raphael’s Learning Center is staffed with a full time Dean of Student Services/ Learning Coordinator as well as a part time Learning Coordinator. Approximately ten percent of St. Raphael students utilize services through a Student Accommodation Plan (SAP). The Learning Coordinator oversees the writing of these plans, ensures the right supports and strategies are in place to meet the individual needs of each student. Examples of support we offer for students on SAPs are: small group testing, extended time on tests or assignments, oral testing, scribes, team teaching with Learning Coordinator, one on one organization check ins, small group teaching and review, peer tutoring and mentoring, modified tests, homework and assignments. These plans are maintained and updated each year with input from the teachers, parents, and standardized and classroom assessment data. St. Raphael also partners with local services to provide the best possible education for our students. We collaborate with our local public school system to provide free psychoeducational testing and speech therapy service. St. Raphael also collaborates with private services such as the Langsford Learning Center which provides intensive reading remediation and therapies. Langsford provides participating families, our Learning Coordinator, and students’ teachers with progress monitoring reports as well. Our Learning Coordinator works with the families of all students receiving special education services through St. Raphael to connect them to local tutoring agencies or individuals as needed.