The intermediate grades at Ursuline Academy present students with more rigorous academic challenges, along with opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities like sports and band. More importantly though, the girls are in a single-sex environment, which encourages the development of self-esteem and growth of the whole person. These students experience “changing classes,” traveling from classroom to classroom for each subject.

At fourth grade, we begin to group students homogeneously for math and language arts. Class size is kept to a maximum of 18 students, which allows for individual instruction in a risk-free atmosphere. During religion class, there is a special emphasis on the Sacraments, Old Testament, and the role of the Church in our lives. The language arts program is enriched by novels and writing activities. Mathematics stresses problem-solving, critical thinking, and the practical application of knowledge and skills. The social studies curriculum for fourth grade concentrates on Delaware history and its geography.

In fifth and sixth grades, map skills are stressed, with a concentration in US history, geography, and world cultures. Sixth grade social studies is supplemented with a study of current events. Our science program emphasizes a hands-on, inquiry approach to learning the scientific method, skills, and concepts of our world. Fourth and fifth grade science students are introduced to such topics as chemistry, biology, electricity, and force and motion. The primary emphasis for sixth grade science is life science, including a study of the cell, genetics, evolution, classification (a look at the animal kingdoms), and ecology. In addition to their core subjects, students also take special classes in art, life skills (organizational, time management, and study skills), computer, music, physical education, dance, foreign language, health, and library.