After two years of planning, Holy Family Academy proudly introduced our distinctive Middle School program in the 2007-08 school year. Since Holy Family Academy was designed under the "build a school model" wherein the school adds a new grade a year, the Academy was not bound by any historical precedence. The Principal, teachers, and Long Range Planning Committee, a sub committee of the School Advisory Board, were able to start with a clean slate in designing a new middle school curriculum. Critical to the design of our innovative curriculum was the work and counsel of Dr. Emily Alford. Dr. Alford provided Holy Family with an analysis of current educational “best practices” in both teaching methods and curriculum design.     Holy Family Academy "began with the end in mind" and interviewed both public and private high schools to determine the curriculum that would best prepare our students for success in the most challenging high school tracts. Our association with Loyola Academy and Harper College were instrumental in further enhancing our program. The following summarizes our approach to middle school education:

Middle school students with collected food at their yearly retreat "Our son transitioned to Holy Family Middle School from a public elementary school. The move has been rewarding and enriching for our entire family. His creative and thinking skills have blossomed in Holy Family's truly remarkable learning environment." 6th grade parent, Barrington, IL

• The middle school extends the tradition of inquiry based learning used in the Academy’s elementary grades K-5 by linking topics to real time issues and service learning projects. Classes are designed to focus on meaningful, relevant, and engaging activities that use technology as an essential part of learning.
• Special emphasis is placed on the development of leadership skills and teamwork.
• Students participate in goal setting. Academic, behavioral, leadership, and spiritual goals are set and assessed each quarter.
• All middle school students have laptop computers to allow technology to be integrated throughout the learning process.
• Hands-on math and science curriculum are enhanced by using Harper College’s "smart classrooms", computer labs, state-of-the-art science labs, and faculty expertise. Click here to see Harper Facilities.
• Holy Family Middle School provides a faith-based environment where middle school students can receive support and guidance as they seek independence and begin making moral choices.

Middle School Performing Arts Program at Harper College Theater