Academics

Our elementary school prepares students for future success through a comprehensive bilingual education, fostering proficiency in both English and Spanish. With class sizes capped at 26 students per teacher, we ensure personalized support that meets each child’s unique learning needs. Our dynamic curriculum incorporates the latest best practices, academic supplements, and carefully designed graduation requirements that equip students with the skills and confidence needed for a smooth transition to high school.

Learn more about our academics below.

Bilingual Education

How does it work?

As a dual-language school offering a 50/50 Spanish and English curriculum, we are committed to providing a well-rounded bilingual education. Our students have a pathway to earn the Seal of Biliteracy in both 5th and 8th grades, enhancing their proficiency in both languages. A key graduation requirement is the completion of a Bilingual Portfolio, a capstone project that showcases the breadth of knowledge and skills they have developed during their time at Mater Dei Catholic Elementary.

TWIN-CS Partnership

We are proud to be part of the 28 partners in the nation for the TWIN-CS Partnership of Boston College in the Roche Center for Catholic Education.

What is TWIN-CS?

"TWIN-CS is a national initiative to share dual language research, ideas, techniques and resources with the goal of supporting students in becoming bilingual, bicultural, and biliterate. The network's innovative design and programming enables students to maintain their language and culture, while systemically transforming schools from monolingual to dual language education."

Excerpt taken from Roche Center for Catholic Education.

Graduation Requirements

To successfully graduate from 8th grade, students must complete several final steps that prepare them for the next phase of their educational journey. Our two major requirements—the High School Placement Test and the Bilingual Portfolio—are designed to support a smooth transition to high school. These requirements not only assess academic readiness but also encourage students to reflect on their achievements and personal growth.

High School Placement Test

The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a standardized, timed exam required for all 8th-grade students applying to Catholic high schools within the Archdiocese of San Diego. It comprises five sections: the first two assess verbal and quantitative abilities, while the remaining three evaluate reading comprehension, mathematics, and language skills. The HSPT is specifically crafted to test students at their current curriculum level.

Students at Mater Dei Catholic Elementary are prepared during school hours for this test and have extensive support from their teachers during this process.

Bilingual Portfolio

More information coming soon.

Curriculum, Instruction, and Supplementals

More information about Academic Supplementals and Instruction Best Practices coming soon.

Curriculum

Teachers use CA State Standards for all content areas to create curriculum maps that guide classroom instruction. Teachers use the following resources to support classroom instruction and engage students in rigorous lessons.

Standards Referenced Grading

Mater Dei Catholic Elementary is a Standards Referenced Grading school. Standards referenced grading measures student proficiency in the standards that are aligned with the CA Common Core Standards. The grades are based on a student’s ability to apply content knowledge and skills in and/or across content areas. MDCE uses the following scale:

3	Mastery of Grade Level Standards
2	Progressing Towards Mastery of Grade Level Standards
1	Initial Progress Towards Grade Level Standard
.5	No Evidence