Academics

A Higher Standard

Fr. Thomas F. Price Catholic High School strives to be a premier Catholic educational community where academic excellence and faith-based values intersect. We are committed to fostering intellectual growth, moral development and active community engagement, empowering students to reach their highest potential and lead with faith, integrity, and compassion. Through this transformative education, our graduates seek the Truth, live the Faith, and thrive as Leaders.

To achieve this vision, we will create a well-rounded learning environment by cultivating our students’ growth of mind, body and spirit preparing them to serve their families, the community and Christ. We will stress rigor in our coursework, thereby preparing our students for college and/or the world of work upon graduation. We will instill the value of developing and maintaining the importance of a lifelong pursuit of faith, knowledge and service.

High School with a Higher Purpose

Our Mission
Fr. Thomas F. Price Catholic High School (FTPCHS) is an educational community centered in the Roman Catholic faith, embracing the richness of Catholic tradition and the promise of innovation, ultimately forming students into men and women of faith, knowledge and service. FTPCHS will integrate academic rigor with a strong emphasis on faith-based values, moral development, and community service.

“Our students develop a lifelong pursuit of faith, knowledge and service.”

Faith and Values Formation

FTPCHS will offer a unique focus on moral and ethical values rooted in Catholic teachings, promoting character development. We will develop a close-knit, supportive community that emphasizes respect, discipline, and service to others.

  • Students in all classes engage in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church celebrated perfectly in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In addition to attending weekly Mass, students will read and reflect daily on the Gospel. The lives of the Saints, including the life of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, will take a prominent role in our discussions on living as disciples of Jesus Christ. Emphasis will be placed on the virtues, and students will be engaged at all levels in higher order thinking and inquiry in the Socratic vein. To accomplish this important work, prayer will be at the center of our daily classroom experience.

  • The first half of this course introduces and deepens a student’s understanding and experience of Sacred Scripture as God’s divine revelation to His people. Through the study of Sacred Scripture, students encounter the living Word of God, Jesus Christ. Students receive basic knowledge of how to read Scripture, become familiar with the typological method of reading the Bible, and recognize the major sections of the Bible and books included in each Testament with attention given to the Gospels (particularly the parables of Jesus). Students discover the importance of Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church. They understand that what is proclaimed in Sacred Scripture is lived in the Liturgy of the Church.

    The second half of the course focuses on the revelation of God’s saving plan in history through Jesus Christ, his Son. Students discover that for all eternity God has planned for human beings to share in eternal happiness with Him which is brought about through the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ: The Paschal Mystery. Students explore the goodness of Creation, God’s original plan of holiness and justice for humanity, our fall from grace because of sin, God’s covenantal promises to His people, and man’s redemption fulfilled in Jesus Christ through the Paschal Mystery and manifested in the Catholic Church.

    Students will pray daily, attend school mass weekly, and flourish under the direction of a dedicated school chaplain.

Academic Excellence

Studies indicate that Catholic high schools outperform their public and charter counterparts academically, including performance on standardized tests and graduate acceptance into four-year universities. The FTPCHS committees have given maximum attention to securing an exceptional Founding Principal and developing a rigorous curriculum in the exceptional Catholic school tradition.

Our rigorous curriculum is competitive, grounded in truth, and relevant to a rapidly changing world. The minimum graduation requirement is 24 approved credits. The credits our graduates earn exceed the NC graduation requirement and meet the entrance requirements for the NC university system. Our school year is formatted on a year-long model, as opposed to a semester or block model.

The “first Catholic school in NC” campus is nestled in an historic, central location which avails students to abundant learning opportunities at nearby Cape Fear Community College and service opportunities at the Sr. Issac Outreach Center onsite. Additionally onsite, we have a science lab, a regulation high school gym, a fully functional cafeteria, not to mention a Basilica built in 1910.

Ninth Grade Curriculum (2025-2026)

To the extent possible, we will endeavor to create a Freshman Capstone project that integrates English and History at key points during the school year. This will occur through creative scheduling and advance planning. Integrating these subjects is a natural joining that enables students to read and write about history through primary and secondary sources, as well as through the lens of literature. Students write and present not only their understanding, but their impressions, opinions and criticisms.

  • Surveys literary classics, both ancient and modern, and provides a basis for students to understand and analyze great literature. Beginning with Classical literature and concluding with American literature, students read their way through essential works while reviewing their grammar skills and building a strong foundation in writing. Students are also given the opportunity to collaborate with classmates in textual interpretation and criticism.

  • Aims at surveying the major cultural movements, periods, and personalities that have contributed to the development of Western civilization, enhancing student appreciation of non-Western culture, and developing such skills as time/date concepts, geographical awareness, and historical method.

  • Latin is the official language of the Church. It is a useful tool for building language proficiency, as Latin is the primary source for English and Spanish languages. Latin 1 provides extensive and engaging materials (e.g. stories & novellas) designed to enable students to develop their interpretive reading skills in the Latin language at the beginner level, focusing on core Latin vocabulary and grammar. The reading material also provides context for an introduction to Roman history, mythology, and culture, which has had a profound influence on our language and culture. Attention is given to writing, listening, speaking and reading comprehension in Latin.

    Beginning in 10th grade, other foreign language(s) will be offered, dependent on class size and demand.

  • Overview

    Enables students to build on the previous mathematical knowledge and progress through courses beginning with Math I and Math II which integrate Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus/Calculus, etc). We will provide a full range of mathematical courses by graduation.

    Math I

    Allows students to formalize and extend the mathematics that are learned in previous grades. The course allows for a deeper understanding of linear relationships by allowing students to compare them to exponential and quadratic situations. Students are also given the ability to apply linear models to data in order to find a trend and make predictions based on that data. The class also covers extensions of geometric concepts that students have learned previously, allowing them to explore more complex situations and deepen their understanding of geometric relationships which guides the students towards more formal arguments about these principals/relationships.

    Math II (Accelerated Option for Gr. 9 pending Placement Test)

    Continues a progression of the standards established in Math I which include concepts of algebra, geometry, functions, number and operations, statistics, and modeling throughout the course. In addition to the above standards, Math II includes polynomials, congruence and similarity of figures, trigonometry with triangles, modeling with geometry, probability, making inferences, and justifying conclusions.

    Math III (Accelerated Option for Gr. 9 pending Placement Test)

    NC Math 3 continues a student’s study of advanced algebraic concepts including functions, polynomials, and geometric concepts including functions, geometric constructions, systems of functions, inequalities, trigonometry, and inferential statistics. Students describe and translate among graphic, algebraic, numeric, tabular, and verbal representations of relations and use those representations to solve problems. Emphasis is placed on practical applications and modeling.

  • Overview

    Students will gain introductions and practice in the sciences (Earth, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, etc.) in a sequential array of offerings, options and opportunities. Courses will focus on experimentation and application.

    Biology

    Students will develop skills and knowledge to explore life. In the first semester, we study life at the microscopic level, focusing on cell structure and functions. In the second semester, we focus on macroscopic biology, learning about genetics, evolution, biological diversity, and ecology. Student learning will focus on concepts and demonstrating scientific analysis while exploring with microscopes and other scientific equipment.

  • Our students learn to be good stewards of their bodies which are temples of the Holy Spirit. Health Education promotes the skills for living a healthy life. In health education, students gain the knowledge to make decisions to promote their health and skills to utilize health-enhancing behaviors. Content includes information regarding both mental and physical health, as well as the challenges that young adults may face regarding their own health and the health of others. Other areas of focus will include relationships, peer pressure, risky behaviors, disease prevention, and overall wellness. Basic First Aid and CPR will be covered.

    The focus of Physical Education is on developing lifelong fitness activities, team sports, and personal health that allow students to make a lifetime of fitness choices which will lead to a healthier and happier life. The course supports learning about the physiological benefits an active lifestyle promotes. Its purpose is to develop the components of fitness in the areas of cardio, strength, human movement, resistance training, mobility and recovery. Students will learn the knowledge and skills to participate in various team and individual sports safely, competently, and with personal satisfaction.

  • Depending upon student interests, options could include visual art, drama/theatre, violin, chorus, instrumental band, robotics/coding, Advanced PE, world languages, financial literacy, religion, and—through dual enrollment in later grades—all real-world options available at nearby Cape Fear Community College via Community and Career Promise (Dual Enrollment). Further, a special track will be built to Wilmington’s vital film industry.

  • Fr. Price Catholic students will have annual service components that will be determined by interest and access. Service opportunities will be influenced and monitored via a team approach. Integration with Sr Issac Outreach Center, which is on campus, is a natural fit for first-year students.