School Profile

2009-2010

Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School is one of two Catholic Elementary Schools in the city of Huntsville under the auspices of the Diocese of Birmingham. This school serves a highly technical and professional community, which expects quality in education: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, their sub-contractors, as well as many medical professionals. All of these entities and many more contribute to the expectations of educational excellence in Huntsville.

This is a private, non-profit, parochial school accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) since 1998. There are two classes per grade, kindergarten through eighth. Currently there is a student/teacher ratio of 16:1 with an average class size of twenty-four students. All twenty-eight faculty members hold a B.A or B.S. degree and 43% hold Master’s degrees.

Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School has 434 students. Currently 48% are male and 52% are female; 84% are Catholic, 16% are non-Catholic; 90% are Caucasian, and 10% are other. 85 % of Holy Spirit School families are members of either Holy Spirit or Good Shepherd Parishes in Huntsville, Alabama.

The faculty and staff of this school emphasize a caring, disciplined environment fostering personal and academic growth. Each student is a child of God bestowed with gifts and talents; it is the purpose of this school to promote excellence in the whole person. Students are encouraged daily to practice self-discipline and responsibility. The school has many stakeholders. It is the combined efforts of these many stakeholders that the students at Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School continue to experience a living faith and academic success.

Accreditation – SACS CASI

Accreditation is a voluntary method of evaluating, verifying, and improving an institution’s quality. Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School has been accredited since 1998 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Founded in 1895, this organization accredits schools and school systems in 30 states, the Navajo Nation, the Department of Defense Schools and Latin America. Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School is a member of the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama, a school system which stimulates and supports improvement and effectiveness throughout the system.

In order for schools to be accredited, each must meet high standards that are research-based and apply to all schools within the 30-state region. These schools must also engage in continuous improvement and demonstrate quality assurance through external review. “The standards require that a school has a clear vision and purpose; has effective and responsive leadership; has a rigorous curriculum taught through sound, research-based methods; collects, reports, and uses performance results; provides adequate resources and support for its educational programs; and values and communicates with its stakeholders.” Considering and applying the standards listed, the school’s Leadership Team (SLT) at Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School implements an ongoing improvement plan, Constructing Foundations for Spiritual and Academic Success.

The primary focus of the school’s Leadership Team is continuous school improvement. Since 1998, the SLT has been entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School is in compliance with the standards imposed by SACS CASI, and to prepare and organize the school’s faculty and staff to update and write the school’s improvement plan. Hence the team meets regularly to review, critique, and update or revise actions implemented.

Promoted by SACS, the Diocese requires that the SLT evaluate the progress of the school’s continuous improvement using the Standardized Assessment Report (SAR) annually. Every five years, a quality review team (QAR) from the Diocese visits and recommends the school for re-accreditation.

Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School, Mr. James Bell-Principal

619 Airport Rd. SW, Huntsville, Alabama 35802

Phone: (256) 881-4852 Fax: (256)881-4904

HSRCS