Laying the Foundation for Lifelong Success and Achievement
Loyola Academy fosters each student’s academic growth through personalized support, clear guidance, and a Jesuit-inspired learning environment. Our Academic Resources help students become confident, independent learners grounded in curiosity, resilience, and integrity.
The O'Shaughnessy Program provides a structured, nurturing academic support system designed to promote lifelong independent learning, mathematics, literacy and self-advocacy skills. Our goal is to equip O'Shaughnessy students with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in a college preparatory environment. Our holistic approach includes individualized academic instruction tailored to the specific learning needs of each student, as well as instruction in literacy, mathematics, learning, study, test-preparation and self-advocacy skills.
The OSH Difference:
- Small class size
- Additional support from an Academic Learning teacher
- Literacy instruction to enhance reading and writing skills across the curriculum
- Mathematics instruction to enhance critical thinking and logical reasoning across the curriculum
- A team approach to teaching and learning
- A close-knit community of students and teachers
| Who can benefit? |
| Strong reading, writing, critical-thinking, learning, executive-function, and self-advocacy skills are critical to the success of every Rambler. The O'Shaughnessy Program serves Loyola Academy freshmen and sophomores who would benefit from additional support and instruction in these areas to succeed in a rigorous, Jesuit, college preparatory environment. |
| How it works |
Incoming O'Shaughnessy Scholars are enrolled in one or two cohorts of level 1 which have intentional scaffolding and a low teacher to student ratio.
Students also attend an academic support class that focuses on the development of fundamental literacy, mathematics, and executive-functioning skills. If they continue in the program, sophomores will be enrolled in an O'Shaughnessy English class, Level 3 American Literature, as well as an academic support class. O'Shaughnessy teachers maintain regular contact with content-area teachers and parents to monitor student progress and discuss ongoing needs. |
| A team approach |
| As any program alumnus will tell you, O'Shaughnessy Scholars always get the help they need, thanks to our community-based approach to teaching and learning. Students are organized into teams that provide valuable peer support and encouragement as a team of specially trained teachers coordinates skill-building across the curriculum. |
Student Success Stories |
Thousands of successful alumni are living proof that the O'Shaughnessy program lays the foundation for success at Loyola, in higher education and in the larger arena of life. The Ramblers listed below are just a representative sampling of the many O'Shaughnessy Program graduates who have achieved career success in a wide variety of fields ranging from advertising and finance to software engineering and health care. |
