Padua Franciscan High School, founded in 1961, is an independent, co-educational secondary school rooted in the Catholic and Franciscan traditions. As a college preparatory school, Padua offers programs to prepare students for a successful transition to post-secondary education.
As a Franciscan school, the religious tradition is based upon the following central themes as modeled through the life of Francis of Assisi: God is the center of life and the goal of our striving, the humanity of Jesus emphasizes the importance of our humanity, our God is good and loving, God’s creation reflects goodness and wholeness, and each person, as a creation of God, has dignity and deserves respect. From this religious tradition, the Padua educational community believes each person has unique, God-given abilities and potential. Therefore, each person is offered opportunities to develop this potential in ways that will provide a foundation for further learning, and for a productive life.
The Franciscan intellectual tradition is characterized as critical, scientific, progressive and practical. From this intellectual tradition, the administration, Board of Trustees, faculty and staff at Padua Franciscan High School strive to develop and implement contemporary educational programs that stimulate intellectual curiosity by encouraging students to be creative and develop problem-solving skills.