Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s),
I wanted to take this time to share with you some of the exciting educational opportunities that will be offered to your Upper School student during 2020-2021 school year.  I ask you to please read this letter in entirety, as it will affect our students and educational program at Trenton Catholic Academy.
 
As you may know, a number of our students are enrolled in online courses through Educere.  By completing courses online, these students are able to take classes such as Latin and AP Psychology; classes not currently offered in the course catalog at TCA.  These online classes also alleviate many struggles with class scheduling as students are no longer regulated to select classes based on schedule availability.
 
A class of students of both 10^th and 11^th grade students is currently enrolled in an online personal finance class through a leader in online learning, Catholic Virtual.  In this blended learning class, students, while online, engage and interact with their instructor, while a facilitator from our staff is also present to provide support and ensure student engagement.
 
Next year, all students will enroll in at least one blended learning class through Catholic Virtual.  These students will still participate in traditional classroom setting classes, while completing one blended learning class. The blended learning class will be an online class with an online teacher, supervised by a TCA staff member.
 
 Mr. Kroekel and I, along with a team of invested professionals, have selected Catholic Virtual from among the many different virtual learning platforms, as it is consistent with the mission and vision of Trenton Catholic Academy.
 
When our founder, the late Monsignor Michael McCorristin envisioned this high school for students in the Hamilton and Trenton area, he called it an “unusual opportunity.”  Almost 60 years later, we continue to provide our students with a new “unusual opportunity” that will create an individualized learning program for each student, designed with their unique educational interests and future plans in mind. 
 
Under development is a completely online, virtual learning track that will be available for students who choose to pursue online learning exclusively.
 
We know the way our students learn has changed.  We also know students learn best when they are supported and encouraged throughout the process. Online learning will provide both the flexibility and individualization that is vital for student development.  Through participation in online courses, our students will also gain invaluable 21^st century learning and life skills to prepare them to be lifelong learners.
 
Over the next few months, we will provide you with more information regarding the implementation of this new program. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit www.catholicvirtual.com, to see firsthand the courses and areas of study that will be available for our students. We will be hosting information sessions for parents and guardians to answer any questions you may have about moving forward with blended learning.
 
We are very excited to offer our students this unique learning opportunity at Trenton Catholic Academy.  Again, I encourage you to visit Catholic Virtual online and make note of any questions you may have and bring them to the information sessions in the future. Thank you for your time in reading this letter.  It truly is “A Great Day to be an Iron Mike!”



Sincerely,
Mr. Michael Knowles
Trenton Catholic Academy President

Located on a beautiful, quiet 64-acre campus in suburban Hamilton, NJ, Trenton Catholic Academy serves as the regional PreK-12 school for the Diocese of Trenton. With a demanding preparatory curriculum, TCA prepares a universal population to succeed now, as well as in college and beyond.

The PreK thru 8th and 9th thru 12th schools are located in separate wings connected by a corridor. Students share a chapel, gymnasium and cafeteria.

Competitive TCA athletic teams play in top-notch facilities. The gymnasium, baseball, track & field, and soccer fields have received extensive renovations over the last five years. 

TCA’s affordable tuition for private school is considered even a greater value considering generous financial assistance received by more than 85% of families.Classes are sized to allow teachers to provide individualized attention and support.

The Upper School graduation and college acceptance rate is routinely 100%. The average amount of college scholarships/grants extended that graduates receive range from $50-$70K.

In 1962 the all-boys Trenton Catholic High School announced it would close its doors. Concerned for the academic and spiritual future of area youth, Monsignor Michael P. McCorristin, pastor of St. Anthony Parish, petitioned Bishop George Ahr of the Diocese of Trenton, to build a new parish high school in Hamilton. Through his vision and the hard work of many, St. Anthony High School was built on the grounds of the former Kuser Estate. In 1965, the first graduating class received their diplomas from newly established, St. Anthony High School.

To staff the new school, Monsignor McCorristin employed the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, who along with lay teachers, educated thousands of students in the Trenton and Hamilton area. In 1979, Bishop Ahr renamed the building, McCorristin Catholic High School in honor of Monsignor McCorristin for his dedication to the students and their families.

In 2005, following a study of area parochial schools, the Diocese of Trenton consolidated four Catholic elementary schools, Holy Cross School, Holy Angels School, Immaculate Conception School and St. Anthony Grammar School with McCorristin Catholic High School to create Trenton Catholic Academy. Sister Dorothy Payne, SSJ, who had previously served in the Office of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Trenton, was named President of the Academy and remained at the helm of the school until her death in 2019. Trenton Catholic Academy remains the only Pre-K-12 regional school in the Diocese of Trenton.

Despite the name changes, the school icon remains the Iron Mike, paying homage to the tough man with the soft heart who made this school possible. TCA carries on Monsignor McCorristin’s dream to enrich students’ lives through quality Catholic education that is affordable.

Our Mission

We educate a culturally and academically diverse student body to be responsible citizens of a global community through a challenging and relevant curriculum centered in Catholic tradition and values. 

Our Vision

We create a thriving, well-respected educational institution dedicated to academic excellence and focused on the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical needs of our students.