Our core academic course of study for all grades includes Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and Religion. Spanish is considered a core subject area in the middle school, but a specials course for kindergarten through 5th grade. Specials classes include Physical Education, Art, Music, Technology, and for our elementary students, Library.

Saint Raphael Catholic school follows the curricular guidelines of the Diocese of Raleigh which are based upon the standard course of study for the public schools of North Carolina. Those guidelines are available at http://www.dioceseofraleigh.org/where/schools/curriculum.aspx .

Typically, on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills standardized achievement tests (ITBS or IOWAs), our average student scores in at least the 85th percentile in all areas. As a school, we rank in the upper 10% in achievement compared with schools taking the same tests at the same time of year. Among the schools of the Diocese of Raleigh, our students again rank in the top 10th percentile. The Diocesan score report can be found at http://www.dioceseofraleigh.org/docs/schools/iowa_skills_test2007.pdf . Our students in grades 3-8 take the IOWAs; our 2nd and 5th grade students take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). Information about these tests can be found at http://www.education.uiowa.edu/itp/itbs/
and at www.edina.k12.mn.us/teach/r-and-e/images/cogatguide.pdf .

Our 4th and 7th grade students take the Diocese of Raleigh Writing Test; our 8th graders take the North Carolina State Technology Exam, and our Algebra and Geometry students take the appropriate state EOC exam. Our passing rate on all of these exams is 99%.

Our students are thoroughly prepared for high school academics. Ninety-five percent of our graduates have been successful in their advanced placement courses at the high school of their choice.