Our Mission
Cistercian Preparatory School is rooted in the life and spirit of Catholic monasticism. It offers talented and motivated young men challenging programs within a supportive community, allowing them to develop their strengths and face their weaknesses in preparation for college and life beyond, all for the good of the whole person in service to God and neighbor.
Our Philosophy
The Cistercians came to Texas with a vision: to build a secondary school that would combine academic excellence with Christian faith, morality, and spirituality.
The Cistercians’ outlook on life is the basis for their educational philosophy. Foremost in their minds was the conviction that searching for God was the purpose of every human life. They also sought to promote true human values and integrate every variety of learning into the journey toward God.
The Cistercians’ philosophy accounts for many innovative practices. They committed themselves to a rigorous, integrated 8-year curriculum for grades 5-12 in theology, language arts, math, science, history, and the fine arts. Such a curriculum implies that serious academic work should begin at age 10. It also creates continuity in a student’s education from childhood through adolescence.
To organize and administer the school, the Cistercians introduced the Form Master system. A Cistercian priest was assigned to each entering class to oversee their personal, academic, and spiritual growth for eight years. The Form Master sought to create a community among the students and their parents, a sense of identity and family for each Form. He personalized the counseling of students and offered parents a partner with a long-term view of a child’s development. At the same time, unity and consistency in instruction and discipline were assured. Finally, the Form Master built strong, permanent ties between the Abbey and the School. The very nature of monastic life made this system possible, for the monks have bound themselves to the Abbey by a vow of stability.