Catholic schools across the country have long been eager for quality assessments that align with the rich intellectual and spiritual heritage of Catholic education. In an era where standardized assessments are often disconnected (at best) from Catholic identity, Classic Learning Test (CLT) has emerged as a transformative resource for Catholic schools. Assessing reading, grammar, and mathematical skills, CLT exams draw heavily from the Catholic intellectual tradition and engage students with passages from the most influential writers in history. For this reason, the CLT suite of assessments has rapidly become the go-to for Catholic schools eager to showcase the true value of Catholic education!
CLT proudly collaborates with Catholic schools across the nation, supporting their mission with assessments that reflect the depth of their teaching and Catholicity. Our esteemed partners include Duc In Altum member schools from coast to coast—from JSerra Catholic High School in California, to John Paul the Great Academy in Louisiana, to Divine Mercy Academy in Maryland—and we are honored to serve both the Regina Caeli Academy and the Kolbe Academy networks as well. We are continually humbled by the feedback we receive from our DIA partner schools, such as the recent remarks shared by Tommy Curtin, headmaster of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School in South Carolina:
Our Lady of the Rosary School is so grateful to have found the CLT. The reading passages not only align with the good and great works in our curriculum, but they edify the students even as they complete the test itself. The math problems reward students who truly understand the concepts and can interact intelligently with them. With other tests such as MAP, our teachers felt pressure to either teach in the style of the test or accept that their students would struggle to demonstrate their knowledge. The CLT questions, on the other hand, seem to match the way our students naturally think about the content once it is mastered. This is not to say the CLT is an easier test; in some ways, it is harder because it can’t be “hacked” by canny test prep. Rather, the Classic Learning Test respects our students as God made them and measures their mastery accordingly.Likewise, we are excited to see the welcoming response from diocesan leaders across the United States, who have also recognized our efforts in the renewal of Catholic education. Their support has been invaluable as we serve schools within their dioceses. The recent addition of Bishop James Conley of Lincoln and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco to our Board of Academic Advisors marks an exciting new chapter for CLT. Their involvement will provide invaluable guidance as we continue to support the Catholic tradition of education in our schools. We were delighted to see CLT referenced in Bishop Conley’s recent pastoral letter, “The Joy and Wonder of Catholic Education”!
Left: Bishop Conley with CLT’s Catholic Schools Team, Jeremy Tate (CEO), JP Thurau, and Gabriela Thurau; Right: JP and Gabriela with Archbishop Cordileone
We are truly honored to serve the mission of DIA schools and support the New Evangelization through assessments aligned with the rich intellectual tradition of the Catholic Church. Our partnership with Catholic educators is built upon a shared commitment to human flourishing, nurturing students intellectually, emotionally, and ethically. We are immensely grateful for the collaboration of Duc In Altum as we work together to transform the culture through Catholic education centered on the person of Jesus Christ.
