Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy is dedicated to teaching the Socratic Method to empower students to be critical thinkers who desire truth and can develop their own thoughts. As a classical charter school in Utah, the academy uses this method of inquiry to help students engage meaningfully with life's questions.
This approach, derived from Socrates, combines critical thinking with the virtues necessary for a good life. By utilizing this method, students learn to question, discover hidden assumptions, construct arguments, and make independent judgments.
The academy implements this instruction through Socratic Seminars in Utah County. During these seminars, students read Great Books and primary sources across various subjects to engage in true dialogue. Students are required to formulate questions, share opinions, and listen respectfully to the arguments of others.
This educational model aims to develop character traits such as intellectual honesty, humility, and civics. Through this process, students learn to analyze what authors mean for the purpose of understanding truth rather than just earning grades. The academy's teachers act as facilitators, helping students gain the knowledge necessary to participate in these active learning sessions.
While the Socratic Method is a primary means of teaching at the academy, it does not replace all traditional lectures. Teachers may use lectures to deliver specific content, but the core experience remains centered on cooperative argumentative dialogue based on asking and answering questions.
According to U.S. News & World Report, Maeser Prep is ranked as the number one charter high school in Utah. The academy reports an average SAT score of 1330 and a 95% graduation rate.
The school's focus on critical thinking and character development is intended to prepare students for college and life. Because students develop the ability to communicate well and engage in complex discourse, they are noted to be in high demand at leading universities.
