Courses are offered at the Honors Academy level over all four years for those students with high ability or special interests. The courses are at Honors level in Freshman through Senior years, including those that fulfill graduation requirements, as well as an extensive choice of Honors electives, where, in some cases, college credit can be earned and/or the Advanced Placement Test (possibly guaranteeing college credit/standing for courses taken in high school) taken. Most juniors and seniors in the Academy Scholars Program take three to five of these Honors courses each year. Other students may simply take one Honors course to satisfy a special interest.

Honors Academy Scholars level courses are designed to encourage bright and creative minds to explore their potential and are taught at a pace and style suited to students who are self-initiating and highly motivated for their grade level. Students and teachers contribute to a positive learning atmosphere in Honors courses where higher thinking skills are developed, stimulating ideas are generated and explored, and hidden talents are discovered.

While success in the Honors Academy Scholars level coursework is rewarding in itself, special grade weighting is also used, enabling students to achieve high grade point averages and ranks at the top of their graduating class. Students who take at least three Honors courses in their Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years and who have a cumulative G.P.A. of 4.0 or higher at the end of the eighth semester have their diploma and transcripts read “Graduate with Honors.”

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM

The Advanced Placement division of the Academy Scholars Program offers the opportunity for high school students to earn college credit. Students characterized by high motivation and ability, or who have a special talent or interest in a particular subject area, are qualified to participate in the examination process.

Saint Patrick High School currently offers formal Advanced Placement classes in Calculus, English, US History, American Government, Macroeconomics, and World Languages (Spanish and French). Testing is available in all subject areas.

DUAL CREDIT PROGRAM

Saint Patrick partners with four universities to provide opportunities for students to earn dual credit, that is credit for college-level courses they are completing for high school credit. These four universities are Dominican University, Lewis University, Loyola University Chicago, and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Each of these schools recognizes that the effort and performance for the duration of a course warrants consideration for college level credit, as much as the score a student receives on a one day exam. Upon completion of the course, the given university will issue an official transcript that can be used as at that university should the student wish to enroll there or have it transferred to the vast majority of colleges and universities across the country.

SAMPLE PROGRAM

Program for Advanced College Credit

The Program for Advanced College Credit (PACC) is sponsored by Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota. PACC courses are taught by Saint Patrick High School faculty who hold advanced degrees in their academic fields and serve as adjunct professors at Saint Mary’s. The learning environment is college level and fast-paced. Saint Patrick High School currently offers twelve PACC courses for a total of 38 potential college credit hours.