Honors Academy
The purpose of the Honors Academy is to offer students an enhancement to the rigorous program of academic studies. We want our students to realize that their talents are a gift from God that need to be developed and used for others. The Honors Academy experience will provide additional challenge and support for students to achieve the highest possible level of academic excellence.
Applications to the Honors Academy will be offered at the end of the first quarter to freshman students who meet the following criteria:
- Exemplary middle school grades.
- Above-average performance on standardized tests.
- Successful progress in first quarter Honors courses.
- Consistent school attendance.
- Adherence to Bishop DuBourg standards of behavior
Eligible students will complete the Honors Academy application and meet with the Honors Academy Committee for an acceptance decision. At the end of freshman year, any non-accepted students may request additional consideration. Eligible students who transfer to Bishop DuBourg during sophomore or junior year may be considered if space is available.
All Honors Academy students must enroll in courses designed as honors, advanced, or college credit. These courses move at a faster pace and require more independent work. Freshman and sophomore required courses are honors-level English, Math, Science and Social Studies. The following advanced courses are offered junior and senior year: Honors Chemistry, Honors Physics, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, Honors American History, Honors Western Civilization, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Statistics, Honors English III and IV, Honors Spanish III and IV, Honors French III and IV. Students in the Honors Academy must take at least 18 of these designated courses over their four years of study (four during freshman and sophomore years, and five during junior and senior years). All honors courses are awarded an additional 1.0 grade point, providing Honors Academy students with a strong GPA advantage over students who take only a few honors courses. Honors Academy students have priority access to honors classes during the course selection and scheduling process.
At the junior and senior level, Advanced College Credit Courses are offered through Saint Louis University or the University of Missouri - St. Louis in English, math, social studies, French and Spanish. Students must dually enroll in the Bishop DuBourg course and the university course to earn college credit. A separate fee must be made payable to the universities to earn college credit. Honors Academy students regularly earn between 25-30 college credits during their junior and senior years, and earning up to 40 is quite possible.
In addition to coursework, the Honors Academy will have monthly enrichment and support meetings during Flex Time. Honors Academy members will also have access to enhanced College and Career Readiness information and opportunities as well as Academy-only field trips, both academic and college/career focused.
In order to maintain membership in the Honors Academy, students must also exemplify hard work and responsibility, adhere Bishop DuBourg standards of behavior, maintain a minimum 90% attendance rate, participate in monthly Honors Academy meetings and maintain at least a 3.5 G.P.A.
Academy members who are unable to fulfill these requirements will have a probationary period and be offered support in order to meet the requirements of continued Academy membership.
Please contact Dr. Amy Schroff, Principal, to discuss entry into the Honors Academy.
314-783-4495, aschroff@bishopdubourg.org