Academics
“Our diversified curriculum ensures that each Ritaman is challenged – and supported – as an individual.”
— Principal Josh Blaszak ’02
THREE RIGOROUS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Each year, every student is provided an academic plan tailored to his needs. He is placed in courses from our three programs of study. They are:
Augustinian Academy
Mendel Academic Program
Fr. James Green, O.S.A. Resource and Academic Support Program
Students are placed into classes based on their academic strengths and may take a combination of Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, Honors, College Prep, and Foundational level courses in any given semester or year.
Learn more about our three programs of study, as well as Advanced Placement Courses, Dual Credit Courses, and the Mustang Academic Program (MAP) below.
LEARN MORE
Augustinian Academy
The Augustinian Academy is a rigorous academic program for gifted and motivated students. It allows qualified students the opportunity for accelerated coursework. Courses include College Board approved Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Credit classes in most subject areas and Honors courses in nearly every academic department.
Qualified students who take advantage of these offerings are well-prepared to enter the nation’s most competitive colleges and universities.
Mendel Academic Program
The Mendel Academic Program is a rigorous college prep program for dedicated and motivated college bound students. It provides students with all the essential tools for success at the college level.
Fr. James Green, O.S.A. Resource and Academic Support Program
The Fr. James Green, O.S.A. Resource and Academic Support Program is a customized learning resource program designed to meet the needs of students with documented learning differences who demonstrate the potential to succeed in a college preparatory program. Students are placed in the program according to their individual academic needs. The program provides an opportunity for students to receive individual attention, tutoring, mentoring, and help with study skills that are necessary for secondary and post-secondary success.
For more information on our Academic Support Program as well as any questions regarding academic support, please contact:
Mrs. Michele Dougherty | Academic Resource Coordinator
(773) 925-6600 ext. 6639 | mdougherty@stritahs.com
The Advanced Placement (AP) program plays an integral role in the curriculum of St. Rita High School. As a college preparatory school, St. Rita offers AP courses as its highest and most challenging academic experience. These are truly college-level courses, and as a result, many colleges and universities offer placement or credit based on students’ scores on the AP exams. St. Rita recognizes the advanced nature of these courses with a weighted GPA calculation.
St. Rita currently offers the following AP courses:
Biology
Calculus AB
Chemistry
Computer Science Principles
English Language and Composition
English Literature and Composition
European History
Human Geography
Psychology
Spanish Language
Statistics
Studio Art Drawing, 2D Art and 3D Art
United States Government and Politics
United States History
World History
Note: Not all AP courses may be offered every year.
Criteria for assigning college placement or credit may vary from course to course and from college to college. The College Board provides an index of these policies on their website. However, whether or not a student earns college credit for an AP course, the true value of the AP experience lies in the college-level skills and content the student learns. Thus, it is important to note that a student’s grade in an AP course reflects his performance in the course itself (exams, essays, labs, assignments, etc.) and is distinct from the AP exam score.
Admission to AP courses at St. Rita is based on teacher recommendations and grades in previous classes.
By enrolling in the AP program, a student acknowledges its rigorous nature and agrees to give his best effort to succeed in it – both in class and on the AP exam. AP courses at St. Rita are included in the school’s overall policy for schedule changes, which can be made only within the first 10 days of class (or a period of time determined by the Administration). The principal may approve or may not approve any schedule that includes multiple AP courses in the same year. All students enrolled in an AP course are highly encouraged to take the AP exam.
More information about the AP program is available here.
Information Provided by the College Board
AP is a rigorous academic program built on the commitment, passion, and hard work of students and educators from both secondary schools and higher education. With more than 30 courses in a wide variety of subject areas, AP provides willing and academically prepared high school students with the opportunity to study and learn at the college level.
Through AP courses, talented and dedicated AP teachers help students develop and apply the skills, abilities, and content knowledge they will need later in college. Each AP course is modeled upon a comparable college course, and college and university faculty play a vital role in ensuring that AP courses align with college-level standards. For example, through the AP Course Audit, AP teachers submit their syllabi for review and approval by the college faculty. Only courses using syllabi that meet or exceed the college-level curricular and resource requirements for each AP course are authorized to carry the “AP” label.
AP courses culminate in a suite of college-level assessments developed and scored by college and university faculty as well as experienced AP teachers. AP exams are an essential part of the AP experience, enabling students to demonstrate their mastery of college-level work. Strong performance on AP exams is rewarded by colleges and universities worldwide. More than 90% of four-year colleges and universities in the United States grant students credit, placement or both on the basis of successful AP exam scores. But performing well on an AP exam means more than just the successful completion of a course; it is the gateway to success in college. Research consistently shows that students who score a 3 or higher typically experience greater academic success in college and improved graduation rates than their non-AP student peers.
AP Exam Scores
The Readers’ scores on the free-response questions are combined with the results of the computer-scored multiple-choice questions; the weighted raw scores are summed to give a composite score. The composite score is then converted to a score on AP’s 5-point scale. While colleges and universities are responsible for setting their own credit and placement policies, AP scores signify how qualified students are to receive college credit or placement.
AP Score
5 = Extremely well qualified
4 = Well qualified
3 = Qualified
2 = Possibly qualified
1 = No recommendation
AP exam scores of 5 are equivalent to A grades in the corresponding college course. AP exam scores of 4 are equivalent to grades of A-, B+, and B in college. AP exam scores of 3 are equivalent to grades of B-, C+, and C in college.
Advanced Placement Courses
St. Rita is proud to offer a selection of dual credit courses with partner universities — Benedictine University, Dominican University, Grand Canyon University, and Saint Xavier University — allowing Ritamen to take college courses while in high school. This unique opportunity allows students to earn both high school and college credit. Most of these courses are taught by St. Rita faculty members who hold a Master’s Degree in their subject area and serve as adjunct professors for their partner universities. The faculty members provide rigorous instruction aligned with the universities’ course standards and learning objectives. The college credit hours students earn are transferable to most universities.
Dual Credit Courses
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Courses / Credits:
AP Calculus – 4 Credit Hour Course
AP Statistics – 3 Credit Hour Course
AP Chemistry – 8 Credit Hour Course
Requirements and Enrollment:
Student must be enrolled as a junior or senior.
Students must possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) OR are AP eligible.
The cost is $75 per credit hour.
Recommendation from the high school administrator or department chair.
Resources:
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Courses / Credits:
Honors Theology II (Old Testament) / 3 Credit Hour Course
Honors Theology II (New Testament) / 3 Credit Hour Course
Honors Theology III (Moral Theology) / 3 Credit Hour Course
Honors Theology III (Moral Theology) / 3 Credit Hour Course
Honors Theology IV (World Religions) / 3 Credit Hour Course
Requirements and Enrollment:
Students must be enrolled in an honor’s theology course to sign up for dual enrollment.
The cost is $300 for each 3-credit hour course in which they enroll.
Students must earn at least a C grade (70%) in their honors theology class to receive the credit hours upon course completion.
Dominican University credit hours earned through St. Rita theology courses can be used as a theology course credit at a Catholic university or a humanities credit at a public university, subject to university approval.
Resources:
Dominican University & St. Rita High School Information Sheet
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Course / Credits:
Introduction to Philosophy and Ethics / 4 Credit Hour Course
Requirements and Enrollment:
This dual enrollment course is offered online, asynchronously, through Grand Canyon University (GCU). Students enrolled in this course are assigned a class period and classroom to work on the course material, which is set up entirely online through GCU and taught by one of their professors.
This course is available to juniors or seniors only and would fulfill one of their elective requirements.
The cost is $210 for the 4-credit hour course.
Resources:
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Course / Credits:
Introduction to Business / 1 Credit Hour Course
Requirements and Enrollment:
Student must be enrolled as a junior or senior.
Students must possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Recommendation from high school administrator.
The cost is $100 for the 1-credit hour course.
Resources:
MAP (Mustang Academic Program) is an academic resource class that provides support to those students who can benefit from one-on-one assistance in Mathematics, English, Reading, and Academic Coaching. Provided by Superior Chicago Tutoring, this program is an opportunity for students to receive small group tutoring that supports classroom success. In addition, students also learn strategies on how to be successful students, test takers, and organized high schoolers. Each student participating in MAP has a resource period built into their schedule.
Qualifications for MAP are based on the following:
Students must have a Chicago address.
Grades in English, Reading, and Math are C- or lower.
Below grade level or 50% scores on standardized tests.
Parents must sign a permission form for the student to participate.
For more information on our Mustang Academic Program, please contact:
Mustang Academic Program
Mr. Mark Zacek
Mustang Academic Program Coordinator
MZACEK@STRITAHS.COM
x6661
Mr. Patrick Cahill ‘20
Mustang Academic Program Teacher
PCAHILL@STRITAHS.COM
x6630
Empowering
Educators
Here at St. Rita, we are not only stewards of the Augustinian tradition of education for our Ritamen, but take to heart the Augustinian belief of lifelong learning for all of us here.
This year, Silver Lining Learning is guiding our St. Rita faculty through a year-long professional development program aimed at boosting student success. The focus is on enhancing ACT performance and embedding effective teaching strategies into everyday classroom practices. At St. Rita, we're dedicated to ensuring our educators are equipped to support college and career readiness, preparing students for bright futures ahead!
Student Scheduling
Scheduling Seniors: Every rising senior discusses individual scheduling options with his counselor. A student who is eligible, will receive a recommendation for an Honors and/or AP or Dual Credit course(s). By the end of February, all rising seniors will choose classes and periods making sure that all graduation requirements are being met.
Scheduling Juniors: Every rising junior discusses individual scheduling options with his counselor each Spring. A student who is eligible, will receive a recommendation for an Honors and/or AP course(s). By the end of each Spring, all rising juniors will choose classes making sure that all graduation requirements are being met.
Scheduling Sophomores: Every rising sophomore discusses his individual scheduling options with his counselor. A student who is eligible will receive a recommendation for Honors and/or AP course(s). By the end of April, all rising sophomores will have chosen his classes for the following year.
Scheduling Freshmen: Every incoming freshman will receive an academic plan of classes once accepted into St. Rita High School.
Schedules: All schedules for the following school year are made available on PlusPortals by July 1.
Schedule Changes
Once schedules are issued any student who would like to request a schedule change must complete a schedule change request by clicking the button below.
Students may contact Mrs. Jill Nagel at jnagel@stritahs.com with any questions.
“Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of ensuring all students can flourish in engaging and equitable learning environments. We commend St. Rita of Cascia High School for meeting high standards and making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”
- Dr. Mark A. Elgart,
President and CEO of Cognia