INTRODUCTION — In keeping with the Jesuit tradition of education at St. Ignatius College Preparatory and in accordance with our school’s statement of philosophy, the mission of the Mathematics Department is to develop “men and women for and with others” through a comprehensive and structured mathematics program. We strive to prepare 90% or more of the student body, over the course of four years, for success in a college calculus and/or statistics course. We instill a fundamental appreciation of the techniques of algebra in solution of problems and of logic through the study of geometry. Though only three years of math are required for graduation, we encourage students to continue math through their senior year in order to have the greatest flexibility in choosing courses of study in college.
CRITERIA FOR HONORS ENROLLMENT — Qualifications for honors, accelerated and AP courses includes analysis of the student’s grade in his/her current math course, an evaluation by the current and previous teachers (if applicable) of the student’s grasp and application of concepts, participation, written work, motivation and interest in advanced mathematics study, overall recommendation, and various standardized tests (HSPT and PSAT). In addition, certain grade minimums must be met in order to be considered for an honors or AP course. Final enrollment in an honors or AP course is always contingent upon successful completion of current coursework, even if a student is provisionally admitted to an honors or AP course in the spring.