Education Geared Towards Boys

  • Hands on learning bringing lessons to life
  • Activity and movement within the classroom keeps students’ attention
  • Competition in the classroom encourages teamwork and critical thinking
  • Student activities, clubs and athletics allow teachers to double as mentors outside of the classroom

Big School Resources, Small School Atmosphere

  • Google affiliated school with 1:1 Chromebook program
  • 3-year engineering program partnered with Project Lead the Way
  • Immersion Trips:
    • Foreign Language trips – Germany
    • Advocacy Trips: – Peru, Texas, & Tennessee
    • Science trips – Kennedy Space Center, National Museum of the US Air Force
  • Electives – Engineering, Business, Computer Science, Music, Nursing, Broadcast Journalism and more!

Customized Learning Experience

Dual Credit Courses

The Dual Credit Course opportunity consists of 6 junior and senior level courses which are accredited as college level courses. This program is executed in conjunction with Lewis University, Moraine Valley CC, and St. Mary’s University (MN).

  • IT Essentials, 7 Credits (Moraine Valley)
  • Physics, 4 Credits (St. Marys)
  • English III, 3 Credits (St. Marys)
  • English IV, 3 Credits (St. Marys)
  • Spanish IV, 6 Credits (Lewis)
  • Nursing, 1 Credit (St. Xavier)

Advanced Placement Courses

There are 15 Advanced Placement level courses available at Brother Rice, beginning in sophomore year. Our pass rate hovers between 70-80%, compared to the state norm of 60%.

Between the Dual Credit and AP programs, it is very common for Brother Rice graduates to enter college with AT LEAST one semester worth of college credit hours. This makes our students much more attractive to colleges and passes along significant savings
to their families.

  • AB Calculus
  • BC Calculus
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Economics—Micro
  • U.S. Government
  • U.S. History
  • European History
  • English—Composition
  • English—Literature
  • German
  • Spanish

APEX Honors Program – Beyond the Traditional

Academic Pursuit of EXcellence

Brother Rice is nationally recognized for superior collegiate preparation programs. Graduates from our APEX Honors Program have been actively sought out by the finest schools in the nation and perform exceptionally well at those schools.

How does our APEX Honors Program go beyond the traditional honors program?
In addition to our excellent Advanced Placement classes, a number of our Honors classes offer dual credit at Brother Rice High School and either St. Mary’s University, Moraine Valley Community College, St. Xavier University or Lewis University. Several faculty members presently teach or have taught at the college level. Several are adjunct college instructors. APEX courses are open to all highly motivated students with the recommendation of the appropriate department. The combination of the expertise of our faculty and the high level of our honors courses benefits our students through Advanced Placement courses and college credit courses. Our Advanced Placement courses have an exceptionally high pass rate resulting in college credits. The College Credit Program has actual credit awarded via an official university or college transcript presented as transfer credit.

  • English Literature & Composition
  • English Language & Composition
  • United States History
  • U.S. Government & Politics
  • European History
  • Chemistry
  • Spanish
  • German Language & Culture
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Music Theory
  • American Literature for 3 credit hours
  • British Literature for 3 credit hours
  • Physics for 3 credit hours
  • Accounting for 3 credit hours
  • Spanish for 4 credit hours

FOCUS Program

The FOCUS Program at Brother Rice is designed to meet the needs of particular students who may experience difficulties in competing in and completing academic high school programs.

FOCUS involves two years of FOCUS courses taught by select teachers. Beginning with junior year, the students are partially mainstreamed into general courses while complete immersion takes place during senior year. Students are reevaluated annually to determine their placement in the next academic year.

The curriculum is based upon the requirements needed for college entrance. The Guidance Department works closely with the FOCUS Program, especially as students make decisions about their future education,

  • To improve study skills and academic achievement
  • To provide academic growth in order to maintain necessary standards for graduation
  • To improve attitudes toward learning and formal education by fostering academic success
  • To prepare students with the necessary skills to be mainstreamed with the academic student population
  • Scores in the 25th or lower percentile on the entrance exam
  • Elementary schools’ recommendation to the program
  • Students meeting the first two requirements are enrolled in a mandatory four-week summer school program consisting of the teaching of basic English skills and general mathematics
  • English I
  • Pre Algebra*
  • Reading
  • Theology**
  • World History
  • Physical Education/Microsoft Office

*Some may take Algebra depending upon teacher recommendation and test scores.
**Non-FOCUS

  • English II
  • Algebra or Geometry
  • Theology***
  • Biology (with lab)
  • French I
  • Physical Education/Elective
  • Elective

All Sophomore students must take 6 classes.
***Non-FOCUS

  • English III
  • U.S. History
  • Chemistry
  • Theology
  • French II
  • Geometry or Algebra II
  • Elective

All Junior students must take 6 classes.

  • All Seniors must take 6 classes.  There are no specific FOCUS classes on this level.