The Honors Program is a special four-year program for students with high ability or special interests. The program offers Honors courses 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 Honors 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 Program 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 selfinitiating 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 Program 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." Select incoming freshmen may be invited to test and earn proficiency credit (p. 13) in subject areas they have mastered in elementary school.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM:
The Advanced Placement division of the Honors 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 and Foreign Languages (Spanish, French and German). Testing is available in all subject areas.

PACC PROGRAM:
The Program for Accelerated College Credit is a unique opportunity for students to earn dual credit, both for high school and college. The PACC Program is sponsored by Saint Mary's University of Winona, MN, and will issue college credit for approved courses, typically our AP level classes. Saint Mary's recognizes that the effort and performance for the duration of a course warrants consideration for college level credit, as much as the score a students receives on a one day exam. An official transcript will be issued to students who enroll in the program, which is generally recognized by midwest universities. (More information can be found at www.smumn.edu...>admissions>specialprograms>PACC)

College Biology is unique in that it concurrently earns college credit as granted by Lewis University.