HONORS/AP COURSES

McNamara offers a wide variety of Honors and Advanced Placement courses. Open to those students whose test scores and class performance have shown them to be capable of exceptionally challenging work, these courses present more material, in greater depth, in a shorter period of time. Grades in these courses are given an extra quality point in computing a student's GPA. Prior approval by the teacher is always required for admission to these courses.

WHY CHOOSE AP COURSES?

• Students who are eligible for Advanced Placement courses benefit in several ways. The primary benefit is the knowledge gained from the course itself, but there is the added benefit of the confidence that comes with meeting a challenge.
• Select colleges take into consideration the AP courses studied by prospective students.
• AP courses save money. Students who score well on the AP exams administered each spring are able to apply these credits towards college, thus saving the expense of course tuition.

COLLEGE PLANNING

McNamara's Guidance Office acts as a resource for all parents and students during the college search and selection process. Planning for college is viewed as a four year process.

• Each Fall students take preliminary ACT and SAT tests. All academic courses at McNamara promote the skills necessary for success on these tests.
• Each Spring students are counseled as they make course selections for the upcoming year. As the college search intensifies, McNamara provides the following:
• Ongoing College Counseling for all students. While McNamara's requirements prepare all students for college, students are also encouraged to research individual colleges and the requirements of each of these schools.
• Summer Guidance Program for Juniors. The summer before Senior year, each Junior meets with a college counselor to begin the formal college application process. Talents, interests, strengths and challenges are reviewed, and college recommendations are made. The student and parents make a list of selected colleges.
• The Application Process for Seniors. Counselors help students with college applications. Teachers who have come to know the students well write letters of recommendation as needed. English teachers work with students to perfect college essays as needed. Parents, students and counselor work together, moving through the application process in a timely and effective manner.
• Financial Aid. Counselors are available to answer questions parents may have about financing a college education.
• Scholarship Newsletter. Parents are made aware of every scholarship available to students. Updated as needed, this newsletter has proved highly effective. The McNamara Class of 2007 earned over $3.0 million in scholarship aid.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Twenty-three (23) credits are required for graduation. These must be earned in the following areas:

All Freshmen are required to take one (1) semester of Physical Education and one (1) semester of Health. Sophomores are required to take one (1) semester of Physical Education.

Illinois Law requires that students must pass an examination on the United States Constitution and the Illinois State Constitution which are coverd in the Junior year American History class.

COURSES OF STUDY