SBA is one of only a few select schools worldwide receiving AP Capstone™ distinction. AP Capstone™ is an innovative diploma program that allows students to develop the skills that matter most for college success: research, collaboration, and communication. Many colleges, both public and private, now recognize AP Capstone™ in the admissions process and it has recently been added to the Common Application.
The program allows students to select at least 4 AP courses during their high school tenure in addition to the AP Seminar and the AP Research course.
If a student earns a 3 or higher on the AP Seminar and AP Research exams and on 4 additional AP exams of their choice, they will earn the Capstone Diploma. If a student earns a 3 or higher on the AP Seminar and AP Research exam, they will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
Our AP program includes courses across multiple subject areas, including English, History, Science, Math, Foreign Language, and Fine and Performing Arts.
Students wishing to experience a more rigorous and challenging environment may select to enroll in honors courses at SBA. Choosing from honors classes in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, and Fine Arts, our students have the oportunity to learn in a faster-pace, smaller student to teacher ratio class environments.
Incoming freshmen have the opportunity to graduate with honors. In addition to meeting graduation requirements, those in the Honors Program must take 4 years of Social Studies or Science, 3 years of Foreign Language, at least 2 honors classes during the freshman and sophomore years and 3 honors courses during junior and senior years. They may also complete 3 AP courses that can replace 3 of their honors level requirements.
Included in our Honors Program are Dual Enrollment courses. We partner with the University of Memphis to allow students to earn college credit in high school.
Housed in 56 classrooms, our 8 academic departments offer a variety of courses to meet our students where they are in their pathway of learning and challenge them at all levels. Based in the philosophy that no two students learn the same way, our teachers utilize engaging and dynamic curriculum to prepare our students for extraordinary futures.
This is our most popular Academic Path and is a exemplary college preparatory program.
Students are encouraged to choose from a diverse selection of courses across subject areas, including Science, Business, Humanities, and Fine and Performing Arts, and more, allowing students to focus on a course of study and discover possible college majors.
The PLUS Program is a part of the St. Benedict college prep curriculum. The program serves students with a diagnosed learning difference with an average to above average intelligence in preparation for college.
Acceptance to the PLUS Program is based on a psychological evaluation that is no more than three years old, previous school records, the high school placement test and interviews with the student and parents. The evaluation team reviews these documents, and recommendations are presented to the applicant’s parent. Placement in other special education programs does not guarantee acceptance in St. Benedict’s PLUS Program.
No IEP is written; however, a profile is developed from the psychological testing that consists of the student’s strengths, weaknesses, accommodations and learning difference.
The PLUS program features a small teacher/student ratio and built in classroom accommodations.
For more information, contact Dr. Elizabeth Fischer at [email protected]
SBA has made a long term and vigorous commitment to the interdisciplinary program known as STEM – the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics into an inquiry based learning strategy. Students are presented with a problem and must work together to identify the issues, brainstorm solutions, build a prototype, test and reevaluate, solve the problem, and communicate the findings.
SBA has partnered with Project Lead the Way in offering both an Introduction to Engineering and a Principles of Engineering course. The Principles of Engineering course has an honors class option. These courses are being taught in our state of the art STEM lab which includes 3D printing capability and student work and computer stations. SBA partners with the University of Memphis in offering Engineering classes as Dual Enrollment/Honors courses. AP Computer Science is offered under the STEM Program and is equivalent to a first-semester, college-level course in computer science. We also offer a very unique course called Introduction to Drones which is the 1stclass offered by WozU. SBA was selected as the only school in the country to offer this class.
SBA's Business Program features the following classes which students can select.
SBA's Fine Arts program features the following classes which students can select.