XAVIER COLLEGE PREPARATORY RECOGNIZED FOR TOP STUDENT SUCCESS RATES IN ADVANCED PLACEMENT MATH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

XAVIER COLLEGE PREPARATORY RECOGNIZED FOR TOP STUDENT SUCCESS RATES IN ADVANCED PLACEMENT MATH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Xavier College Preparatory, an all-girls Catholic high school established in 1943 in Phoenix, was recently identified as having one of the best student success rates in Advanced Placement math, science and technology courses in Arizona by the College Board’s AP Report to the Nation. This distinction has qualified Xavier to apply for the Siemens AP High School Award, open to a select group of high schools whose students have demonstrated exceptional achievement in Advanced Placement programs.

Out of the 37 AP exams available, Xavier offers 22 courses that have been authorized by the College Board Advanced Placement program. The school also offers an accelerated science program. One hundred percent of the senior class is enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement class, AP English Literature. In 2007, Xavier graduated two National AP Scholars, 19 AP Scholars with Honors, 33 AP Scholars with Distinction and 58 AP Scholars.

When research in 1993 indicated that teenage girls were falling behind boys in the areas of science and math, Xavier launched its first formal capital campaign to build a math and science center as well as an award-winning curriculum in robotics, aviation and architecture. In 2006 the school was also awarded a grant from the Arthur G. Watson Charitable Trust to increase technology capacity. Xavier’s campus features state-of-the-art math and science lab facilities including the Virginia G. Piper Science and Math Center and the McCain Multi-Media Center.

“Xavier is committed to providing math, science and technology programming that is second to none,” said Principal Sister Joan Fitzgerald, BVM. “With math, science and technology clubs, honor societies, accelerated programs, honors and AP courses, and dual-enrollment opportunities with the Maricopa Community Colleges, our young women prepare for college coursework and future careers, but also complete projects that make a difference today.” In 2007, Xavier students garnered “exemplary” results in the Mars Student Imaging Project in conjunction with NASA and Arizona State University. The students presented their research to NASA scientists and their work is published on the ASU Mars web site.