Science Department

Our vision is that all students at SI take the four years of science courses best suited to their interests and abilities. We urge students to make informed and realistic decisions about their science course selections in consultation with their counselors, science teachers, and parents.  

Students who meet the criteria for admission listed below may enroll in an Honors or AP course without writing an application or appeal.

Students who do no meet the criteria for an Honors/AP course may complete this appeal form, due to the department chair on the deadline specified by the academic office.

Chemistry Honors

• Completion of Biology, Algebra 1 Accelerated, or Algebra 2H
• Science GPA 3.3 or higher; overall GPA 3.3 or higher

Physics Honors

• Completion of Biology and Chemistry or Chemistry Honors
• Concurrent enrollment in (or completion of) Pre-calculus Accelerated or Honors
• Science GPA 3.3 or higher; overall GPA 3.3 or higher

AP Biology 

• Completion of Biology, Chemistry, & Physics
• Overall GPA 3.3 or higher and Science GPA 3.3 or higher.
  • Students not meeting these criteria may submit an appeal under the following alternate criteria: Overall GPA 3.7 or higher and successful completion of Biology and Chemistry with Science GPA 3.7 or higher and approval of the department chair
  • Concurrent enrollment in AP Science Laboratory, meeting once per week before school

AP Chemistry

• Completion of Biology, Chemistry/Chemistry Honors strongly recommended, & Physics
• Overall GPA 3.3 or higher and Science GPA 3.3 or higher.
  • o Note: students not meeting these criteria may submit an appeal under the following alternate criteria: Overall GPA 3.7 or higher, Math GPA 3.7 or higher, and approval of the department chair
  • Concurrent enrollment in AP Science Laboratory, meeting once per week before school

AP Physics C

• Completion of Biology, Chemistry, & Physics/Physics Honors strongly recommended
• Overall GPA 3.3 or higher and Science GPA 3.3 or higher
• Concurrent enrollment in (or completion of) AP Calculus AB or BC
  • Note: students not meeting these criteria may submit an appeal under the following alternate criteria: Overall GPA 3.7 or higher, Math GPA 3.7 or higher, and approval of the department chair

St. Ignatius College Preparatory requires all students to complete a minimum of two years of laboratory science: one in the life sciences (such as Biology) and one in the physical sciences (such as Chemistry). College-bound students are advised to enroll in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and to consider a 4th year science elective or Advanced Placement course. All of our science courses, with the exception of the Science Research Project, Environmental Science, and Engineering courses, fulfill UC’s laboratory science requirement. These courses are UC-approved as science electives. UC requires students to take at least one natural (life) science and one physical science.  Links to course descriptions and written curricula are below.

Course Catalog 

St. Ignatius College Preparatory offers AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics C.

The department concurs with the recommendation of the College Board that AP Biology, Chemistry, and Physics be taught as second-year courses. There is simply too much material to be taught with the breadth and depth necessary for a first year course. Students who only take the AP course without the prerequisite year-long introductory course are at a disadvantage in college.

The pass rate for any AP course can be adjusted by limiting enrollment in courses. Our enrollment criteria are, at present, much less strict than they could be. This is not necessarily a bad thing as long as we are still comparable or above national pass rate. 

Click here for historical data on AP science test performance.