UPPER SCHOOL PROFILE 2016-2017 Morgan Park Academy is an independent, coeducational, non-sectarian collegepreparatory school located on the South Side of Chicago in the Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood. Founded in 1873, the school enrolls 460 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12, including 145 students in the Upper School. The student body reflects the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the Chicago area, with students from more than 80 zip codes throughout Chicago, the surrounding suburbs, and northwest Indiana, as well as approximately 25 international students.
Rooted in small class sizes and strong teacher-student relationships, the MPA program invites students to develop a world view rooted in their own culture while broadening and deepening their thinking beyond the boundaries of campus, city, and country. Beginning with exposure to diverse cultures for its youngest students, this global focus carries through the Middle and Upper Schools with opportunities for global experience, international travel, and service learning.
Graduates emerge as confident young adults, original thinkers, and creative problem solvers. They transition into the next stages of their lives well-prepared for advanced college coursework and poised to meet and exceed the high expectations of new challenges.
OUR MISSION
Morgan Park Academy engages the whole child, inspires the independent learner, and prepares the global leader of tomorrow to make a positive difference in the world.
SCHOOL COLORS
MAROON
WHITE & SCHOOL MASCOT
WARRIORS
24
CREDITS TO GRADUATE
8:1
STUDENT/ TEACHER RATIO
80%
OF FACULTY HOLD
ADVANCED EDUCATION DEGREES
FACULTY
Morgan Park Academy’s Upper School faculty comprises 25 dedicated members, 80% of whom have master’s degrees or higher and more than 50% of whom have lived, worked, or extensively traveled abroad.
ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID
Admission to the Upper School is a comprehensive process which includes entrance exams or successful completion of our rigorous Middle School curriculum. Approximately 70% of students receive grants under our financial assistance and merit scholarship programs. This year, Morgan Park Academy will award more than $2.1 million in aid.
ACTIVITIES
Students participate in more than 20 clubs and organizations, including 10 interscholastic sports teams. Students annually stage several theatrical performances, including a fall play, a spring musical, and a charity dance performance to support HIV/AIDS education and research. Teams such as Model UN and Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering regularly compete for awards at the regional and state level, with the WYSE team winning state championships.
SERVICE LEARNING
Morgan Park Academy students are required to perform at least 80 hours of service work before graduation, including approximately 40 hours of self-directed service work outside of school.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Students must accrue a minimum of 24 credits, including these core requirements: • English – 4 credits • Mathematics – 3 credits • Social Sciences – 3 credits • Science and Technology – 3.5 credits • World Languages – 3 credits • Fine Arts – 2 credits • Physical Education and Health – 1.5 credits • College and Career Studies – 0.5 credits • Additional electives – 3.5 credits
HONORS AND AP COURSES
All regular academic courses at Morgan Park Academy are highly competitive and demanding. Honors courses include: Algebra 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, and World Language 4-5.
AP Courses include: Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Comparative Government & Politics, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Environmental Science, French Language, Human Geography, Music Theory, Physics 1, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, Statistics, Studio Art, and U.S. History. Students are required to take exams if enrolled in an AP course. Depending on student demand, some courses are not taught every year.
PROJECT WEEK
During March, all Upper School students travel either around the globe, throughout the U.S., or around Chicago to enjoy hands-on learning beyond the classroom. Trips in 2016 include explorations of culture, history, science, religion, and service to others in Thailand, China, Quebec, and Philadelphia.
GRADING POLICY
Morgan Park Academy does not rank students beyond the recognition of a valedictorian and salutatorian.
The school uses a 4.0 scale for unweighted GPA, while also weighting grades for honors and AP courses. The weighted GPA includes an additional 0.5 for each honors course and an additional 1.0 for each AP course, provided the student receives a final grade of at least an 80.
STANDARDIZED TESTING DATA
78% OF MPA
AP STUDENTS
IN THE CLASSES OF 2017 AND 2018 EARNED A SCORE OF 3 OR ABOVE IN 2016
32
AVERAGE
ACT
COMPOSITE SCORE FOR THE CLASS OF 2017*
Morgan Park Academy 2153 W. 111th Street Chicago, IL 60643
p. 773-881-6700 f. 773-881-8409 Karen Horvath
College Counselor khorvath@morganparkacademy.org p. 773-881-6703 f. 773-445-5687 Administrators
Mercedes Z. Sheppard Head of School
Tom Drahozal
Upper School Principal
Morgan Park Academy is a member of the College Board and the National Association of College Admission Counselors. The Academy is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Independent School Association of the Central States, and is a member in good standing of the National Association of Independent Schools. *ACT Composite is calculated from top 20% of class
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES, 2010-2016
100 percent of Morgan Park Academy students are admitted to and choose to attend four-year colleges and universities. Some students choose to defer to explore non-academic opportunities during a gap year.
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2153 West 111th Street | Chicago, IL 60643 | 773.881.6700 | www.morganparkacademy.org