Academics

Curriculum

Bishop Ireton's college preparatory curriculum has a solid tradition of educating young men and women of faith by offering rigorous academics and strong athletic and fine arts programs in a culture rich with Salesian Spirituality.

Curriculum Sequence

The minimum credit requirements for each academic department are listed below. Upon graduation, students will have accumulated 26.5 credits during their four years at Bishop Ireton.

List of 10 items.

  • Theology

    4 credits

  • English

    4 credits

  • Social Studies

    4 credits

  • Mathematics

    4 credits**

  • Science

    4 credits

  • World Language*

    3 credits**

  • Physical Education

    1.5 credits

  • Fine Arts

    1 credit

  • Computer Science

    1 credit

  • Total =

    26.5 credits

    * Two years of one World Language followed by two years of another World Language may be substituted.

    ** Credit earned in the eighth grade for subjects normally taken in grades 9-12 (e.g., Algebra 1 and/or level 1 of a World Language) will only be listed on a student's transcript if the student passes the diocesan exemption exam and is placed in the next advanced level course. This credit will not calculate into a student's cumulative or current GPA. Students may not substitute these credits for overall Bishop Ireton graduation credits.

List of 4 items.

  • Freshman Year

    Theology1.00
    English1.00
    Math1.00
    Science1.00
    Social Studies1.00
    World Language1.00
    Health/P.E.1.00
    Computer Science.50
    Elective (Fine Arts, etc.)optional

  • Sophomore Year

    Theology1.00
    English1.00
    Math1.00
    Science1.00
    Social Studies1.00
    World Language1.00
    Health/P.E.1.00
    Computer Scienceoptional
    Elective (Fine Arts, etc.)optional

  • Junior Year

    Theology1.00
    English1.00
    Math1.00
    Science1.00
    Social Studies1.00
    World Language1.00
    Fine Artsoptional
    Computer Scienceoptional
    Other Electiveoptional

  • Senior Year

    Theology1.00
    English1.00
    Math1.00
    Science1.00
    Social Studies1.00
    World Languagerecommended
    Fine Artsoptional
    Computer Scienceoptional
    Other Electiveoptional

List of 5 items.

  • College Preparatory (CP) Classes

    These courses are taught at the high school level and are designed to prepare students for college-level work. They provide a solid academic foundation across subject areas.

  • Honors Classes

    Honors courses are also taught at the high school level but move at a faster pace and require greater independence from students. These classes provide fewer scaffolds for learning and often involve more rigorous assignments. Honors STEM courses place a greater emphasis on mathematical calculations and problem-solving.

  • Advanced Placement (AP) Classes

    AP courses are taught at a college level and follow a nationally standardized curriculum. At the end of the course, students take an AP exam and receive a score between 1 and 5. Many colleges offer credit or advanced placement based on these scores, depending on their individual policies.

  • Dual Enrollment Classes

    Dual Enrollment courses are college-level classes taught on the Bishop Ireton campus by BI faculty who are qualified to teach at the college level. Offered in partnership with a specific college or university, these classes allow students to earn official college credit. While credits are awarded through the partner institution, some colleges may accept them toward graduation requirements through credit transfer.

  • Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Engineering Classes

    PLTW courses offer a pathway to college credit in engineering. All students take an End-of-Course (EOC) assessment. Students who earn 85% or higher in the BI course are eligible for college credit through the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). The final grade reported on the transcript is based on the EOC assessment score. Some colleges may accept these credits toward degree requirements through credit transfer.

List of 4 items.

  • 23

    Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered each year

  • STEM

    Our Project Lead the Way curriculum creates an engaging, hands-on classroom environment that allows students to thrive

  • 80%

    Percentage of faculty who hold an advanced degree at Bishop Ireton

  • 210

    Students from the class of 2025 enrolled in 79 different colleges and universities.

Dual Enrollment Courses

Bishop Ireton has partnered with Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) and Marymount University to offer dual enrollment classes during the school year. The NVCC dual enrollment course credits are fully transferrable from NVCC to a Virginia public college or university. The courses may also be transferrable to private and out-of-state institutions. Dual enrollment courses are taught during the regular school day by Bishop Ireton faculty. Students must meet the pre-requisites and the Northern Virginia Community College application requirements to enroll in a dual enrollment class. Some dual enrollment courses require an additional fee that is paid to the institution.

Bishop Ireton High School offers engineering coursework through a partnership with Project Lead the Way (PLTW). Introduction to Engineering Design and Principles of Engineering are part of a rigorous STEM initiative at Ireton. For more information on Project Lead the Way, visit pltw.org.
In the spirit of St. Francis de Sales, Bishop Ireton High School is a Catholic college preparatory school that promotes spiritual, intellectual, creative, social and physical development.
 
As a Salesian community of learning and service, Bishop Ireton High school prepares and inspires students to Advance Always with a Christ-centered focus to meet and surpass current and future global challenges.
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