PROFILE FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION 2020-2021 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. Morgan Park Academy is an independent, GLOBAL STUDIES coeducational college preparatory school located Students explore literature, language, and history from on the South Side of Chicago in the Morgan Park- multiple perspectives. Each March, students travel around Beverly neighborhood. the country and internationally during Project Week, including recent explorations of culture, history, science, Founded in 1873, the school enrolls 415 students in pre- religion, and service in China, Germany, Greece, Iceland, kindergarten through grade 12, including 140 students in the India, Italy, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, Spain, and Thailand. Upper School. Built around small class sizes and strong teacher-student SERVICE relationships, the MPA program invites students to develop a Graduation requirements include at least 80 hours of service world view rooted in their own culture while broadening and work, including 40 hours of self-directed service work deepening their thinking beyond the boundaries of campus, outside of school. Students participate in two all-school city, and country. This global focus includes exposure to service days and organize special events such as Dance For diverse cultures and traditions as well as opportunities for Life, which raises thousands for charity. further study, international travel, and service learning. CAPSTONE PROJECTS STUDENT DIVERSITY Students identify a topic of passion and create a showcase The student body reflects Chicago’s diversity in ethnicity, project, developing important skills like project and time nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, and management, communication, and organization; and socioeconomic background, with students from 45 zip learning how they can make a difference in their community. codes throughout Chicago, the surrounding suburbs, and Some examples of projects include writing a musical about northwest Indiana, as well as 18 international students. mental health, building a website to share the stories of Seventy-three percent of upper school students receive the homeless, and producing a documentary film about financial assistance. affordable housing in China. OUR VALUES 5.7% Latinx Independent Thinking: We believe in providing a rigorous, 5.7% Multiracial broad-based liberal arts program that inspires a student’s pursuit of skills, knowledge and values. 53.6% Black Global Leadership: We believe that our student body should 15.7% White be socioeconomically, ethnically and culturally diverse, so that students delve into a curriculum that sees the world’s challenges through a global lens. A Whole-Child Approach: We believe in an education that 19.3% Asian is both challenging and nurturing, by engaging students’ heads, hearts and hands. Mutual Respect: We believe that a school community should stand for and teach a set of core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, diligence, kindness, cooperation, and service. CEEB/ACT Code #141040 Tanuja Rathi Director of College Counseling Mercedes Z. Sheppard Head of School 2153 W. 111th St., Chicago, IL 60643 [email protected] Tom Drahozal Upper School Principal p 773-881-6700 f 773-881-8409 p 773-881-6703 f 773-445-5687 Upper School Assistant Principal www.morganparkacademy.org Emily Drown BY THE NUMBERS CLASS OF 2021 GPA DISTRIBUTION High school enrollment: 140 Illinois and Indiana zip codes represented: 45 Weighted GPA — AP and Honors classes have an additional BIPOC students: 84.3% 1.0 point added to the posted scale in the GPA calculation. Students receiving financial aid: 73% Highest GPA: 4.25 Average GPA: 3.45 International students: 13% Faculty: 28; 82% with advanced degrees Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 2.5-2.99 GPA 4.00+ GPA Average class size: 10 19% 19% GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS English 4 credits Science 3.5 credits Math 3 credits 30% 32% Social Studies 3 credits 3.0-3.49 GPA 3.5-3.99 GPA World Languages 3 credits Arts 2 credits Physical Education 1.5 credits College Counseling 1.5 credits Electives 2.5 credits Unweighted GPA TOTAL 24 credits Highest GPA: 3.96 Average GPA: 3.34 ALSO REQUIRED: Capstone Project 80 Hours of Service Project Week 2.5-2.99 GPA 3.75-4.00 GPA 16% 22% COVID-19 UPDATE Morgan Park Academy suspended in-person instruction on March 13, 2020, and transitioned 24% to live remote learning the following week. For the rest of the 2019-2020 school year, the school day 38% was 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with 45-minute classes. 3.0-3.49 GPA 3.5-3.74 GPA Grading for Q4 did not differ from how we normally grade. The final grade was calculated averaging Q3 and Q4 grades since there were no final exams. GRADING SCALE For the 2020-2021 academic year, the school plans to have some students attending classes on campus Morgan Park Academy does not rank students beyond the and others attending classes remotely, based on recognition of a valedictorian and salutatorian. the preference of their families. Both options Percentile Regular Honors AP consist of a full five days of instruction per week. A+ 97-100 4 4.5 5 Students who are attending classes remotely will A 93-96 4 4.5 5 interact with teachers and classmates in real time A- 90-92 3.7 4.2 4.7 via online video and are expected to be active B+ 87-89 3.3 3.8 4.3 participants. B 83-86 3.0 3.5 4.0 Normal letter grading policy will be implemented B- 80-82 2.7 3.2 3.7 for this academic year regardless of whether C+ 77-79 2.3 2.3 2.3 students are attending classes in person or C 73-76 2.0 2.0 2.0 remotely. There will be no final exams at the end C- 70-72 1.7 1.7 1.7 of the first semester; therefore, final grades will be D+ 67-69 1.3 1.3 1.3 determined by an average of Q1 and Q2 grades. D 63-66 1.0 1.0 1.0 D- 60-62 1.0 1.0 1.0 F 0-59 0 0 0 COURSES All MPA classes are taught at an advanced level. We offer 16 AP courses and eight Honors courses, though scheduling conflicts or low demand may prevent students from enrolling in all of them. Students must take the AP exam if enrolled in an AP course. SUBJECT COURSES HONORS ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH World Literature British Literature AP English Language and Composition 4 credits required Advanced Literary Studies Popular Literature American Literature Graphic Novels AP English Literature Middle Eastern Literature Speech and Composition Major Author Studies SCIENCE Biology Bio-Ethics AP Biology Chemistry Computer Programming 1 3.5 credits required AP Chemistry Physics Computer Programming 2 AP Physics 1 Forensic Science Digital Citizenship AP Computer Science Anatomy 1 Mobile App Coding Anatomy 2 Earth Science Ecology MATH Algebra 1 Algebra 2 Honors AP Calculus AB Algebra 2 Geometry Honors 3 credits required AP Calculus BC Geometry Pre-Calculus Honors AP Statistics College Algebra Math Applications and Statistics Numeracy for the 21st Century SOCIAL World History Global Issues AP United States History STUDIES United States History World Religions AP Comparative Government Consumer Economics Humanities 1 3 credits required and Politics Psychology Humanities 2 AP Human Geography Politics and Society Law WORLD Spanish 1 Mandarin 1 Spanish 4 Honors AP Spanish Language and Culture LANGUAGES Spanish 2 Mandarin 2 Spanish 5 Honors AP Spanish Literature and Culture Spanish 3 Mandarin 3 French 4 Honors 3 credits required AP French Language and Culture French 1 French 5 Honors French 2 Mandarin 4 Honors French 3 ARTS Band Photography 1 AP Music Theory Chorus Photography 2 2 credits required Radio Drawing and Painting 1 History of Rock Drawing and Painting 2 Intro to Audio Intro to Art Fundamentals Video Editing Acting & Directing 1 Ceramics 1 Acting & Directing 2 Ceramics 2 Advanced Art Portfolio Building PHYSICAL Physical Education EDUCATION Health 10th Grade PE Project 1.5 credits required COLLEGE College 101 COUNSELING College 102 College 103 1.5 credit required COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES, 2016-2020 100 percent of Morgan Park Academy students are admitted to and choose to attend four-year colleges and universities. A small number of students choose to defer to explore non-academic opportunities. 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