Student Support Services

The Romero Scholars Program was designed to provide an innovative academic support program established by the school in order to help selected students thrive in the challenging academic environment at Saint Ignatius. This program seeks to provide opportunities for students beyond what is offered in the classroom.

The benefits of being a Romero Scholar include daily/weekly sessions as assigned in the Walton Center for Learning as well as individualized attention from tutors. 

The summer before their freshman year, all Romero Scholars are required to attend the Summer Bridge Program. The Summer Bridge Program takes place on the campus of Saint Ignatius High School and is conducted by our faculty and staff. This program provides students the best chance to become oriented with our campus and class structure, learn organization and study habits, and build relationships with their peers, faculty and staff.

At Saint Ignatius High School, we recognize that all students learn differently and aim to give them what they need to find success.  We are able to offer a limited number of accommodations to those students who currently have an IEP, SEGO plan, 504 plan, or service plan.  We call these plans “Service Plans;” for many years they were known as “Cura Plans.”  We are not able to fully accommodate most IEPs.  Saint Ignatius High School does not modify any curriculum based on a student’s need or disability.   

All students’ documentation is reviewed by our School Psychologist, Mrs. Bethany Baker. At that time, it is determined which accommodations are available for that particular student.  She then writes the Service Plan and distributes it to the teachers.  If a family is curious about whether or not a potential student’s needs can be accommodated at Saint Ignatius High School, they can contact Mrs. Baker at bbaker@ignatius.edu.

Saint Ignatius aims to be an inclusive environment, meeting students where they are.  We have current students diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, specific learning disorders, and other diagnosed learning disabilities.  Students may receive accommodations including extended time, preferential seating, distraction-free testing space, and support from teachers to break assignments into smaller segments.  We have two Intervention Specialists and an Academic Coach that are able to serve a limited number of students in a small group setting during students’ free periods or before or after school.  We do not offer extended time on homework assignments or in-class assignments.  We also do not offer specialized instruction for students with disabilities.  With over 100 students on Service Plans each year, we are proud to serve our students that may need accommodations to access the rigorous Saint Ignatius curriculum.

Advisory is the call to Cura Personalis, or the care of the whole person. It provides students the opportunity to explore ways to explore the grad-at-grad qualities open to growth and loving across a series of lessons and opportunities to be in community with a teacher and their peers. 

What is Advisory?  It is homeroom + community time for all students. All faculty members are assigned as advisors, and meet with a group of students once a week.  Freshmen and Sophomores meet on Tuesdays during the “formation period” and focus on the high school transition.  Juniors and Seniors meet on Thursdays during the formation period.

Each meeting starts with prayer, daily announcements, and a curricular “lesson.”  College counselors will deliver content during some weeks for juniors and seniors.  Some of the faith formation experiences happen during Advisory; each class has one class Mass per semester, along with Eucharistic Adoration.  Some lesson topics include internet safety and academic integrity.