Honors/A.P. Application Process 

Current Gonzaga Prep Non-honors Students

Students may enter or leave the Honors/A.P. track at any time during their four years at Gonzaga Prep. If you are not currently in an Honors/A.P. English class, you may apply to be in Honors/A.P. English if you meet all of the following criteria:

• Turn in your application by February 12th, 2020.
• Have an A- or higher English grade for your first semester grade and be on track for an A- or higher for second semester.
• Complete any extra honors consideration work your teacher may assign at the start of the year (e.g., independent study or bonus vocabulary words).
• Do assigned homework and classwork on time.
• Attend class regularly and make up any missed assignments in a timely fashion.
• Be able to handle the added stress of Honors/A.P. coursework.
• Participate actively in discussions and class activities.
• Be courteous and respectful toward others and self.
• Show consistent effort throughout the year (no "blowing off" a quarter and then "scraping by" with a last-minute flurry of solid grades at the end of a semester).
• Complete any outside/summer readings.
• Demonstrate a desire to be in the English class.

If your application is accepted and all of the Honors/A.P. criteria are met, you will be placed on the Honors/A.P. Waiting List (see below: Honors/A.P. Waiting List). New students are added to the Honors track each year from the waiting list.

Note: The English Department reserves the right to revoke any placement into Honors/A.P. English if your status concerning any of the criteria changes before the start of the next school year (e.g., your grade for second semester drops below A-).

Current Gonzaga Prep Honors Students

If you are currently in an Honors or A.P. English course at Gonzaga Prep, you will be automatically placed into honors or A.P. English for the subsequent year if you meet all of the following criteria:

• Maintain an A- or higher grade in English for both semesters.
• Do assigned homework and classwork on time.
• Attend class regularly and make up any missed assignments in a timely fashion.
• Be able to handle the added stress of honors/A.P. coursework.
• Participate actively and constructively in discussions and class activities.
• Be courteous and respectful towards others and self.
• Show consistent effort throughout the year (no "blowing off" a quarter and then "scraping by" with a last-minute flurry of solid grades at the end of the semester).
• Complete all outside/summer readings.
• Demonstrate a desire to be in the English class.

Students who are in the B range and meet the standards above are automatically in consideration for the next year's Honors or A.P. course and do not need to reapply. Instead, they will be compared to new applicants on the waiting list for any open seats in the course to which they are applying. 

Students who are in the C range or lower must reapply for Honors or A.P. 

Note: Teachers reserve the right to expel students from the Honors/A.P. English classes at any time during the year if the criteria above are not being well met. Towards the end of the year when selections are being made for next year's Honors/A.P. English classes, if any criteria are not being met, you will be automatically placed on the Honors/A.P. Waiting List (see Honors/A.P. Waiting List below). Of course, even if you meet the criteria, you always have the option to opt out of the Honors/A.P. English track if you decide you cannot handle the demands.

Transfer Students

If you are transferring to Gonzaga Prep from another school, you will be evaluated by the Academic Vice-Principal on an individual basis concerning your current academic standing, teacher recommendations, caliber of former school and coursework, etc.).

Honors/A.P. Waiting List

New applicants for the Honors/A.P. English program, as well as current honors students who do not automatically qualify for honors the next year, will be ranked on the waiting list according to the following criteria:

• Application submitted on time and completed accurately by February 12th, 2020
• Solid teacher recommendation (no need to ask your teacher for a recommendation as this process is triggered automatically upon submission of your application)
• Quality of writing sample (submitted with application)
• Comparable grades with other students (particularly during freshman year where there are standardized tests and essays)
• Available positions in the classroom (capped at 25 students per Honors English Class)
• Priority to new students who have shown exceptional abilities in their current non-honors English classes