Brother Rice High School

For over 50 years, Brother Rice High School has been fostering a community of faith where each young man is accepted, recognized, valued, and challenged to grow, while “Acting Manfully in Christ Jesus.” Our success is a result of many components: A student’s hard work; parental involvement; a dedicated, caring faculty and coaching staff; and a nurturing, supportive atmosphere.

Studies show that students in a single-gender setting perform better academically. They study harder, concentrate more, and are more willing to participate in classroom discussions. The dynamic learning environment at Brother Rice creates a positive attitude that remains with our students for life.

Brother Rice commits itself to preparing our students for

college and beyond. Our school offers three levels of

curriculum to challenge and inspire our young men:

APEX/Honors, PREP, and FOCUS. Each student’s schedule

is customized to challenge and strengthen the skills of

that student. Brother Rice is “clearly a leader in preparing

all high school students for postsecondary education.”

D JON ERICKSON, VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR ACT.

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98% college bound

95% to 1st or 2nd college choice

70% accepted to University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign

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Placement

At Brother Rice, we take student placement very seriously.

As incoming freshmen, a student’s placement is based on

much more than simply his entrance exam score.

A Brother Rice representative will meet with an adminis-

trator or 8th grade teacher at that student’s school to

discuss the academic ability, achievement, and study habits

of each student. Junior high grades are also considered

when placing a student. In addition, a student’s placement

is continually evaluated while at Brother Rice to ensure

the “best fit” for each student.

Accommodation Plans

There are 89 students at Brother Rice that have Individual

Catholic Education Plans (ICEP). We aim to accommo-

date as many students as possible with previous ICEP’s

and 401 plans. At the beginning of each school year,

the student and family have meetings with the counselor

and all teachers on the student’s schedule to ensure

accommodations. These students range from APEX level

to FOCUS level students at Brother Rice.

Having a website is more than just pictures, text and a domain. Web Develop-ment teacher Brian Barkowski ’95, takes students through every step of building, hosting and growing a website. Students learn hands on using tools like Codeacademy, WordPress, and Google Analytics. Integrating these technologies in the classroom creates an interactive and more engaging platform for students. At the completion of each school year, every Web Development student builds their own self-hosted website. Learning this technology at the high school level affords Brother Rice students the advantage of using these tools throughout their time in college and beyond.

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1 of 2 high schools in the city of Chicago that met the ACT’s exacting criteria for rigorous core courses.

99 Illinois State Scholars over the past 3 years— more boys than any southside Catholic school.

As Freshmen, the 2013 class had 10 students in top 5% nationally. As Seniors, that grew to 30 students (Average ACT of 30).

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APEX/Honors

APEX is an elite level honors program designed to guide

the truly academically gifted student to his full potential.

APEX students take all honors level courses, as well

as a number of Advanced Placement courses, over their

sophomore to senior years

The average ACT score in 2013 for APEX students

was 32.4

Every APEX student, as well as many students in the

PREP program, was an Illinois state scholar

It is common for APEX students to enter college with

20+ hours of college credit from Brother Rice classes

PREP

Personalized Response to Educational Potential

(PREP) provides individual scheduling for each student

after the placement exam and department review.

A mixture of diVerent level classes is available. Each course

is college-preparatory and designed specifically for ACT

and SAT examinations.

FOCUS

Our FOCUS program is oVered for students that may

experience diYculty in completing the PREP program.

FOCUS attempts to instill better study habits and provide

academic growth in order to progress to PREP level.

Smaller classroom settings

Specialized teachers

Bimonthly progress reports and frequent parent contact

3-year program in which many students move into

PREP program after 2 years

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College Credit Opportunities

Program for Advanced College Credit (PACC)

The PACC program consists of 10 junior and senior

level courses which are accredited as college level courses.

This program is done in conjunction with St. Xavier

University and St. Mary’s University (MN).

AP Courses

The class of 2013 featured 26 AP Scholars (students

who passed 3 or more AP Exams). Between the PACC

program and AP exams, it is very common for

Brother Rice grads to enter college with at least one

semester worth of college credit hours. This makes

our students much more attractive to colleges and passes

along significant savings to their families.

PACC/AP Course List

PACC Courses AP Courses

Accounting AB Calculus

Cisco 1 BC Calculus

Cisco 2 Chemistry

Cisco 3 Economics—Micro

Cisco 4 Economics—Macro

English III U.S. Government

English IV U.S. History

IT Essentials European History

Physics English—Composition

Psychology English—Literature

German

French

Spanish

Music Theory

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Counseling Services

In addition to helping students transition to Brother Rice

and deal with the many issues of high school life, our

counselors are heavily involved in guiding our students to

fulfill their college dreams. Our five counselors (4 full

time counselors, and 1 College Counselor) assist students

and families in the college exploration process with

the use of the web-based Naviance/Family Connection.

Our staV helps students select a college and a major/career

that are in line with their academic strengths, talents,

and personal interests. This process begins freshman year

and develops over the students’ four years at Brother Rice.

Counselors will also guide families through the financial

aid and scholarship application process.

Academic Support

Brother Rice oVers a “Resource Center” located in the

Pilon Library. The Resource Center, open to all students,

features two certified teachers available for tutoring in

math, science, and English during extended school hours.

In addition, upperclassmen National Honors Society

members oVer a tutoring service in all subject areas.

It is because of people like Dan Panfil ’95, that a shocking 95% of our graduates are attending their 1st or 2nd college choice! With Dan as a full time college counselor, he is able to develop relationships with admissions people from many of the top colleges in the Midwest and beyond. Dan educates them on our school’s rigorous curriculum and our great students, as well as our graduates on the benefits of each University. Additionally, Dan is very helpful in assisting the students in finding scholarships and financial aid opportuni-ties to attend college.

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98 students awarded $12.2 million in scholarships in class of ’13. Total number of scholarships offered was 345.

300+ universities visit Brother Rice annually.

Brother Rice High School, established by the Christian

Brothers, has successfully educated young men living out

the Essential Elements of a Christian Brothers’ Education

for over 50 years. A Christian Brothers’ education seeks to

create a community of faith where each young man is

accepted, recognized, valued, and challenged to grow. Our

school’s motto, “Act Manfully in Christ Jesus,” is practiced

every day in the classrooms and on the athletic fields.

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Christian Service

Students learn about their peers and themselves by

interacting with diVerent groups through service projects.

Freshmen and sophomores are required to complete

10 hours of Christian service within the school year.

Juniors and seniors must complete 20 hours—10 in each

semester. There are a number of service project

opportunities available throughout the school year and

summer. Many students take part in a variety of projects,

more than satisfying the minimum service requirement.

Retreats

Retreat programs are integrated into the freshman/

sophomore curriculum. In addition, juniors and seniors

may participate in the popular Kairos retreat.

The Brother Rice Kairos program is one of the longest

running Kairos programs in the area. This year,

we will celebrate Kairos 126 through 129. The word

Kairos means, God’s time, and for four days, we

get away from the hustle of everyday life and take a step

back to focus on what’s truly important. During

God’s time, we are able to drop our masks, and clear

away the clutter to see what is really in front of us.

The most common response to what a student’s favorite

experience at Brother Rice, is their time on Kairos.

School Masses

As a Catholic high school, Brother Rice provides a wide

range of spiritual activities for the entire community.

The student body gathers twice a month for liturgical

services, including the “First Friday” liturgical series.

In addition to daily classroom prayer, one of our student

peer ministers leads the entire school in prayer each day

during announcements.

Research has proven that boys learn best through hands-on activities. As an all-boy environment, Brother Rice High School is able to tailor its instruction to provide visual and kinesthetic lessons that will enhance your student’s learning experience. The spiritual experience at Brother Rice is similar. We have our senior peer ministers lead our prayer services and freshman/sophomore retreats throughout the year. The students learn best by getting involved in service and giving back to the community. At Brother Rice, teachers like Brother Hayes are able to develop students as both academic and spiritual leaders in their class.

Excellence on the playing field and in the classroom is

evident at Brother Rice. As a member of the famed

Chicago Catholic League, Brother Rice has built a proud

tradition of outstanding athletic achievement with

21 state championships, 132 varsity league titles, and

42 Tony Lawless Award-winners. Along with this

impressive record, our students are taught to play with

a strong Catholic, ethical, and moral compass.

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BaseballBasketballBass FishingBowlingCross CountryDivingFootballGolfHockeyLacrosse RugbySoccerSwimmingTennisTrack and FieldVolleyballWater PoloWrestling

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Dedicated Coaches

Our coaches are dedicated to success built on hard work

and discipline, both on and oV the playing field.

Coaches encourage participation in multiple sports and

activities and never pressure a student-athlete to

specialize in just one sport.

Athletic Facilities

Our well-known Gary Little Stadium has new, modern

“FieldTurf” that is easier to maintain and reduces injuries

to our athletes. Our athletic facilities also include an

Olympic-sized swimming pool and a large, state-of-the-art

weight room that is open to all students after school.

Rice Pride

For our students, “Rice Pride” means supporting our

teams by attending not only home games, but road games

as well. It is not uncommon for our fans to outnumber

the opposition’s fans at away games! Our home athletic

events are among the school’s most popular attractions.

Gary Little Stadium and our main gym are always packed

with the renowned “Crusader Crazies.”

For our coaches, like Head Football Coach Brian Badke ’92, winning is important, but it is secondary to building character for our young student athletes. Our coaches are role models for our young men, and take that role very seriously. Coach Badke works closely with his players to meet goals on the field, in the classroom and at home. The result is a well-trained athlete and team ready to compete at the highest level.

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Brother Rice offers its students a variety of different ways

to get involved. As we like to say, “Rice Pride Never

Dies.” That pride is instilled not only on the athletic fields

and in the student section for football and basketball

games, but also in our activities, clubs, and societies.

Clubs and activities also offer an opportunity for students

to interact with Mother McAuley students, as a number

of our clubs are shared with them.

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AcademicFrench ClubGerman ClubSpanish ClubMath TeamNational Honor SocietyRoboticsSchool NewspaperScholastic Bowl

Intramural SportsFloor HockeyBasketballSand Volleyball

ServiceKey ClubECOsadersEdmund Rice SocietySADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)Student Council

SocialAnime ClubChess Club/TeamDance CommitteeDiversity ClubDrama ClubFishing ClubIrish Music ClubPep BandPetanque ClubPolitics ClubSailing ClubTechnology ClubTheatre/Drama ClubVideo Game Club

SpiritualKairosPeer MinistryLiturgy Group

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Endless Opportunities

Brother Rice encourages students to get involved, partici-

pate, and belong. We are proud of the fact that 93%

of the student body participates in co-curricular activities.

Involvement in these programs helps develop leadership,

cooperation, and self-direction. With 30+ clubs being

oVered at Brother Rice, it’s not hard to find something to

be involved in.

The Crusader “Crazies”

While the “Crazies” are not an oYcial club at Rice, it is

without question the most popular experience for a

student. Whether it’s home or away football, basketball,

hockey, and even baseball and volleyball games, you

can always count on the Brother Rice student body to be

in attendance to help give the Crusaders an edge.

All students are welcome and encouraged to take part in

this most unique experience, where all of our students

join in support of their school and friends.

Marching Band

The Brother Rice Music Program, in conjunction with

Mother McAuley, oVers a challenging and diverse

range of music courses to students. Students are oVered

instruction in the following classes: Symphonic Band,

Concert Band, Beginning Band, Jazz Ensemble, Marching

Band, Music Appreciation, and Vocal Ensembles.

This year, the band will be performing in Walt Disney

World. In coming years, members of the music program

will be oVered opportunities to travel abroad to learn

about music’s origin in Austria and the Czech Republic.

Boys from Brother Rice and girls from Mother McAuley are given the opportunity to take a wide variety of classes in the performing arts. Through music, you have a chance to see the world, as our students have traveled throughout the United States and Europe. What really makes our music department special is the people, like our Band Director Dan Briggs. In Dan’s third year he has doubled the size of the band, and breathed life into the program with his unbridled enthusiasm. Students of Brother Rice Music are a family. Whether playing in an ensemble, working on a solo, or just hanging out, they are a tight knit community that is always having fun.

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Entrance Requirements and Placement

All incoming freshmen are required to take the High

School Placement Exam on January 11th, 2014.

Doors open at 7:15 A.M.; the test begins at 8:00 A.M.

and lasts until noon. The date and fee ($25) is set

by the Chicago Archdiocese for all Catholic high schools.

No pre-registration is necessary.

Acceptance to Brother Rice and placement in academic

programs are based on the exam, completion of

grade school, and recommendations by grade school

teachers and administrators. In order to qualify

for scholarships and financial aid, students must test

at Brother Rice.

Tuition

Tuition for the 2013–2014 school year is $10,150. There is

an additional $300 lab fee. Brother Rice oVers a

$750 discount for a second son in attendance, and a $500

discount is given for any additional siblings beyond

that. Siblings at Mother McAuley receive a credit for $250

from each school ($500 total). Tuition may be paid

in full at the beginning of the school year with a $250

discount, or families may enroll in a 10 month payment

plan (July–April).

Scholarships and Financial Assistance Programs

Brother Rice oVers a vast array of memorial and academic

scholarships for both incoming and current students.

Currently, over 30% of the student body receives some

form of financial assistance from Brother Rice.

Edmund Rice Scholarship

Any freshman that scores in the top 15% on the

entrance exam will receive a $1,500 scholarship for his

freshman year.

Brother Rice is proud to oVer over 25 diVerent

memorial scholarships, some based on need and some

on merit. A few are highlighted below:

Christian Brothers Service Award

Awarded to incoming freshman students displaying

outstanding service/leadership in their parish. Award

ranges from $1,000–$2,000.

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Tom Mikrut Scholarship

Awarded to graduates of St. Catherine’s of Alexandria

School. Award ranges from $2,000–$4,500. Recipients are

students that demonstrate financial need and have a

strong academic background.

Brendan Murrihy Scholarship

Awarded to boys from Evergreen Park. Award ranges from

$500–$2,500.

In addition to the scholarships oVered, Brother Rice oVers

financial aid to its families. All families are encouraged

to apply (applications are available at registration and in

the main oYce) through the PSAS service. Financial

aid is based on financial need, number of students in

Catholic school, and ability to pay tuition. Over $400,000

is awarded through the financial aid in amounts varying

from $750–$4,000.

Brother Rice also works very closely with a number of

outside scholarship organizations such as LINK

UNLIMITED, HighSight, Daniel Murphy Scholarship,

and Standing Tall.

To receive more information on all oVered scholarships

please visit our website at brotherrice.org/admissions or

contact our finance oYce.

Graduation Requirements

Brother Rice requires that all students have 24 credits for

graduation. The majority of our students graduate

with more than 24 credits. In addition, freshmen and

sophomores must complete 10 hours of Christian Service

each year; juniors and seniors must complete 20 hours

of Christian Service.

Dress Code

Brother Rice students are allowed to wear the oYcial

“uniform polo” (adidas brand), found in the Brother Rice

bookstore all year long. Students are always expected

to be in dress slacks (black, grey, or khaki) and dress shoes.

A solid color dress shirt and tie are expected for days

when the student body gathers for Mass.

23-Acre Campus

State-of-the-art science wing

• 2 chemistry labs

• 2 biology labs

• 1 physics lab

• 2 computer centers

5 full classroom-style computer labs and one mobile lab

featuring over 300 new computers

New parking lot/entrance

New FieldTurf athletic field

Remodeled baseball field

Completely renovated band room

Remodeled cafeteria

Indoor Olympic-sized pool

Edmund Rice chapel

Theology center/lecture hall

Two gymnasiums

Weight/fitness room

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Transportation

Brother Rice is fortunate to be located in a safe and

convenient location on the corner of 99th Street

and Pulaski Road. As a result, we are on multiple bus

routes from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)

and Pace bus systems. Students receive reduced fares with

student ID.

Metra—Shuttle

Brother Rice provides a shuttle bus between Metra’s

95th and Tulley train station in Oak Lawn and the school.

The shuttle picks up the students from the train at

7:18 A.M. and 7:38 A.M. and they are at school within

10 minutes maximum. The shuttle takes the students back

to the train at 3:00 P.M. There is also a shuttle option

at 6:00 P.M. after activities. Registration is required.

This option has become very popular with students from

Orland Park, Homer Glen, and Lockport, as Metra’s

Southwest line oVers convenient stops in those areas.

Private Bus Service (In Conjunction with

Mother McAuley): Four Routes

Brother Rice and Mother McAuley work together in

transporting their students to and from school.

We oVer private bus service through Positive Connections

Bus Company. After school, students on this

service have the option of taking the 3:30 P.M. bus

home or the 6:15 P.M. activity bus home.

There are four main bus routes that are oVered to

students and are available yearly on an as needed basis.

The stops on each route may vary based on ridership.

1 Western Suburb/Midway Route

The bus currently starts in the La Grange area at St. Cletus

and makes stops at St. Daniel, St. Rene, St. Symphorosa,

and St. Mary Star of the Sea.

2 Northeast Route

St. Gabriel, St. Jerome, St. Sabina, and St. Columbanus

are oVered on this route.

3 Southeast Route

St. Jude the Apostle (South Holland), Annunciata,

St. John De La Salle, and St. Margaret of Scotland are

oVered on this route.

4 SW Suburb Route

Students are picked up at a couple of diVerent locations

in the Orland (St. Michael), Tinley Park (St. George), and

Palos (St. Alexander) areas in the morning.

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La Grange Rd. Halsted St.

159th St.

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Metra SouthWest Line

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La Grange Rd. Halsted St.

159th St.

95th St.

I-55

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I-94

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I-294 Pulaski Rd.

Metra SouthWest Line

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La Grange Rd. Halsted St.

159th St.

95th St.

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Metra SouthWest Line

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Diverse Student BodyBrother Rice embraces its roots as a “neighborhood school”; a number of our students walk or ride their bikes to school. However, we do have many families who travel from the following towns:

AlsipBlue IslandBurbankCalumet CityChicagoCrestwoodDoltonEvergreen ParkFlossmoor Hickory HillsHinsdaleHomer GlenLa GrangeLansingLemontManhattanMattesonMidlothian MokenaOak ForestOak LawnOlympia FieldsOrland ParkPalos HeightsPalos HillsPlainfieldSouth HollandSummitRobbinsRiversideTinley Park

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Approximate bus routes.These routes change every year to accommodate our students.

Oak Lawn Metra Stop

brotherrice.org facebook.com/brotherrice @BR_Recruiting

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OPEN HOUSES

Sunday, November 3, 2013 Sunday, November 24, 2013 11 A.M.–1 P.M.

SHADOW DAY/CAMPUS TOUR

To schedule a shadow day or campus tour on a convenient

day, please visit www.brotherrice.org/admissions or

contact Tim O’Connell Crusader Day (7th and 8th) Monday, October 14, 2013 Crusader Day (7th only) Monday, February 17, 2014

7th & 8th GRADE EVENTS

Crusader Clash Tuesday, November 26, 2013, 6:00 P.M. Math Competition Saturday, November 9, 2013, 8:00 A.M. 7th Grade 3-on-3 March Madness Tournament Friday, April 5, 2014

ENTRANCE EXAM Saturday, January 11, 2014 8:00 A.M.

LEARN MORE

Please contact Tim O’Connell ’03 at 773-429-4312 or by e-mail at toconnell@brrice.org

10001 South Pulaski Road Chicago, Illinois 60655

773-429-4300

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