College Prep Starts on Day One at Immaculate High School

Immaculate High School's unique college prep strategy, featuring a low counselor-to-student ratio and personalized guidance, leads to remarkable student success.

From the moment students step through the doors of Immaculate High School, they are embarking on a journey meticulously designed to prepare them for college and beyond. 

In this article, we’ll be exploring how Immaculate High School assists its students from day one with college prep.

Finding Your Individual Educational Path

Some students have a dream college in their mind from the moment they start high school – but Marcella Daily of Newtown wasn’t one of them. 

The Immaculate High School alum, who’s now a successful management consultant in Philadelphia, credits the school’s Counseling Department for helping her get to where she is today.

Immaculate High School prides itself on guiding students like Daily to carve out their own educational journeys. 

"Even though my two older sisters, and fellow Immaculate alumna, went to the University of Notre Dame, as the youngest I wanted something different," Daily reflects. This sentiment is at the heart of Immaculate's philosophy – encouraging students to forge their own paths.

With the help of dedicated counselors, Daily honed in on what mattered most to her for her college experience: a close-knit community reflecting her Catholic values. This led her to the gates of Villanova University, a place that resonated with her aspirations. "It was the perfect place for me," she asserts, now a proud 2022 graduate thriving in her chosen career.

Daily's journey underscores the essence of Immaculate's approach: a hands-on, personalized mentorship that involves both counselors and teachers. "I really believe they wanted me to succeed post-graduation," says Daily, who maintains strong ties with her mentors at Immaculate. It's clear that the school's support system is designed to uplift students well into their futures.

The Immaculate Advantage: Low Counselor-to-Student Ratio

At Immaculate, the counselor to student ratio is a quarter of the national average. This is not just a statistic; it's a commitment to providing personalized attention.

Each counselor at Immaculate is dedicated to a caseload of 95 students, significantly lower than the national average of 400. The school also has a 12 to 1 student-to-teacher ratio, ensuring that each student receives the individualized academic support they need.

Building More Than Graduates: Immaculate's Holistic Approach To College Prep

"We don’t just build graduates. We build great young adults. We build character," says Mike DiGennaro, a counselor at Immaculate. 

The school's ethos is rooted in the three R's: Respect, Responsibility, and Reverence, which are woven into every aspect of the Immaculate experience.

The Student Advisory Program is a cornerstone of this approach, involving teachers, counselors, and administrators who provide grade-level experience on essential skills like study strategies, the college selection process and transitioning to college. 

Alexa Durkin, who heads the program, takes pride in the personalized service they offer, stating, "I love that we are able to give students such personalized service."

A Four-Year Journey: Tailored College Prep Timeline

From freshman to senior year, Immaculate's college prep is a four-year, tailored journey. 

Freshman Year 

In the freshman year, counselors interview students to identify their strengths, weaknesses, goals and passions, setting the stage for success. 

The “FOALS” Program is intended to provide support for our young Mustangs (hence "FOALS"). With the assistance of the Counseling Department, freshmen will begin mapping out their four years, providing a blueprint for the path to success as they progress through their journey at Immaculate. The program is designed to establish a seamless transition between middle school and high school, leaving our freshman well-prepared for the journey ahead of them. Students will hear from upperclassmen at student engagement panels, meet with their counselor in their first month, attend Join a Club Day, Freshman Retreat and Freshman Social, participate in PSAT and academic prep workshops and more. The program includes meaningful events constructed to help our freshman become acclimated to their courses and developing connections with peers, while continuously learning new skills to help achieve their goals.

Mentors also give students recommendations about which clubs, activities and sports might be of interest. If they have a particular college ambition, the staff member talks to them about what it will take to make it a reality.

“We can help a B student become an A student. We can find a diamond in the rough that’s a perfect fit for a certain college,”  DiGennaro said. “At Immaculate, we have the time to explore colleges with them over several years as opposed to just helping them with the application process as seniors.”

Sophomore Year 

By the time students reach their sophomore year at Immaculate High School, they are poised at a crucial turning point in their educational journey. It's a period dedicated to self-discovery and career exploration, facilitated by Naviance, a state-of-the-art platform that helps students align their personal interests with future career paths. This tool is instrumental in guiding students to understand their strengths and potential, setting the stage for informed decisions about their futures.

Sophomore year is a year when students start to develop a better sense of their academic self and begin to identify their strengths and design a course of studies that will best prepare them for opportunities to study at the college level. At this point, they have opportunities to take AP courses since they have had their freshman year to assess the level of academic rigor that is best for them. 

Junior Year

As juniors, students begin to really start the college process and counselors say this is a “huge year.” In January, they attend an Alumni Panel to hear from recent Immaculate graduates about their experiences in college. Marcella Daily points to this as an incredibly helpful part of the process for her. 

“Because we were a small school, it was a very personal experience,” she said of the alumni event she attended at Immaculate. ”We asked very real questions and they were up front so it was great to learn a peer’s perspective.” 

During the junior year, parents and students attend the school’s College Night Part I in January and Part II in April to learn about the application process and financial aid. There’s also a Family Meeting for students, their parents or guardians and their counselor. At this point, juniors start asking teachers for letters of recommendation and registering for standardized tests. 

Senior Year 

In their senior year, students make final decisions about what schools they want to apply to and sign up to meet with college reps who visit. This past year, 119 colleges and universities visited Immaculate including Vanderbilt University, the University of Chicago, Providence College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Fairfield University, Xavier University and Virginia Polytechnic University to name a few.

The Counseling Department also takes field trips to area schools so students can experience the campuses first hand. This fall, a group visited Yale University and another went to Fairfield University.  

Immaculate also hosts Career Day, a signature event that brings the real world into the classroom for all Mustangs - no matter what their grade level. The school’s dedicated alumni, who volunteer their time and expertise, are the driving force behind this transformative experience. They come from a myriad of professional backgrounds, ready to share their insights and personal career trajectories. This interaction not only provides students with a glimpse into various industries but also serves as a bridge connecting their current academic pursuits with tangible, future opportunities.

Beyond the Classroom: Immaculate's Innovative Curriculum & College Partnerships 

Immaculate's curriculum includes nine dual-enrollment courses with Quinnipiac University, the University of Connecticut, and Western Connecticut State University, allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school. This academic preparation impresses not only top colleges but parents as well.

Catherine Bruckmann Kallberg, a parent of four Immaculate graduates, shares, "Immaculate was the perfect place for our four children! They were so well prepared for college and beyond!"

A Track Record of Success: Class of 2023 Outcomes

The proof of Immaculate’s success is in the numbers. The Class of 2023 had a 100% acceptance rate. Students were offered spots at prestigious institutions like Boston College, Bucknell, Colgate, Villanova and Wake Forest. 

Last year’s graduates also earned offers of $24 million in scholarships and grants. Immaculate also earned an A+ rating by Niche for 2024, which represents the top 2.5% of high schools in the country.

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Conclusion:

Immaculate High School's college prep strategy is a testament to the power of personalized guidance and a supportive educational environment. 

As Tim Nash, Dean of Counseling and Student Services, puts it, "We start supporting students’ college dreams the moment they walk through our door."

For those interested in learning more about the Immaculate difference and the opportunities it can offer, visit Immaculate High School. 

Applications are now open on a rolling basis for the 2024-25 school year. Click here to learn more.