The Charles Carroll Scholars Program

The Charles Carroll Scholars Program is designed to involve gifted students at the highest level of academic study while simultaneously providing opportunities for original research or composition, and exposure to cultural programs outside of the school. Requirements for this unique and rigorous program of studies are pursued in either of two “strands,” Math and Science or Humanities and Fine Arts, according to ability and interest.

The Two Strands:
The Math and Science Strand of the Charles Carroll Scholars Program is designed for highly motivated students of superior academic aptitude and achievement who are interested in pursuing college majors and subsequent careers in the fields of math and science, including engineering, physics, and medicine. The Humanities and Fine Arts Strand of the Charles Carroll Scholars Program is designed for highly motivated students of superior academic aptitude and achievement who are interested in pursuing college majors and subsequent careers in the liberal arts, including foreign language-based work, visual arts and design, creative writing, and law.

Academic Requirements:
Students in the program must qualify for and enroll in honors and AP level core courses in the chosen strand. For example, students pursuing the Math and Science Strand are required to take all honors or AP level courses in the areas of Math and Science, but not in the other required areas of study. Similarly, students pursuing the Humanities and Fine Arts Strand are required to take the honors and AP level courses offered in the areas of English, Social Studies, and Foreign Language, but may elect to enroll in the regular College Preparatory curriculum in the areas of Math and Science. This requirement applies to the sophomore, junior, and senior years. Further, students are required to earn final course scores of 85 or above in all strand courses and final scores of 80 or above in all non-strand courses in order to graduate as a Charles Carroll Scholar.

Specific Requirements for each Strand:
In addition to these core requirements, students intending to graduate as Charles Carroll Scholars must fulfill specific requirements associated with the Strand they have elected to pursue. In the Math and Science Strand students must qualify for, enroll in, and earn grades of 85 or above in Honors Precalculus with Trigonometry (full-year), AP Calculus AB, and at least two additional AP courses in Math or Science (Statistics, Calculus BC, Biology, Chemistry, Physics), and two additional honors-level electives (Honors Physics, Honors Microbiology, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, Honors Interdisciplinary) only one of which must be in Science. In the Humanities and Fine Arts, Strand students must qualify for and enroll in the courses Honors Shakespeare, AP Literature and Composition, AP Studio Art. Additionally, students in this strand must reach the fourth level of Honors Foreign Language and take at least two other Honors or AP electives, only one of which must be in Fine Arts, English, or Social Studies. Students are required to earn grades of 85 or above in these required courses.