Rosary graduates have millions of reasons to be proud

Rosary High School students are noted for their academic prowess.

But even the principal at the Catholic college-preparatory school in Aurora is especially impressed by this year's graduating class.

"They are just an extraordinarily strong academic class," Sister Patricia Burke said of the 114 graduates.

They managed to receive more than $10 million in college scholarship offers, 42 percent more than last year's class. Twenty-three percent of the class were named Illinois State Scholars, and four of the girls were National Merit Corp. scholarship contest semifinalists.

Besides the students' innate abilities, Burke attributes the girls' success to teachers that constantly challenge them with high expectations - "We have outstanding teachers," she said. - and the fact Rosary is a girls-only school.

"They are so engaged in class. They are so comfortable. Their opinions count," she said of the students.

Burke, a science teacher who once taught in a coeducational school, said it was a struggle to get girls at that school to speak up in class. Cultural attitudes about gender roles come in to play, wherein girls feel it is unfeminine to show an interest or aptitude in mathematics and science, or that they shouldn't draw attention to their intellect.

But at Rosary, math and science are stressed. The school had a math team and an engineering team that advanced to semifinals in state contests this school year.

Seventy-one percent of the senior class received some sort of scholarship offer, Burke said. She also said the school doesn't just cherry-pick smart kids for enrollment.

"As long as the young woman is willing to work," they are welcome at Rosary, she said.