Academics
Personalized Academics = Amazing Results
Regina Dominican’s rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum challenges students to think critically and express themselves creatively as they learn from others and explore global perspectives. But what truly differentiates Regina Dominican from other schools is a personalized academic path for every student, an emphasis on leadership skills throughout all our curriculum, our joyful learning environment, and the results our students see when it comes to growth and college placement.
A Curriculum Designed for Her
What makes Regina Dominican so special, and effective, is not only do we offer a challenging academic curriculum, but every student follows an academic path tailored to their individual strengths. Our course offerings allow students to collaborate in the classroom, while learning a curriculum and following a course schedule that is tailored to their individual strengths. With a 9:1 student to faculty ratio your daughter receives personal attention, inspiring and supporting her to achieve her highest academic potential.
We challenge our students academically with programs and pathways like Allworth Scholars, Byrne Pathway, and the Leadership Institute. But we meet them where they are in terms of skills, goals, and support. Our size allows us to be flexible, nimble, and most importantly customized to what your daughter needs.
Successful Results
And, our personalized academics model works. We can make a real, measurable impact on your daughter’s overall growth. From Freshman to Senior year, Regina Dominican students demonstrated on average a 17% increase in their national percentile rank academically. They also experience tremendous growth emotionally, and socially as evidenced by our student involvement data, and the Five Essentials Survey.
We extend that personalization to our college placement program as well, with our unique, in-depth college exploration, application, and placement process. Whether your student is interested in STEM, Fine Arts, Communications, or Business, we guide and advocate for her to move on to the perfect spot for her to grow and thrive. We know our program is successful because our 2024 graduates were accepted to 146 different colleges and Universities in 37 different States, and earned $17.9 million in scholarships.
Please read our School Profile below at the bottom of this page for details about our academic success.
College Board announced that Regina Dominican High School has been named to the Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning Platinum distinction.
The AP® School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.
Regina Dominican had 92% of seniors (from the Class of 2024) who took at least one AP exam during high school, 76% of seniors scoring a three or higher on at least one AP exam, and 41% of seniors who took five or more AP exams.
College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) enables students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both—while still in high school. Through AP courses in 38 subjects, each culminating in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond.
Outstanding Programs and Pathways
Leadership Institute
Unique to Regina Dominican, the Leadership Institute Programs are designed for all of our students to acquire, practice, apply and master the leadership skills critical for the next generation of female leaders.
Allworth Scholars Program
Designed for the high-achieving student who is looking for academic challenge, the Allworth Scholars Program provides access to accelerated courses and enrichment activities along with membership in a community of intellectually curious young women.
College Placement Program
Our College Placement Program gets results. 100% student college placement and $17.9 million awarded in scholarships to the Class of 2024. An individualized process, we guide and advocate for your student every step of the way, making this major life decision easy and joyful for students and families.Joyful Learning
Look into any Regina classroom and you will see students pursuing their passion for learning -- solving problems, collaborating with peers, and taking intellectual risks -- in a setting where learning is rigorous, student-focused and everyone feels supported. We work hard to provide a joyful and fun learning environment because after 60+ years of teaching young women, we know that the warmth, the camaraderie, and the support of faculty, staff, and peers is what allows students to thrive. Here’s how that works:
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- Regina's standards-based curriculum challenges young women to think critically, create and express themselves, learn from others, understand global perspectives, and be curious.
- In the classroom, each student’s individual learning style and goals are supported and challenged.
- Students are encouraged to seek truth, ask questions, and engage in dialogue to learn from others.
- Regina personalizes course selection and scheduling while striving to expand our students' comfort zones.
- Regina graduates use these abilities to contribute to their communities and live lives of meaning in higher education and beyond.
Prestigious Partnerships
We continue to enhance our current academic offerings and experiences with the multiple partnerships we have built with other programs, schools, and the community. We are proud to partner with and be accredited by the nation’s most prestigious educational organizations such as:
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- The International Coalition of Girls’ Schools
- National Catholic Education Association
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
- Global Online Academy (GOA)
Want to learn more about how we can offer personalized academics or challenge your high-achieving student to reach her greatest potential? Give us our Enrollment Team a call at (847) 256-7660 or schedule a personalized tour.
Faith's Law
Faith’s Law and Erin’s Law Compliance: Regina Dominican
Personnel Handbook
Erin’s Law and Faith’s Law
The Illinois State Board of Education has outlined a set of core principles, values, and responsibilities that educators have in order to accomplish the goal of meeting the educational needs of every student. Educators have a responsibility to students, themselves, their colleagues and profession, parents, families, and communities, and the Illinois State Board of Education. Many of these principles guide practice and professional excellence in relation to federal, state, and local policies regarding sexual abuse. Known as Faith’s Law and Erin’s Law, these amendments to the Illinois School Code aim to address sexual abuse prevention and responses in schools.
As such, all Regina Dominican employees are prohibited from engaging in sexual misconduct as defined by Illinois state code, meaning: any act, including, but not limited to, any verbal, nonverbal, written, or electronic communication or physical activity, by an employee with direct contact with a student to establish a romantic or sexual relationship with the student. Such an act includes, but is not limited to: a sexual or romantic invitation; dating or soliciting a date; engaging in sexualized or romantic dialog; making sexually suggestive comments that are directed toward or with a student; self-disclosure or physical exposure of a sexual, romantic, or erotic nature; a sexual, indecent, romantic, or erotic contact with a student.
It is expected and required that all employees of Regina Dominican maintain a standard of professional relationships and conduct with students that is age appropriate for the developmental level of our students. The standards discussed below are published for your information and to guide your conduct on a day-to-day basis. These standards include, but are not limited to:
- Maintaining healthy and appropriate staff-student boundaries.
- Under no circumstances should staff transport students in a personal vehicle.
- Do not take a photo or video of a student(s) without their consent; do not disseminate or post on any social media websites photos or videos of a student(s).
- Under no circumstances should an employee contact or seek to meet with a student outside of their professional role and capacity as an employee of Regina Dominican.
Under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (ANCRA) under Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972, all employees of Regina Dominican have reporting requirements when abuse or neglect of a student is suspected. If you have reasonable cause to believe that a student has been abused* or neglected, or if you believe that a person who is caring for the student, who lives with the student, or who works with our around the student has caused injury or harm or has put the student at risk of physical injury then you must call the DCFS hotline (1-800-25-ABUSE). As such, all employees of Regina Dominican are required to complete all mandated reporter and Virtus training related to abuse as according to state and federal law.
*ANCRA has added “grooming” to the definition of abuse. Accordingly, any behavior as defined “grooming” by ANCRA is prohibited by all employees. Any employee who has reasonable cause to believe that a person responsible for the care of a student has engaged in grooming against a child, as defined by the Illinois Criminal Code, must immediately report such belief to the Illinois DCFS. Such warning signs include, but are not limited to:
- Secrecy about how time is being spent, including online.
- Increase in money and/or material possessions that can’t or won’t be explained.
- Sexualized behavior and/or knowledge that is not age-appropriate.
- Spending more time away from home or going missing for periods of time.
- Underage drinking and/or drug taking.
Student Handbook
Erin’s Law and Faith’s Law
*Include a copy of employee conduct policies under Erin’s Law and Faith’s Law.
Warning Signs of Abuse
If you suspect abuse, report the abuse to DCFS. The following are possible warning signs of abuse, but may not necessarily mean abuse is taking place:
- Unexplained injuries, such as bruises or burns
- Injuries that do not match the given explanation
- Delayed or inappropriate emotional development
- Loss of self-confidence or self-esteem
- Social withdrawal, loss of interest or enthusiasm
- Loss of sleep
- Self-harm
- Changes in behavior – such as anger, aggression, hostility or hyperactivity
- Avoidance of certain situation, such as going to school or riding the bus
- Poor personal cleanliness
- Hoarding or stealing food
Resource Information
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services website: https://www2.illinois.gov/dcfs/Pages/default.aspx