Frequently Asked Questions

What is unique about Bishop Carroll High School?

Is the program of studies at Bishop Carroll different?

Is Bishop Carroll meant only for the gifted and motivated learner?

Does Bishop Carroll offer only academics?

How can my son or daughter be successful at Bishop Carroll?

Does Bishop Carroll offer Advanced Placement (AP) classes?

How well do Bishop Carroll students perform?

Why do Bishop Carroll students do so well?

How can I find out more about Bishop Carroll?

What is unique about Bishop Carroll High School?

Bishop Carroll offers a program unique to our District. For the last forty years it has been the only school in Alberta that has offered a completely self-directed personalized program of studies. Students of Bishop Carroll are free to study Alberta Curriculum at a pace that best suits their individual needs and interests. Through the support of a strong and effective teacher-advisory system, students at Bishop Carroll tailor make a program of studies that accounts for their unique abilities as individual learners. A Bishop Carroll graduate feels a unique sense of ownership in their diploma, as it is an accomplishment that is personal and authentic.

Is the program of studies at Bishop Carroll different?

Although the students of Bishop Carroll study at a personalized pace, the program of studies is identical to any high school in the province. A graduate of Bishop Carroll must fulfill the requirements of the mandated Alberta Curriculum culminating in diploma exams in their graduating year. However, due to the flexibility of the Bishop Carroll delivery system it is possible for a student to investigate areas of interest at a depth that cannot be duplicated in a classroom setting. At Bishop Carroll the possibilities to learn are bounded only by the imagination and creativity of the students and faculty.

Is Bishop Carroll meant only for the gifted and motivated learner?

This is a myth that surrounds the program at Bishop Carroll. While it is true that a well-motivated student will succeed at Bishop Carroll the same argument can be made for a student in a traditional classroom setting. What Bishop Carroll has to offer to a student is invaluable time-management skills that cannot be easily duplicated in a classroom setting. With the assistance of a teacher-advisor the Bishop Carroll student learns to organize short-term, mid-range and long-term goals. The Bishop Carroll student is monitored throughout their high school career to insure that these goals are realized. A Bishop Carroll student is not only given the freedom to choose but learns the responsibility that accompanies such freedom. This is a valuable skill that enters into their lives both in post-secondary institutions and the world of work.

Does Bishop Carroll offer only academics?

Absolutely not. Bishop Carroll High School offers a full program for its students. Bishop Carroll boasts facilities and programs that are second to none: a state-of-the art music facility, a refurbished visual arts lab, a graphics lab that is technologically up to date, a networked computer and word processing lab, a modern language resource centre that offers French, Japanese, and Spanish, a fully equipped fitness facility, one of the brightest and biggest high school gymnasiums in the city and a 250 seat theatre to host our main stage drama productions.

How can my son or daughter be successful at Bishop Carroll?

Each student at Bishop Carroll is assigned a teacher-advisor at the beginning of their high school career. The teacher-advisor is in constant contact with all subject areas in order to monitor progress and to help develop goals for each student. The teacher advisor will also keep regular contact with parents to inform them of student progress and help problem solve if a student encounters difficulties. Over the years Bishop Carroll has perfected a communication system that allows the parent to monitor the progress of students at home.
As a parent you will be able to act as an advisor by collecting the information that the student receives on a daily basis from subject areas. Student success at Bishop Carroll is often due in large part to parents that keep informed of student progress.

Does Bishop Carroll offer Advanced Placement (AP) classes?

The Advanced Placement Program allows students to undertake college level academic learning in AP courses and gives them the opportunity to show that they have mastered the advanced material by taking AP exams. Students can receive credit, advanced placement, or both from thousands of colleges and universities that participate in the Advanced Placement Program.
At Bishop Carroll, through independent study and continuous progress, students can accelerate their progress in the normal program, complete the required subjects and write Diploma Exams in November and January. This then affords them the opportunity to prepare, under the guidance of the subject teacher, for the AP exams in May.

How well do Bishop Carroll students perform?

As is the case for all Alberta high school graduates, students of Bishop Carroll must write government diploma exams in their graduating year. As all students in the province write these exams, results can be used as indicators of the success of the students. Below is a chart that shows the history of the successes of Bishop Carroll students over the last ten years of diploma exams in our province. A quick glance will show that students of Bishop Carroll perform well above the provincial average in all major academic areas.

Diploma Results for the 2006–2007 School Year
Subject	BCHS Average (%)	CSSD Average (%)	Provincial Average (%)
English 30-1	76.5	66.1	69.6
English 30-2	69.6	63.0	64.2
Social 30	76.7	67.7	67.4
Social 33	76.8	65.2	65.7
Math 30 Pure	72.2	65.8	65.9
Math 30 Applied	65.1	60.4	61.5
Biology 30	75.0	68.5	67.4
Chemistry 30	78.5	72.7	72.1
Physics 30	70	69	68.4

Why do Bishop Carroll students do so well?

Although student success can be due to many factors, Bishop Carroll’s unique delivery system makes academic success more attainable for all students. Firstly, the students are in control of their learning. A Bishop Carroll student will write a test only when he or she is prepared. A Bishop Carroll student is not expected to write a test when the Teacher is ready but makes the decision to write the test when he or she is ready. Secondly, Bishop Carroll operates under a philosophy of mastery learning. A student is expected to achieve a passing grade before he or she progresses to subsequent material. Thirdly, the Bishop Carroll student is allowed to progress through course material at a pace that is matched with their ability. A Bishop Carroll student does not have to keep pace with a class or a teacher. Instead, peers and teachers act as support for the Bishop Carroll student. Finally, a Bishop Carroll student is always in control of his or her learning. A Bishop Carroll student will seek help when he or she needs it. Every time a Bishop Carroll student interacts with a teacher it is because the student wants the assistance. It is this purposeful contact with teachers at Bishop Carroll that separate it from the traditional classroom approach to learning.

How can I find out more about Bishop Carroll?

It is difficult to give a true sense of Bishop Carroll in writing. As a result, we have arranged an opportunity for you to experience the school in action. Once a year, usually in late February, Bishop Carroll opens its doors for a full day of regular programming. You and your son or daughter will be able to come and experience the school as it really is. If you feel that you want your son or daughter to have the opportunity to experience personalized education at its best come and spend part or all of the day with us. It may be the start of a unique and wonderful challenge in your child’s education. Check the Calendar of Events for more information.