GRACE Program

Gifted Recognition And Curriculum Enrichment

The GRACE program is tailored to the educational needs of our most highly-gifted students.  This extracurricular class seeks to offer academic enrichment, to stretch and grow these student’s potential, develop their God-given talents, and support their social, emotional and academic wellbeing.

GRACE is not entirely skills-focused, but facilitates student immersion in subjects worthy and delightful to study, but which do not figure in the mainstream curriculum. This immersion fosters growth in key academic skills like critical thinking, abstract thinking, and creative thinking.  It builds community among these students and develops emotional resilience through academic risk-taking, inner motivation, and self-acceptance.  Most importantly, the GRACE program promotes an awareness of giftedness as a divine gift, encouraging a return of gratitude to God for gifts received.

Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students will qualify for invitation to this program based on their ITBS test scores.  All students who score at or above the 95th percentile in any ITBS category will receive an invitation during Q4 of the current  year to participate for the next academic year.  Participation in the GRACE program will be voluntary among students who qualify and recognition of GRACE program scholars will be given at graduation. Future plans to matriculate the GRACE program to 3rd-5th grade are in the works.

“Our students at St. Ignatius are amazing, with a huge range of talents and interests.  We love their dedication to excellence both in and out of the classroom.”- Dr. Mary Frank, School Advisory Council Member & GRACE program champion.