Academics

Marian High School has a rigorous commitment to academic leadership. Marian’s key strengths are our high academic standards and the high expectations we have for our students. To ensure each Marian girl succeeds, we offer:

  • a total college preparatory curriculum, including advanced placement and dual enrollment course work,
  • a competent, professional and caring faculty who know how to teach young women
  • and the best facilities, materials, educational tools and support system in the state of Nebraska.

Marian provides the opportunities of a large high school in a smaller high school setting. With an enrollment of under 700, Marian has what researchers say are the benefits of an optimum enrollment size (600-900):  stronger student achievement, higher participation among students and a richer curriculum. Marian offers the most comprehensive academic and extracurricular programs to ensure the development of the whole person – intellectually, spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially.

 

Faculty

Marian’s faculty and staff is dedicated to its students and their achievements, both in and out of the classroom. We educate at a 15:1 student-teacher ratio to ensure that each student receives the attention that she may need to be engaged in discussion and debate in a safe, nurturing classroom environment. In addition to optimum class size, Marian’s counselors meet individually with each student to assist her in her social development and her college and career planning. 90% of Marian faculty hold a Master’s degree and two have PhDs. Marian’s teachers display a strong commitment to on-going professional development by participating in numerous state and national conferences.

 

Honors and Advanced Placement Courses

Marian’s academic curriculum is based solely on a college preparatory course load – science, math, languages, fine arts, social studies and theology. Marian is committed to a rigorous and progressive academic program designed to meet the individual needs of each student. There are more than 40 honors courses and 15 advanced placement courses that allow students to proceed at a more rapid pace and/or to approach subjects in more depth. Honors Courses that function as AP Courses are so noted:

  • Students with a cumulative grade point average of 4.1 or above after eight semesters will graduate with high honors
  • Students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.8-4.09 will graduate with honors.
  • Graduating with honors is noted on both the transcript and diploma.
2023-2024 Curriculum Guide

Dual Enrollment Program

Marian has instituted a Dual Enrollment Program, which now gives students the opportunity to receive college credit for the courses listed below. Marian offers Dual Enrollment courses with the following universities:

Nebraska Wesleyan

  • Theology IV: World Religions
  • Theology IV: Catholic Social Teaching
  • H/AP English Literature & Composition
  • Honors World Literature & Composition
  • H/AP English Language & Composition
  • Fundamentals of Communication
  • H/AP Chemistry II
  • H/AP Microeconomics
  • Personal Finance
  • Journalism I

 

University of Nebraska at Omaha

  •  H/AP Statistics
  • H/AP Calculus AB
  • H/AP Calculus BC
  • H/AP United States Government and Politics
  • H/AP United States History
  • H/AP Biology II
  • Honors Anatomy and Physiology
  • Honors Spanish IV
  • H/AP Spanish V
  • Cyber Security
  • H/AP Computer Science Principles
  • H/AP Computer Science A (Java Programming)

 

Metropolitan Community College

  •  World Literature & Composition
  • Honors Pre-Calculus
  • Marketing
  • Introduction to Business

Students will receive information on qualifications, cost and deadlines from their teachers in the dual enrollment classes. Students who pursue dual enrollment will complete all coursework at Marian, including papers and examinations. It is the responsibility of each Marian student to check with her future college or university to see whether the dual enrollment credits will be accepted and how they will be accepted (as fulfilling a requirement or as an elective).

Memberships & Accreditations

Marian is accredited by the North Central Association and by the state of Nebraska. Marian is a member of the College Board and National Association of College Admissions Counselors and complies with the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice. In accordance with Best Practices, upon request from a college for a student’s discipline record, the college counselor will disclose if a student has been placed on probation or expelled. Marian High School is a member of:

  • The National Catholic Educational Association NCEA
  • The National Association of Secondary School Principals NASSP
  • The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development ASCD
  • Women School’s Together
  • The Nebraska School Activities Association NSAA

One-to-One iPad Program

In 2013, Marian began integrating the use of iPads into our classrooms to support their growth as communicators, thinkers and problem solvers. The iPad supports essential skill areas—complex communication, an understanding of new media, collaboration, creativity and self-directed learning. While it is certainly a dynamic learning tool, it is not replacing the personal relationship between our teachers and their students. Rather, it enhances our goal to create confident, independent and thinking leaders inspired by faith.