Academics

Academics at Bishop Kelly High School

Bishop Kelly provides each of our students the opportunity to find academic success. Our students are challenged to perform at their full potential, and we pride ourselves on preparing graduates to succeed at the next level of their education. BK’s graduation requirements meet or exceed the entrance requirements for all state and most private colleges and universities.

Bishop Kelly High School Profile

Achieving excellence in learning, service, and life.

LOCATION, FACILITY AND COMMUNITY PROFILE

Bishop Kelly is a private Catholic high school founded in 1964 in Boise, Idaho. We are centrally located in Boise, with easy access to all parts of the Treasure Valley. Bishop Kelly is accredited by the Northwest Education Association and the Western Catholic Education Association.

Over the years our campus has expanded, and in addition to our main building, our infrastructure includes the Father Wilson Science and Technology Wing, an expansive athletic complex made up of the Carley Athletic Center, the Lamott Family Performance Training Center, Nick Ysursa stadium, the Harrison Tennis Complex, the Peterson Baseball Complex, the Bishop Kelly Softball Complex, an indoor hitting facility, and the Chuck Irvine Soccer and Lacrosse field; and sacred spaces such as the Saint Teresa of Jesus Chapel and Our Lady’s Spiritual Garden.

PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION STATEMENT

Bishop Kelly High School’s mission calls us to develop the whole student in the Catholic tradition – spirit, mind and body.  Through a diverse and comprehensive education in the Catholic tradition, students prepare themselves to serve God and others in the world community.

Administration:

President:
Bill Avey

Principal:
Dr. Sarah Quilici

Assistant Principal/Curriculum & Instruction:
Missy Nichols

Assistant Principal/Student Affairs
Cheryl Hutchinson

Activities Director:
Tom Shanahan

Faculty:
The professional staff at Bishop Kelly includes 62 full-time and 10 part-time faculty
including our full-time priest and deacon. 69% of BK’s faculty hold advanced degrees and 65% have more than 10 years of teaching experience.

Counseling Staff:
Lindsay Godar
Gina Gridley

Julie Klover
Julie Netz
Mat Satchwell

 

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Enrollment:  Fall 2023
967 students in grades 9-12
Average Class Size: 21

SERVICE LEARNING:

Students must complete 80 documented hours of community service; 30 of which must be completed as a senior.  Service learning is an integral element of the Bishop Kelly education and students completed more than 18,400 hours in the 2022-2023 school year.

CLUBS AND SPORTS:

There are over 50 extra-curricular clubs and sports offerings at Bishop Kelly, with over two-thirds of our student body participating. In 2022 – 2023, Bishop Kelly student athletes won a record seven athletic state championships as well as ten academic state championships, and won the Idaho High Schools Activities Association School of Excellence Award for the sixth year in a row.

COLLEGE ATTENDANCE:

96% of the class of 2023 will continue their education in 2- or 4-year colleges. Three students received four academy appointments, and six entered university ROTC programs.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:

53 SEMESTER CREDITS
English  |  8
Theology  |  7
Math  |  6
Science  |  6
World Language  |  4
U.S. History I  | 2
U.S. History II  | 2
American Government  |  1
Physical Education  |  2
Economics  |  1
Speech  |  1
Health  |  1
Technology  |  1
Service Learning | 1
Fine/Performing Arts  |  1
Electives  |  9

GRADING SCALE: (See the link above for unweighted and weighted GPAs)

90-100 = A = 4.0
80 – 89 = B = 3.0
70 – 79 = C = 2.0
60 – 69 = D = 1.0
0 – 59 = F =  0.0

When a student repeats a course, only the highest grade is calculated into the GPA; however, both courses will appear on the student’s transcript.

AP COURSES (Weighted):

AP 3D Art and Design
AP 2D Art and Design
AP Biology
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Capstone Seminar
AP Chemistry
AP Computer Science A
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Drawing
AP English Language & Composition
AP English Literature & Composition
AP Environmental Science
AP European History Research
AP Human Geography
AP Physics I & II
AP Spanish Language and Culture
AP Statistics
AP U.S. Government and Politics
AP U.S. History

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS:

4 Finalists 2022-2023
3 Finalists 2021-2022
3 Finalists 2020-2021
3 Finalists 2019-2020

AP EXAMS 2023:

331 students took 646 exams in 22 subject areas with 83% scoring a 3 or higher. Bishop Kelly also offers the AP Capstone diploma.

CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT 2022 – 2023:

262 students earned 1,215 concurrent credits in 14 different courses through three state universities, taught at Bishop Kelly.

AP and Concurrent Enrollment courses are designated as such in our Academic Catalog

Bishop Kelly Campus Photos