Illinois Math and Science Academy
IMSA Logo

IMSA is a three year residential high school that promotes collaboration and fosters imagination and inquiry. The curriculum at IMSA includes advanced courses in mathematics, science, the arts and humanities that emphasize connections across the disciplines. The classes are both challenging and engaging. They academic and residential program is meant to help with IMSA's Standards of Significant Learning (this link) (SSLs), which articulate valued habits of mind which contribute to integrative ways of knowing. IMSA boasts a unique approach to learning that is problem-centered, inquiry based and integrative. High-level Student research is an important aspect of IMSA's educational experience. "Through the Student Inquiry and Research program, students conduct research with master scholars and scientists at more than 100 institutions, including Argonne National Laboratory, the Field Museum and Loyola Medical Center. They deliver their findings at professional conferences nationwide and abroad." The residential aspect at IMSA provides students more opportunities to look to their peers for help. There are many places for students to go to for help including, but not limited to, peer tutors, classmates, upperclassmen, and teachers. The teachers at IMSA are among the nation's best and inspire students to reach their full potential. "IMSA faculty members include Presidential Award winners, National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certified faculty, distinguished authors and fellowship recipients. All faculty have advanced degrees, with more than 54% holding doctorate degrees."

Mission

The mission of IMSA, the world's leading teaching and learning laboratory for imagination and inquiry, is to ignite and nurture creative, ethical scientific minds that advance the human condition, through a system distinguished by profound questions, collaborative relationships, personalized experiential learning, global networking, generative use of technology and pioneering outreach.

Beliefs

We Believe That...
Everyone is a mystery with unknown and unknowable limits.
All people have equal intrinsic worth.
Personal success is internally defined.
A person's potential is most fully actualized through physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual harmony.
No one's path in life is predetermined.
All people have choices and are responsible for their actions.
Human progress depends on personal growth.
Everyone can lead.
Meaning is constructed by the learner.
Learning never ends.
The ability to discern and create connections is the essence of knowing.
Belonging to a community requires commitment to the common good.
Indifference diminishes individuals and communities.
Trust and respect are vital for any relationship to thrive.
Diversity in community inspires discovery and creativity.
Diverse perspectives enrich understanding.
We are all stewards of our planet.
Great leaps forward require bold ideas and actions.
Change is natural and necessary for greatness.

Intersession

Intersession is a week where students are given the opportunity to choose their own courses. One intersession class, entitled Building a Robot for FIRST, gave robotics club members that participated the opportunity to get a lot of work done on the robot, including a lot of decision making on the design of the robot. Much work was completed in Intersession week as it was the first week of the build season.