Why Rice

Our students and their families embrace our mission to love learning, seek God and serve others.  It is weaved into every aspect of life at Rice and reflected in the character our students develop and how they carry themselves inside and outside of school.

Our foundation is built on kindness, respect and trust. Each day begins with a moment of silence, a reading from the Bible and Rice's Mission Prayer. Daily Mass is offered in our chapel, along with monthly class Masses and school-wide Mass on Holy Days. Students are required to take religion classes for all four years at Rice.

As a College Preparatory School, Rice has a rigorous curriculum meant to prepare students for college. 
Rice has 15 Honors classes and 10 AP classes accessible to all students. A dedicated faculty with a small student ratio of 11:1 fosters a love of learning. 

With SAT scores higher than the state average and over 90 percent of graduates attending college, Rice students make their education a priority.  Our college prep curriculum focuses heavily on providing the skills necessary for students to succeed in college and life. Alumni attending some of the finest colleges and universities in the country indicate that they feel better prepared than many of their counterparts.

Rice offers a nurturing and caring learning environment where students make connections that last a lifetime. Stunt Nite is just one example of how students leave the classroom and collaborate with the community. A Rice education goes beyond high school!

“Community” is a phrase often used in schools. At Rice, it’s a way of life. With just under 400 students – nearly 1/3 the size of most local public high schools – a sense of belonging is established quickly.  Small classes allow teachers an opportunity to really know their students. Underclassmen are recognized and mentored by older students.  And, respect for one another is expected, allowing students the freedom to try something different, often discovering new gifts and talents along the way.

Students at Rice are required to perform over 80 hours of community service throughout their high school education. By placing the needs of others ahead of themselves, students develop valuable experience and gain confidence in talking about their acheivements.

Some of the projects in which students participate are the Lund Family Picnic, the CROP and COTS Walks, King Street Youth Center, the Thanksgiving Basket collection, The Legacy Project, the Polar Express, Breakfast with Santa, and Special Olympics, including the Young Athletes Program and the Penguin Plunge.