IMSA

IMSA Fusion Goals

* Maintain or increase students’ interest, involvement and literacy in science and mathematics;
* Enhance the knowledge and skills of teachers in science, mathematics, and technology;
* Stimulate excellence in schools’ science and mathematics programs;
* Help increase access to programming for students who are historically under-resourced in science, mathematics and technology and for all areas of the state.

Identifying and Choosing Students

IMSA FUSION is designed for talented and motivated late elementary and middle level students (4th through 8th grades) who are committed to challenging themselves in mathematics and science. Students should demonstrate an interest in learning, independent thinking, curiosity, and a thirst for knowledge. Students should understand that making a commitment to participate in IMSA FUSION means ongoing participation until they finish eighth grade.

Criteria for Selecting Students

1, ISAT scores demonstrate “Meets” or “Exceeds Standards” in mathematics and/or science, or in the top 10% of his or her class academically.
2, Student-written statement of his or her interest in the study of mathematics and/or science.
3. Teacher recommendation.
4. Signed commitment to full participation by both student and parent or guardian.

Once selected into the program, students must keep at least a C in every class.

Applying to IMSA

Eligibility to apply to the Academy is defined by the following:

The student applicant and his or her parents must be permanent residents of the state of Illinois and the student applicant must be attending a school in Illinois.

Illinois residency must be established by the application deadline. The student must be enrolled in an Illinois school by the first day of the second semester or the first day of the second trimester. Exceptions to these policies may be made by the Director of Student Life (ex. military families, home-schooled students and extenuating circumstances.)

How is residency defined?
A student's residency is defined by the place where the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have their principal home address. The term "parent' includes a natural or adoptive parent with legal custody or a legal guardian who has been granted custody of the student, provided that the legal guardianship has not been established solely for demonstrating residency in the State of Illinois for the purpose of attending IMSA.

See the IMSA Residency Policy for more information.

Students in the 8th or the 9th grade who have completed or are currently working to complete the equivalent of nine years of education (excluding preschool and kindergarten) will be considered. Students enrolled beyond the 9th grade are ineligible.
Early Admission for younger students:
IMSA is a school designed to meet the special academic needs of exceptional students. Those needs sometimes do not correspond to chronological age. For that reason, we will consider applications for students who are not yet in the 9th grade, however, it is not our intent to be an accelerated program. In order to be eligible before the 9th grade, student applicants must submit documentation of having completed or that they are currently working to complete an academic program comparable to high school level work in mathematics, science and English. This must include a minimum of one year of algebra and a course equivalent to one year of high school level science. The granting institution where the course is taken determines equivalency. At least 50% of the coursework must be completed by the application deadline.