Archbishop Riordan High School’s Engineering Program

A longtime clergyman in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, California, Father John Jimenez serves as the chaplain of the city’s Archbishop Riordan High School. In that role, Father John Jimenez counsels students, including those in the school’s new engineering program.

Taking advantage of its proximity to San Francisco’s tech industry, the school has developed a four-year honors curriculum for future programmers, designers, and collaborators. The shape of the program is as follows:

- Year One. Computer Programming 1 teaches students the fundamentals as they create apps for iPhones and iPads using Apple’s Swift operating system. Another introductory course demonstrates principles of mechanical engineering and robotics.

Year Two: Advanced Engineering students discover how to use microcontrollers and microprocessors to make machines. Computer Programming 2 builds proficiency in JavaScript and enables students to design websites and blogs.

Year Three: Advanced Placement Computer Science focuses on developing Android apps while building skills in optimization and algorithms. Computer Programming 3 lets learners create games using the well-known Unity application.

Year Four: Participants put their experience into practice with a capstone project. Advanced Computer Science with AI elucidates the theories behind programming.

Interested students must pass advanced mathematics and science courses in the seventh and eighth grades. They must also score well on standardized tests and prove they can handle a heavy courseload.