Seven Ways IMSA Works for Illinois

An Illinois Investment in the Future and Delivering Solid Returns Today

In the mid-1980s the State of Illinois, recognizing the need to improve mathematics and science education to meet future workforce needs and fuel economic development, established the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA).  IMSA was created to "serve the people of Illinois as a preparatory institution" and to serve "the school system of the State as a catalyst and laboratory for the advancement of teaching."   Today, unprecedented scientific and technological advances and demand for highly skilled workers in these fields have grown exponentially.  So has the demand for IMSA's services.

IMSA works for Illinois by producing the state's supply of technical and scientific leaders, addressing the state's acute shortage of well-qualified mathematics and science teachers and improving interest and achievement in math and science among students from historically underrepresented and underserved populations. From Rockford to Springfield to Carbondale, from Quincy to Kankakee, IMSA delivers educational services that are central to economic prosperity for Illinois and its citizens. 

Seven Ways IMSA Works for Illinois

  1. Producing the State's Supply of Technical and Scientific Leaders
    • IMSA's advanced secondary academic program and graduate level research programs enable students to reach exceptional levels of achievement.  IMSA's mean ACT scores rank in the top 10 of 9,000 schools nationwide. IMSA has the highest number of National Merit Scholar Semifinalists in Illinois.
    • IMSA's innovative mentorship and research programs have enabled students to secure numerous prestigious state, national and international awards.  They conduct research with master scholars and scientists at more than 100 Illinois institutions including Argonne National Laboratory, the Field Museum and Loyola Medical Center. They deliver their findings at professional conferences nationwide and abroad.
    • College readiness for IMSA students includes more than high test scores. Their evidence of deep learning through research projects, mentorships, published studies and presentations at professional conferences makes them highly attractive applicants to the nation's most selective colleges and universities.  The five Illinois universities that enroll the highest number of IMSA graduates are University of Illinois at Urbana, Northwestern, The University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Bradley.  The five out-of-state universities that enroll the highest number of IMSA graduates are Washington University (Missouri), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford, Harvard and Rice.
    • More than 60% of IMSA's graduates major in mathematics, science or technology, significantly higher than the national norm and more than four times the national average for females.
    • Many IMSA graduates now are in the Illinois workforce as engineers, information technology specialists, researchers, scientists, teachers, doctors and leaders in a variety of fields.  They are returning the states investment in them by working at Illinois companies and institutions such as Abbott Laboratories, Aon Corporation, Argonne National Laboratory, Bank One, Caterpillar, Hewitt Associates, Motorola and SealMaster.

  2. Stimulating Excellence in Mathematics, Science and Technology in Illinois Schools

    3. Almost 43,000 students and 19,000 teachers in Illinois and beyond have benefited from IMSA's math/science student enrichment programs and teacher professional development programs.  Beyond the numbers, IMSA's statewide programs focus on addressing the state's acute shortage of highly-qualified mathematics and science teachers and on stimulating the interest, motivation and achievement of elementary, middle school and high school students in math, science and technology.  IMSA's professional development programs help teachers to keep pace with the explosion of new knowledge and discoveries in math and science and the transformation of teaching methods for the digital age.  IMSA edited the recently released book Scientific Literacy in the 21st Century.  IMSA's research team helps schools evaluate how new models of instruction affect teachers' knowledge and skills and student learning.

  3. Increasing the Diversity of High-Achieving Students in Mathematics, Science and Technology

    The State founded IMSA to develop the full potential of talented students from diverse economic, ethnic and geographic backgrounds in Illinois. IMSA's summer camp for girls, the Excellence 2000+ (E2K+) after-school enrichment program, 21st Century Information Fluency and Excel programs place special emphasis on increasing the representation and achievement of rural, urban and minority students in math, science and technology.  IMSA's internal program is equally diverse - currently the Academy is 50% Caucasian, 30% Asian, 9% African-American, 5% Latino and 4% Biracial.

  4. Using Technology to Benefit Illinois Schools

    IMSA is a state leader in using technology to deliver educational resources to Illinois schools. The Illinois Virtual High School (IVHS) offers more than 80 online semester high school courses to Illinois students.  IMSA was a founding partner of the IVHS and today, in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education, provides its strategic and operational leadership. IMSA's Internet Toolkit, an Internet metasearch engine for educators, is the official search engine of the Illinois Virtual High School.  IMSA delivers an online Internet skills program to Illinois school librarians and teachers. Through video streaming of IMSA's Great Minds program, Illinois teachers and students participate in seminars conducted by Nobel Laureates and renowned scientists.  IMSA has online professional development networks to connect teachers and librarians with each other and with a rich array of online classroom resources.  IMSA's Kids Institute produces Real Science, a CD-ROM of science activities for Illinois middle schools and online science programs.  IMSA's E2K+ program offers professional development workshops through videoconferencing.

  5. Providing Leadership to Statewide Education Initiatives

    IMSA faculty, staff and administrators serve in leadership capacities to advance teaching and learning in Illinois.  IMSA was a founding member of the Illinois Virtual High School, provided leadership for the development of Illinois Learning Standards and Quality Criteria for Professional Development, and designed and administered the Illinois International Career Academy on behalf of Illinois Board of Higher Education. IMSA representatives hold statewide leadership roles in the Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.  IMSA's President was appointed to the Governor's transition team.

  6. Enhancing the State's Economy

    With a 99% college enrollment, it’s no secret that IMSA's college graduates will earn at least double the income of their high school counterparts.  Most IMSA grads earn advanced professional degrees, which in today's dollars means they will earn $1.8 million of lifetime income, leading to increased sales and income tax revenues for Illinois.  State, national and international visitors who come to IMSA's campus contribute to the State's lodging, retail and hospitality industries.  IMSA brings additional resources to the State through its cumulative securement of $5.75 million in federal grants and $16 million in corporate, foundation and individual contributions.  IMSA has a strong history of working with corporate partners such as Andrew Corporation, The Boeing Company, BP, Caterpillar, Grainger, SBC, Tellabs and Toyota to improve mathematics and science education for the 21st century and to meet high-tech workforce needs.

  7. Bringing Recognition to Illinois

    IMSA's models of teaching and learning are recognized and practiced nationally and abroad.Delegations of educators and media representatives from countries including Australia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand come to IMSA to study curriculum and instruction models.  IMSA's leadership helped to establish the National Education Technology Standards (NETS).Teachers in 17 states and six countries practice IMSA's Problem-Based Learning model. IMSA has been profiled by NBC-TV's Dateline, CNNs Science and Technology News, Worth Magazine, Harvard University's national study for exemplary schools, New York Times and Wall Street Journal, to name a few.