World Languages

Oak Park and River Forest High School students have the opportunity to be recognized by the State of Illinois for earning proficiency in English and an additional language. The Illinois State Board of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy program will place an official seal on diplomas and an official recognition on transcripts for students who qualify.

Qualifications for the Seal of Biliteracy:

• Earn a minimum composite score of 21 on an official ACT administration, a minimum score of 540 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portion of an official SAT administration, OR a minimum overall composite score of 4.8 on the ACCESS for ELLs exam.
• Must have earned a 4 or 5 in the Advanced Placement language exam they took as a junior or sophomore, OR earn a minimum score of I-5 on all components of ACTFL’s Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) exam, OR a minimum of Intermediate High on all components of AVANT’s STAMP exam. AAPPL, AP Language exams, or STAMP are options for students in 4th- or 5th-year language classes during the second semester for junior or senior students only.

• Chinese. The Chinese Honor Society, sponsored by the National Council of Chinese Language Teachers, was established in 2011. To qualify for membership, a student must be a junior or senior in 3A or above in Chinese, have maintained semester grades of A in the 3 preceding semesters of high school Chinese, have a minimum 3.2 weighted GPA, have demonstrated interest in language and cultural activities, and have exemplified good citizenship. Students who qualify will be given an application with the requirements for induction. 
• French. The Antoine de St. Exupéry Chapter of the Société Honoraire de Français, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French, was established in 1981. To qualify for membership, a student must be a junior or senior in 4A or above in French, have maintained semester grades of A in the 3 preceding semesters of high school French, have a minimum 3.2 weighted GPA, have demonstrated interest in language and cultural activities, and have exemplified good citizenship. 
• German. The Alpha Chi Chapter of the Deutsche Ehrenverbindung, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German, was established in 1985. To qualify for membership, a student must be a junior or senior in 3A or above in German, have maintained semester grades of A in the 3 preceding semesters of high school German, have a minimum 3.2 weighted GPA, have demonstrated interest in language and cultural activities, and have exemplified good citizenship. Students who qualify will be given an application with the requirements for induction. 
• Italian. The Dante Alighieri Chapter of the Società Onoraria Italica, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Italian, was established in 1991. To qualify for membership, a student must be a junior or senior in 4A or above in Italian, have maintained semester grades of A in the 3 preceding semesters of high school Italian, have a minimum 3.2 weighted GPA, have demonstrated interest in language and cultural activities, and have exemplified good citizenship. Students who qualify will be given an application with the requirements for induction. 
• Japanese. The Seiken Chapter of the Nihongo Yutoseikai, sponsored by the National Council of Japanese Language Teachers, was established in 1991. To qualify for membership, a student must be a junior or senior in 3A or above in Japanese, have maintained semester grades of A in the 3 preceding semesters of high school Japanese, have a minimum 3.2 weighted GPA, have demonstrated interest in language and cultural activities, and have exemplified good citizenship. Students who qualify will be given an application with the requirements for induction. 
• Latin. The Sigma Lambda Chapter of the Societas Honoris Classica, sponsored by the National Junior Classical League, was established in 1985. To qualify for membership, a student must be a junior or senior in 3A or above in Latin, have maintained semester grades of A in the 3 preceding semesters of high school Latin, have a minimum 3.2 weighted GPA, have demonstrated interest in language and cultural activities, and have exemplified good citizenship. Students who qualify will be given an application with the requirements for induction.
• Spanish. The Doña Perfecta Chapter of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, was established in 1979. To qualify for membership, a student must be a junior or senior in 4A or above in Spanish, have maintained semester grades of A in the 3 preceding semesters of high school Spanish, have a minimum 3.2 weighted GPA, have demonstrated interest in language and cultural activities, and have exemplified good citizenship. Students who qualify will be given an application with the requirements for induction.