Jesuit High School (New Orleans)

High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jesuit High School is a private Roman Catholic college-preparatory school for boys in grades eight through twelve. It is located in the Mid-City neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, and is operated by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits).

Coordinates29°58′23.0″N 90°6′12.5″W
TypePrivate, Catholic all-boys college-preparatory educational institution
MottoLatin: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
English: For the Greater Glory of God
Religious affiliationRoman Catholic (Jesuit)
Quick facts Location, Coordinates ...
Jesuit High School
Jesuit high school (2021)
Location
4133 Banks Street

New Orleans
,
Louisiana
70119

United States
Coordinates29°58′23.0″N 90°6′12.5″W
Information
TypePrivate, Catholic all-boys college-preparatory educational institution
MottoLatin: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
English: For the Greater Glory of God
Religious affiliationRoman Catholic (Jesuit)
Established1847; 179 years ago (1847) (as the College of the Immaculate Conception)
1911; 115 years ago (1911) (as Jesuit High School)
FounderJean Baptiste Maisonabe, SJ
StatusOpen
PresidentRev. Fr. John Brown, SJ
ChairpersonBrian W. North '83
Director
List
  • Helen M. Swan, B.S.
    (Director of Student Affairs)
  • Jonathan E. Hernandez
    (Director of Admissions)
  • David A. Moreau, B.A.
    (Director of Athletics)
  • Stephanie C. Strain, B.A.
    (Director of Guidance)
  • Daniel C. Wagner
    (Dir. of Information Technology)
  • Scott J. Delatte
    (Director of Alumni Service Corps)
  • Matthew P. Orillion, M.A.
    (Director of Student Activities)
  • Roger A. Bacon
    (Director of Evangelization)
  • Scott J. Delatte
    (Director of Community Service)
  • Christian Bautista
    (Dir. of Institutional Advancememt)
  • Melissa S. Jurisich
    (Director of Communications)
  • James M. Linn
    (Director of Alumni)
PrincipalDr. Jeremy M. Reuther
Prefect of DisciplineMichael J. Armelin
Faculty119
Grades8–12
GenderMale
Enrollment1,287 (2025-2026) [1]
Average class size25
Student to teacher ratio11:1
Hours in school day7
Campus size7 acres (28,000 m2)
Campus typeUrban
ColorsBlue and white
   
SloganMen of Faith, Men for Others
Song"The Jesuit Alma Mater"
Fight song"Jesuit Fight Song: The Blue Jay March"
AthleticsBaseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, powerlifting, rugby, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, wrestling
Athletics conferenceLHSAA
Catholic League
SportsVarsity Sports
MascotJayson the Blue Jay
NicknameBlue Jays
RivalHoly Cross Tigers
Brother Martin Crusaders
Rummel Raiders
AccreditationSACS[2]
PublicationCalliope (literary magazine)
NewspaperThe Blue Jay
YearbookThe Annual
School fees$300 (2023–24)
Tuition$11,250 (2023–24)
Graduates243 (2025)
Websitehttp://www.jesuitnola.org
Close

The school was founded in 1847, as the College of the Immaculate Conception, and became a separate secondary institution in 1911, when the college division relocated and later developed into Loyola University New Orleans. Jesuit High School was moved to 4133 Banks Street in 1926.

History

Founding and early history

The College of the Immaculate Conception was founded in 1847 and opened in 1849.[3] It functioned as both a secondary school and a college. It was located in the Faubourg Sainte Marie neighborhood of New Orleans (now the New Orleans Central Business District), a block up-river from the French Quarter, at the corner of Baronne and Common Streets. The opening of the school was delayed by a yellow fever outbreak.[4] The school's founder, Jean Baptiste Maisonabe, S.J., succumbed to the disease, and was succeeded by John Cambiaso, S.J., who was responsible for the design of the Church of the Immaculate Conception.[5][6]

The Church of the Immaculate Conception remains on the original campus.[7]

Move to Carrollton & Banks

In 1911, the high school and college divisions were split. The college division (now Loyola University New Orleans) relocated to St. Charles Avenue.[8] Jesuit High School remained on Baronne Street until 1926, when it was moved to its current location at 4133 Banks Street in Mid-City.[9]

Several buildings and facilities have been added to the campus since 1926. In 1953, a wing was added along Palmyra Street, which included an auditorium, the Chapel of the North American Martyrs, a cafeteria, a library, several classrooms, and a band room.[10] In 1957, a gym and recreation center were built across Banks Street to support athletic teams and physical education programs.[10]

A resource center featuring a school library, additional classrooms, and science facilities was built in 1974.[10] The area was upgraded again in 2001, when the Student Commons was constructed on the first floor beneath the Resource Center.[citation needed] Further renovations were made to the school after Hurricane Katrina.[citation needed]

In 2012, John Ryan Stadium, a baseball and multi-purpose sports stadium, was constructed at 100 Blue Jay Way in Metairie, LA, expanding the school into Jefferson Parish.[11]

After Hurricane Maria impacted Puerto Rico in 2017, Jesuit hosted students from Colegio San Ignacio in Puerto Rico.[12]

The mascot is a blue jay posed with its fists raised, designed by cartoonist Walt Kelly. A contest among students was held to name the mascot in 1954,[13] and the name "Jayson" won.

The school’s colors are blue and white, traditionally associated with the Virgin Mary in Catholic symbolism. Student athletes wear a white sweater with a blue letter "J" on it and were referred to as the "Blue Js"—hence the eventual selection of the mascot. As with many Jesuit schools, the school's motto is Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam ("For the Greater Glory of God").[citation needed]

Hurricane Katrina

Jesuit High School after Hurricane Katrina

Jesuit High School was affected by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, when it was flooded with five feet (1.5 m) of water which destroyed the ground floor and caused the school to be closed indefinitely.[citation needed] Jesuit's students and faculty returned to the campus by the end of 2005.[citation needed] On January 23, 2006, 1,285 of the 1,450 students returned to attend Jesuit for the second semester.[citation needed]

Recent leadership

Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. served as school president;[citation needed] he was succeeded by Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J.[citation needed] In November 2016, Fr. Chris Fronk, S.J. assumed office as the school's 30th president.[citation needed] In January 2020, Fr. Chris Fronk, S.J., stepped down as school president.[citation needed] Fr. John Brown, S.J. became the 31st president in 2020.[citation needed][14]

The current principal is Jeremy Reuther.[citation needed]

History of sexual abuse

There have been several instances of child sexual abuse at the school.[15] Multiple lawsuits have alleged sexual abuse by priests, employees, and administrators associated with the school, including incidents reported to have occurred on campus.[16][17][18][19] The Jesuit order confirmed that at least fourteen priests assigned to Jesuit High were credibly accused of sexual abuse.[20]

The school has paid undisclosed settlements to victims and their families, and media reports have alleged that alumni donations were used in part to fund these settlements.[21] The school has been accused of using alumni donations to cover the payments.[22] In 2019, a lawsuit accused the school's administration of knowingly hiring a convicted pedophile as head janitor in the 1980s.[23]

In 2018, Jesuit High School president Christopher Fronk said he was "horrified" by the sexual abuse at the school dating back to the "most disgusting time in our history" of the 1970s.[24]

Notable alumni

In a 1978 article in The Atlantic, James K. Glassman wrote that ‘practically every white Orleanian of note went to Jesuit,’ reflecting the school’s historical prominence among the city’s white elite.[25]

In chronological order:

Notable students (attended but did not graduate)

See also

References

External links

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