The mission of Saint Joseph High School is to form young men, preparing them for life through holistic education in the Catholic traditions of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.
The 200-year tradition of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart is grounded in a holistic approach to education. We believe that students learn from their total experience of the school setting.
The most important aspect of any Catholic education is the development of Christian values and the transmission of the Catholic heritage. Our efforts to have religion spread through the school include Campus Ministry programs, modeling of Christian values, service to others, and religious activities and symbols in the school.
We advocate an orderly and disciplined environment that is respectful, consistent and fair, and based on a relationship of mutual trust and cooperation. To promote an environment characterized by Christian concern and friendly discipline, we give our personal attention to developing open and genuine relationships with our students and parents through opportunities outside of class time and in less formal settings.
We view academic excellence as the development of our students to the maximum of their potential. We establish a demanding curriculum, provide interesting lessons, and continually adapt our curriculum to help our students become the persons God created them to be.
Saint Joseph High School was founded in 1961 under the direction of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, an international religious order founded in 1821 by Father André Coindre in Lyon, France.
In 1901, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart purchased a sprawling 70 acres of land in Metuchen and Edison, New Jersey as a center for training and educating the order prior to their apostolate in Catholic education.
In the fall of 1961, Saint Joseph High School was opened, and the main school building was dedicated in the spring of 1963.
Since its inception, the mission of Saint Joseph High School is to cultivate a desire for life-long learning, nurture the integration of faith and academic inquiry, and instill values of integrity and compassion in the tradition of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. The school draws students from a wide geographic area encompassing over 40 school districts and over 80 grammar schools in Middlesex, Somerset and Union Counties, as well as Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Warren, and Monmouth.
The school admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin or creed to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded to or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin or creed in the administration of its educational, admission, and athletic policies.
Saint Joseph proudly prepares its students for the nation’s best colleges and universities through a rigorous, college-preparatory academic program.
Built to develop our student’s future goals and aspirations, our academic programs are not only guiding students to the nation’s top colleges and universities, but are also preparing them to thrive for the rest of their lives.
Saint Joseph High School’s academic program consists of nine core departments, with minimum course requirements for each subject. All of the Saint Joseph Partners in Mission are trained in S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) so that they are able to provide enriching, cross-curricular lessons to their students.
Our course-progression approach to learning fosters versatile students equipped with essential knowledge for future success.
Each department includes course levels ranging from “College Preparation” to “Honors” to “Advanced Placement.” Students are placed into a track for each of the core departments (Math, Science, English, Social Studies) prior to their 9th grade year, then are re-evaluated after each course to ensure they are in the proper track. Our handson model for course selection ensures that each student’s experience matches their future career and college goals.
• COMPUTER SCIENCE & APPLIED TECHNOLOGY
• ENGLISH
• FINE & PERFORMING ARTS
• HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• MATHEMATICS
• SCIENCE
• SOCIAL STUDIES
• THEOLOGY
• WORLD LANGUAGES
ENGLISH
HEALTH & PHYSCIAL EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES
THEOLOGY
WORLD LANGUAGES
ELECTIVES
TOTAL CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
All full year courses earn 5 credits.
All semester courses earn 2.5 credits.
All 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students must enroll in 35 credits per semester.
All 12th grade students must enroll in at least 30 credits, regardless of credits previously earned.
Scan here to browse the list of offered courses for the 2023-2024 academic year
Every year, approximately 1.5 million students are administered the PSAT/NMSQT examination, where only 50,000 of them score highly enough to be entered into the qualifications for being named either a Commended Student or a Semifinalist. Roughly two-thirds of these students are awarded with the Commended Student title. Saint Joseph High School is proud to announce that 14 members of the Class of 2023 have been named as Commended Students.
Saint Joseph High School participates in the Advanced Placement program offered by the College Board. Advanced Placement courses afford the students the opportunity to earn college credits for prescribed courses while at Saint Joseph High School.
Saint Joseph High School is proud to have our students consistently named National Merit Scholars and AP Scholars.
49 students were also acknowledged as AP Scholars in 2023, including nine AP Scholars with Honors and 27 AP Scholars with Distinction.
AP Scholars are students who receive scores of 3.0 or higher on three or more AP exams.
AP Scholars with Honors are students who recieve an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3.0 or higher on four or more AP exams.
AP Scholars with Distinction are students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and score 3.0 or higher on 5 or more AP exams.
AP SCHOLAR RESULTS
13 AP SCHOLARS
9 AP SCHOLARS WITH HONORS
27 AP SCHOLARS WITH DISTINCTION
$36,050,058 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS
14
82 RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP
26 STUDENT-ATHLETES COMPETING IN COLLEGE SPORTS
% %
TWO STUDENTS ATTENDING SERVICE ACADEMIES
$252,101 AVERAGE COMBINED TOTAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED PER STUDENT
75 RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING IN EXCESS OF THEIR 4-YEAR SAINT JOE’S TUITION
$117,285 AVERAGE CLAIMED SCHOLARSHIP
Air Force (Active Duty)
Bard College
Brookdale Community College
Brown University
Bucknell University
Cabrini University
Carnegie Mellon University
Colgate University
College of Charleston
Drew University
Drexel University
Duquesne University
Eastern Kentucky University
Elon University
Fairfield University
Felician University
Gannon University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of TechnologyMain Campus
Ithaca College
Kean University
Lehigh University
Lincoln Technical Institute-South
Plainfield
Loyola University Maryland
Manhattan College
Marist College
Marywood University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Middlesex College
Misericordia University
Monmouth University
Montclair State University
Muhlenberg College
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New York University
Northeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Main Campus
Purdue University-Main Campus
Quinnipiac University
Raritan Valley Community College
Rider University
Roanoke College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rowan University
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Rutgers University-Newark
Sacred Heart University
Saint Elizabeth University
Saint Joseph’s University
Saint Peter’s University
Salve Regina University
San Diego State University
Seton Hall University
Siena College
St. John’s University-New York
Stevens Institute of Technology
Susquehanna University
Syracuse University
Temple University
The Catholic University of America
The College of New Jersey
The University of Alabama
The University of Tampa
The University of Texas at Austin
Tufts University
United States Military Academy
United States Naval Academy
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of New Haven
University of Rhode Island
University of Richmond
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Ursinus College
West Virginia University
The Academic Acknowledgement Program recognizes students graduating with a concentration in a particular area of study while at Saint Joseph High School. Our holistic education provides a wellbalanced curriculum that prepares our students for college and beyond. However, in order to assist in our students’ exploration of future professional fields, Saint Joseph High School has created various concentrations that focus on student personal interests. Students will take courses and activities that support the field of concentration. Upon successfully completing the prescribed courses and activities, students will receive a certificate and may list it on their college application.
Concentration areas include the following:
Saint Joseph High School believes that college planning is a vital component to a student’s ability to build a bright future after high school.
Here at Saint Joe’s, college prep begins during 9th grade and becomes much more focused by 11th grade, where parents are invited into school for individual student & parent college planning and advice meetings.
The entire guidance staff is very knowledgeable in all areas related to college admissions, financial aid for college, student athlete (NCAA) information, and career and scholarship information.
All students are provided access to Naviance, a comprehensive college and career readiness platform that enables self discovery, career exploration and college preparation
Each student is encouraged to find a college/university which is the right fit for his individual goals. Using Naviance and past experiences, our counselors will help each student identify his match, safety and reach schools to give him a better sense of where he will thrive
Our counselors encourage our students to visit the colleges they are considering, so that they can get a better sense of what life would be like if they attended
College and Career Days are organized annually to help students think about what their future aspirations may be, and to give them a chance to talk to seasoned professionals in each respective field
The Saint Joseph High School Guidance Department consists of a team of counselors whose goal is to provide students with individual direction as they transition from middle school, navigate through high school, and prepare for college. Saint Joe’s is fortunate to be able to maintain a student-tocounselor caseload ratio significantly below state and national recommended guidelines.
Counselors guide and advise the same students for their entire four-year high school career, which affords counselors the opportunity to provide the personal attention and individualized planning that each student needs.
The Guidance Department provides a large menu of individual services, group activities, and educational forums, including assisting students with the adjustment to high school, decision-making strategies, time management, and improving study habits.
They provide a testing program that indicates students’ strengths and weaknesses, assess interest to guide students toward possible career opportunities, and provide practice/ preparation for college standardized testing.
Counselors also assist in the course selection process to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of needs and wants as students work toward developing their potential and goals for the future.
The Guidance Department’s college planning process includes defining interests and goals, a realistic assessment of college choices, serving as a liaison between the student and the college admissions office, and providing individualized student and parent assistance during the college research and admission process.
Meetings with counselors are scheduled multiple times with students and their parents during junior year to set expectations and assist with the college planning process.
With ready availability and a genuine connection, counselors are able to provide support and advice on best practices for emotional, personal, and social wellbeing.
The guidance counselors are available to students, parents, and other Partners in Mission in order to best assist in the total development of the young men at Saint Joseph High School.
“We believe our students thrive through individualized personal attention and guidance.”
- Mark Southern, Director of Guidance
9th Grade
• Virtus - Protecting God’s Children
• Peer Mentoring
• STREAM Enrichment
• Note-Taking, Time Management & Organizational Skills
• PSAT Introduction
• Avoiding Unintentional Plagiarism Including AI Use
• Appropriate Use of Social Media
• How to Prepare for a Midterm/Final Exam
• Goal Setting
• Diversity Seminar
10th Grade
• PSAT Prep
• Pre-ACT Prep
• STREAM Enrichment
• Career Interest Inventory
• Pre-ACT Test-Taking Strategies
• Facts About Vaping, Drugs & Alcohol
• Diversity Seminar
• Leadership Skills
• Suicide Prevention
• Presentation Skills
The Formation Program is designed to address non-traditional educational components that are vital to our students’ development. On selected school days throughout the academic year, students participate in our Formation workshops designed to offer gradespecific enrichment to our students that goes above and beyond the standard high school curriculum.
Saint Joseph High School’s Formation program is designed to encapsulate the unique holistic education approach that is central to the foundation of all Brothers of the Sacred Heart schools. Our program focuses on workshops that prepare our students for various challenges within an ever-changing society, while also providing them with the tools to succeed in the competitive college process and for life.
11th Grade
• College Selection & Application Process
• STREAM Enrichment
• SAT Prep
• ACT Prep
• Diversity Seminar
• Leadership Seminar
• Peer Mentor Training
• Consent 101
• Writing College Essays
• Applying to College
• What to Expect in College
• Financial Literacy
• STREAM Enrichment
• Emergency Preparedness “Until Help Arrives”
• Knowing Your Rights On A College Campus
• Diversity Seminar
• Civic Responsibility
The primary goal of our Theology and Campus Ministry programs is to enable students to integrate their faith with their daily living. Through classroom and service activities, the students are taught in the light of faith, and emphasis is placed on applying religious values in students’ lives.
The religious life of the school and the spiritual development of students are the responsibility of all members of the school community. We consider the leadership of the Theology Department and the Campus Ministry team to be vital in the expression of the religious mission of the school. Campus Ministry Partners in Mission (faculty and staff) and Theology Department members serve as role models and resources to other Partners in Mission so that the mission of the school may be better accomplished.
Christian values are inherent in all disciplines. Through the articulation of these values and through efforts to discover the mystery of God’s self-revelation in all branches of learning, the teacher brings a Christian perspective to the classroom. We believe that classroom prayer is a means of making students more conscious of the presence of God in creation, in daily events, in others, and in the learning process.
We base our Campus Ministry program on the belief that each person has unique gifts from God to use in building a school faith community which is firmly rooted in Catholic spirituality and tradition. In Campus Ministry, we aim to complement parents or guardians in their primary role as religious educators, to support the parish as a center of Catholic life, and to extend the religion lessons of the classroom to lived faith experiences. In our Campus Ministry program, we recognize the many gifts of the Spirit within our students and Partners in Mission, and we call forth those gifts for service and ministry to the school community and to the Church.
Academic Clubs
Astronomy Club
Computer Club
Debate Club
Entrepreneurship Club
German Club
Investment Club
Academic Teams
Chess Team College Bowl
ESports
Latin Club
Mock Trial
Medical Club
Physics Club
Saint Christopher Club (Travelers Club)
Spanish Club
Math League Model UN/Youth & Government
Robotics*
Science League
Athletic Clubs
Falcon Flock Club
Fishing Intramurals
Fine & Performing Arts
Band
Music Ministry
Guitar Club
Theatre Company*
Honor Societies
National Honor Society
Art National Honor Society
German National Honor Society
International Thespian Society
Latin National Honor Society
Media/Publications
Creative Writing Club
Digital Media
Falcon Film Club
Literary Magazine: Vignette
Service/Spiritual
Campus Ministry
Falcons and Friends
Falcons for Safety
Formation
JusticeworX
Music Honor Society
National Technical Honor Society
Social Studies National Honor Society
Science National Honor Society
Spanish National Honor Society
Newspaper: The Falcon
SJ Broadcasting
Video Game Club
Yearbook: Evergreen*
Leo Club
Respect Life Club
Social Justice Club Student Council
* Denotes co-curricular course offered for high school credit , Clubs highlighted in gold denotes co-ed activities. This is not an all-inclusive list of extracurricular activities offered at Saint Joe’s.
CROSS COUNTRY
2x State Champions
19x County Champions
Coach Gary Wiesinger
Coach Wiesinger was a distance runner at Marist College. Michael Alvarez
‘23 currently runs for the U.S. Military Academy.
SOCCER
7x County Champions
7x State Champions
Coach Sam Roca
Coach Roca played Division I soccer at the University of South Carolina and High Point University. He then played professional and semi-professional soccer in the U.S., Canada and Sweden.
FOOTBALL
3x Division Champions
Coach Bill Tracy
In his second season at Saint Joe’s, Coach Tracy is a member of the NJ Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
2019 Duo Placed 10th in the Nation
Coach Tom Langowski ‘03
Coach Langowski ‘03 rowed at Manhattan College before launching the Saint Joe’s Crew Team in 2011.
2014 Tournament of Champions
6x State Champions
12x County Champions
Coach Jan Cocozziello
Coach Cocozziello played collegiate basketball at Hartwick College. The Falcons advanced to the 2023 NJSIAA Non-Public A, South title game.
22x State Champions
42x County Champions
Coach Chris Martin
Coach Martin swam collegiately at Rowan University. He takes the reigns of a program with the strongest winning tradition at Saint Joe’s, with XX county titles over the past 60 years.
Defending NJSIAA State Champions
5x County Champions
Coach Rusty Thomsen
Coach Thomsen has four professional bowling titles. The Falcons are the defending NJSIAA Group 1 champions.
TRACK
8x State Champions
46x County Champions
Coach Kelly Fisher
Coach Fisher was a semi-professional and professional track runner.
8x State Champions
10x County Champions
Coach Ryan Carter ‘91
Coach Carter ‘91 played collegiate hockey at Norwich University.
Former Falcon Marc Johnstone ‘15 signed an NHL contract in 2023.
3x District Champions
Two State Medalists
Coach Mike Carbone
Coach Mike Carbone was a college athlete at West Chester University. Giovanni Alejandro ‘23 was a state runner-up in 2023.
BASEBALL
3x State Champions
8x County Champions
Coach Mike Murray
Coach Murray played Division I baseball at Wake Forest and professional baseball with the SF Giants organization. Adam Boucher ‘20 was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023.
1x State Champions
Coach Charles Neri ‘11
Coach Neri who was a college athlete at Rutgers University and The College of New Jersey.
GOLF
2x State Champions
9x County Champions
Coach Ryan Lechner
Coach Lechner played collegiate golf at Gannon University.
8x State Champions
46x County Champions
Coach Kelly Fisher
Coach Fisher was a semi-professional and professional track runner.
LACROSSE
1x State Champions
10x County Champions
Coach Tony Calandra
An NJ Hall of Fame coach, Calandra is currently fifth in alltime wins among active lacrosse coaches.
4x State Champions
6x County Champions
Coach Miguel Cabrita ‘91
Coach Cabrita played and coached at Rutgers University. The Falcons are the defending NJSIAA Group 2 State Champions.
2019 Duo Placed 10th in the Nation
Coach Tom Langowski ‘03
Coach Langowski ‘03 rowed at Manhattan College before launching the Saint Joe’s Crew Team in 2011.
Questions should be directed to your local Board of Education, Transportation Department. Parents are notified by lateAugust concerning the availability, time, and place of transportation.
1. Specifications for non-public school students in New Jersey (State Law): Students enrolled in non-public schools in New Jersey shall receive transportation to and from the non-public school district in which they reside subject to the following conditions:
A. The district in which the student resides must be one which provides bus transportation for regular school students. Regular public school students do not include those students receiving transportation to vocational schools or special education classes.
B. Secondary school students must reside more that 2.5 miles from the school that they attend and not more than 20 miles from the school.
C. The annual aid in lieu of transportation for students shall not exceed $1,000. (The State of New Jersey determines the exact amount.
2. In light of the law, busing districts may opt to: A. Provide a bus, or B. Offer aid in lieu of transportation in the amount not to exceed the state limit of $1,000
Saint Joseph is serviced by NJ Transit’s Northeast Corridor line in and out of Metuchen Train Station. Saint Joe’s may provide free shuttle service to and from the Metuchen Train Station.
Since 1821, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart have lived our founder, Father Andre Coindre’s, vision which was to educate and lead young people to faith.
Today, all of the teams employed by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart schools, religious, lay faculty, and support staff are called Partners in Mission, as they work to embody in their educational service to young people the substance of Father Coindre’s original charism.
Our Partners in Mission are comprised of highly educated and talented individuals who truly care about the success and well-being of the Saint Joseph students.
Among our ranks, more than 75% of our educators have at least one Masters Degree or higher and 4% have a Doctorate Degree including one medical doctor and two lawyers.
Three of our Partners in Mission have been accepted as Advanced Placement (AP) Readers to grade the national AP exams each year. Additionally, one serves as a member of the AP Leadership as a Table Leader.
On average, Saint Joseph teachers have 20 years of experience in the field -- while 34% have over 25 years of teaching experience.
All of our teachers are trained in S.T.R.E.A.M. so that they are able to provide enriching and cross-sectional lessons to their students.
In recent years, there has been a growing demand from families who wish to give their son an additional year of academic and developmental preparation before entering high school.
Saint Joseph High School’s Falcon Bridge Program offers students an opportunity to undergo additional preparation, ensuring a smooth and successful transition into high school. With its tailored curriculum and extracurricular opportunities, Saint Joe’s aims to provide students with a comprehensive and supportive environment during their bridge year.
English: Semester 1- Research & Writing Semester 2 - Presentation & Public Speaking
Mathematics: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II or PreCalculus
Science: Environmental Science
Social Studies: Global Issues
World Language: German I, Latin I or Spanish I
Note: Students will have the opportunity to complete levels II, III, IV and Advanced Placement in their high school years
Theology: Introduction to Theology
Electives: Exploring Computer Science, Digital Media, or Physical Education
Students will complete placement exams to confirm course selections
Reclassifying a student provides them with an extra year to mature and develop both mentally and physically, enabling them to build a stronger foundation before embarking on their high school journey.
The Falcon Bridge Program provides students with a tailored curriculum that reinforces and expands upon skills acquired during 8th grade across various subjects to ensure a successful transition to high school. Courses specific to the program include a reading/ writing intensive English course and an introduction to Theology. Students will be blended with the rest of the Saint Joe’s student body for Science, Mathematics, History and Physical Education courses, based on previous course history.
While enrolled in the Falcon Bridge Program, students will have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, although they will not be eligible for high schoollevel academic competitions or athletic teams.
To obtain further information about the Falcon Bridge Program and to learn how to apply, interested individuals are encouraged to contact Mr. Miguel Cabrita, the Director of Admissions, either by phone at (732) 549-7600 x223 or via email at mcabrita@stjoes.org.
TUITION
$9,000
(This includes a non-refundable deposit of $1,000 applied to tuition)
ACTIVITY/TECHNOLOGY FEE $900/$500
*Estimates only. Actual amounts vary per year and per student.
Available at www.stjoes.org, select Admissions, then Application for Admission
The Early Action Program is open to current 7th grade students and will offer prospective students the opportunity to attend an Entrance Exam Preparation Course during the summer before the start of their 8th grade year. At the conclusion of the course, they will be administered the Saint Joseph High School Entrance Exam. Academic Scholarships are available through the Early Action Program.
The Freshman For a Day Program allows 7th and 8th grade students to experience a day in the life of a freshman at Saint Joseph High School. We offer this opportunity beginning in the Fall for students in 8th grade and in the Spring for students in 7th grade. To register, please visit www.stjoes.org, select Admissions, then Freshman For a Day.
Open House on October 16 affords prospective students and parents the opportunity to tour Saint Joseph and experience everything we have to offer!
All applicants are required to participate in a formal interview conducted by a Saint Joseph High School Partner in Mission. Interviews are scheduled through the Admissions Office. Students who participate in the Freshman for a Day Program will have the opportunity to interview at the conclusion of their Freshman for a Day experience.
Students applying to Saint Joseph High School must submit a resume, which includes what courses the student is taking, extra curriculars, athletics, community service, leadership experience, and awards. This helps our team get to know the whole student during their Admissions process. To fill out your resume, please visit www.stjoes.org, select Admissions, then Applicant Resume.
The Saint Joseph Extrance Exam Prep Course prepares prospective students to take the Saint Joseph Entrance Exam. The course is held at Saint Joseph in the Fall. The course includes ten hours of class instruction, social time with current and prospective students, and supplemental test prep materials. For more information, visit www.stjoes.org, select Admissions, then select Prep Course.
Students interested in applying to Saint Joseph for 9th grade admission must complete the Saint Joseph Entrance Exam. Saint Joe’s is an independent school and administers its own Entrance Exam. Exam results from other schools will not be accepted. To register to sit for the Entrance Exam please visit www.stjoes.org, select Admissions, then select Entrance Exam.
2023-2024
TUITION
$17,384
REGISTRATION (one-time, non-refundable fee) $550
TUITION DEPOSIT (non-refundable, applied to tuition) $1,000
ACTIVITY/TECHNOLOGY FEE $1,400
*Estimates only. Actual amounts vary per year and per student.
Tuition may be paid annually, semi-annually, quarterly, or on a 12-month plan through FACTS Management.
Applications for Need-Based Financial Assistance may be made through FACTS. If interested, visit www.stjoes.org, select Admissions, then select Freshman Tuition, and finally, select Financial Assistance.
Academic Scholarships are awarded to the top scoring applicants on the Saint Joseph Entrance Exam.