MISSION & PHILOSOPHY
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.
200 YEARS OF EDUCATION
OUR HISTORY
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 71 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, Union, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Warren, and Monmouth counties.
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.
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
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.
EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS
Academic Departments
• COMPUTER SCIENCE & APPLIED TECHNOLOGY
• ENGLISH
• FINE & PERFORMING ARTS
• HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• MATHEMATICS
• SCIENCE
• SOCIAL STUDIES
• THEOLOGY
• WORLD LANGUAGES
CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
ENGLISH
HEALTH & PHYSCIAL EDUCATION (Included Driver’s Ed.)
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 year.
All 12th grade students must enroll in at least 30 credits, regardless of credits previously earned.
NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS
1 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALIST, 8 COMMENDED
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 1 member of the Class of 2024 has been named a National Merit Finalist, and eight members of the class were named Commended Students.
AP SCHOLARS
59 TOTAL AP SCHOLARS
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.
59 students were also acknowledged as AP Scholars in 2024, including 14 AP Scholars with Honors and 23 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.
In May 2024, Saint Joe’s students sat for 308 AP exams, with 58% earning a 4 or better.
AP SCHOLAR RESULTS
23 AP SCHOLARS
14 AP SCHOLARS WITH HONORS
22 AP SCHOLARS WITH DISTINCTION
CLASS OF 2024 PROFILE
80 RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP
11 STUDENT-ATHLETES COMPETING IN COLLEGE SPORTS
$30,572,740 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS
8
ONE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR FINALIST
RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING IN EXCESS OF THEIR 4-YEAR SAINT JOE’S TUITION % %
75
$321,818 AVERAGE COMBINED TOTAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED PER STUDENT
$92,134 AVERAGE CLAIMED SCHOLARSHIP
2020-2024 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES
“Saint Joseph High School has been my launchpad, propelling me academically and athletically towards college readiness while molding me into a resilient, confident, and personable young man. I am eternally grateful for this transformative journey.”
Andrew Azzinaro ‘24 University of Kentucky
“When you step through the doors of Saint Joe’s, every young man is given the opportunity to take steps forward and walk the path of success. Along that journey you enter a brotherhood that will last forever!”
Elias Scott ‘24 Bates College Collegiate Football
Academic Acknowledgement Program: Concentrations
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 well-balanced 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 participate in activities that support the field of concentration. Upon successfully completing the prescribed courses and activities, students will earn a certificate in that concentration that may be added to their college application.
COLLEGE PLANNING
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. That year 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 their future might look like
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
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
BUILDING A BRIGHT FUTURE
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.
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
• STREAM Enrichment
• Career Interest Inventory
• Pre-ACT Test-Taking Strategies
• Facts About Vaping, Drugs & Alcohol
• Diversity Seminar
• Leadership Skills
• Suicide Prevention
• Presentation Skills
Building Tomorrow’s Men
Formation
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
12th Grade
• 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
Building a Foundation of Faith
Integration of Faith and Life
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.
Spiritual Formation
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.
Values in the Curriculum
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.
Campus Ministry Program
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.
Excellence in Leadership
Gospel of John Club
Falcon Robotics Music Honor Society
Academic Clubs
Astronomy Club
Computer Club
Debate Club
Entrepreneurship Club
German Club
Investment Club
Academic Teams
Chess Team
College Bowl
Esports Math League
Latin Club Mock Trial
Medical Club Physics Club
Saint Christopher Club (Travelers Club)
Spanish Club
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
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*
Gospel of John Club SJ Outreach Respect Life Club
Social Justice Club Student Council
Saint Joseph Theatre Company
Model UN/Youth & Government
SJ Outreach Service Trips
THE SAINT JOSEPH FALCONS
Learn more about Athletics at Saint Joe’s
FALL WINTER
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 third season at Saint Joe’s, Coach Tracy is a member of the NJ Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
ROWING
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.
BASKETBALL
2014 Tournament of Champions 6x State Champions 12x County Champions
Coach Karl Towns, Sr. P’14
Coach Towns returns to Saint Joe’s where his son KarlAnthony ‘14 developed into a national star. The Falcons are the defending GMC Red Division champions.
SWIMMING
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 42 county titles over the past 60 years.
BOWLING
2x Defending NJSIAA State Champions
6x County Champions
Coach Rusty Thomsen
After winning the team’s second straight state title, the Falcons finished ninth at the U.S. National Championship. Kai Strothers ‘26 was the overall national champion.
TRACK & FIELD
8x State Champions
46x County Champions
Coach Dimitri Hirschman ‘23
Coach Hirschman is a former varsity track runner for Saint Joe’s and currently attends Seton Hall University.
HOCKEY
8x State Champions
10x County Champions
Coach Ryan Carter ‘91
Coach Carter ‘91 played collegiate hockey at Norwich University.
Falcon graduate Marc Johnstone ‘15 signed an NHL contract in 2023.
WRESTLING
4x District Champions
Two State Medalists
Coach Mike Carbone
Coach Mike Carbone was a college athlete at West Chester University.
BASEBALL
3x State Champions 8x County Champions
Coach Mike Murray
Coach Murray played baseball at Wake Forest and professional baseball with the SF Giants organization. Donovan Zsak ‘22 was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the 2024 MLB draft.
TENNIS
1x State Champions
Coach Charles Neri ‘11
Coach Neri who was a college athlete at Rutgers University and The College of New Jersey.
EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
SPRING
GOLF
2x State Champions
9x County Champions
Coach Ryan Lechner
LACROSSE
1x State Champions
11x County Champions
Coach Tony Calandra
Coach Lechner played collegiate golf at Gannon University. Nick Campanella ‘24 signed on to play collegiate golf at Saint Peter’s University. The Falcons dominate the Greater Middlesex Conference, winning the team’s first GMC title in 9 years. Nick Hengerer ‘25 was named a USA Lacrosse All-American.
TRACK & FIELD
8x State Champions
46x County Champions
Coach Dimitri Hirschman ‘23
Coach Hirschman is a former varsity track runner for Saint Joe’s and currently attends Seton Hall University.
VOLLEYBALL
5x State Champions
6x County Champions
Coach Miguel Cabrita ‘91
Coach Cabrita played and coached at Rutgers University. The Falcons are the 2x defending NJSIAA Group 2 State Champions.
ROWING
2019 Duo Placed 10th in the Nation
2023 4x Placed No. 20 in the Nation
Coach Tom Langowski ‘03
Coach Langowski ‘03 rowed at Manhattan College before launching the Saint Joe’s Crew Team in 2011.
Transportation
With over 600 students traveling to our Metuchen campus from two states, including eight counties in NJ, we offer several transportation options. More information on Transportation options may be found on our website, using this QR code:
Parent Directory/CarPool
DID YOU KNOW?
98% of Saint Joe’s families carpool or self-transport to school every day.
During the 2023-2024 school year, 98 percent of our families relied on self-transportation or a regionalized carpool. A Parent Directory is shared with all families, and our Transportation Coordinator is available to help facilitate shared rides to and from campus.
Train Information
Saint Joseph High School is located less than one mile from the Metuchen Train Station, which is serviced by NJ Transit’s Northeast Corridor line. Stops on the Northeast Corridor Line include Trenton, Hamilton, Princeton, Princeton Junction, MetroPark, Rahway, Linden, Elizabeth and Newark.
Busing Information
Questions regarding busing to Saint Joe’s should be directed to your local Board of Education’s Transportation Department. If your district provides busing to regular school students, they may opt to: a) Provide a bus to Saint Joe’s, or b) Offer aid in lieu of transportation in the amount not to exceed the state limit of $1,165.
PARTNERS IN MISSION
Since 1821, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart have lived our founder, Father André Coindre’s, vision which was to educate and lead young people to faith.
Today, faculty and staff of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart schools 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 70% 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 18 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.
Early Action Program
90% of Early Action students are offered admission to Saint Joe’s.
The Early Action program will offer current 7th graders the opportunity to attend an entrance exam preparation course during the summer of 2025, and at the conclusion of the course, they will be administered the Saint Joseph High School Entrance Exam.
More information on our Early Action program may be found on our website, using this QR code:
BRIDGE TUITION
$9,000
(This includes a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 applied to tuition)
ACTIVITY & TECHNOLOGY FEE
$900/$500
*Estimates only. Actual amounts vary per year and per student.
Falcon Bridge Program
Saint Joseph High School’s Falcon Bridge Program offers students an opportunity to undergo an additional year of preparation, ensuring a smooth and successful transition into high school.
An extra year of growth and development
Integration into the Saint Joseph Community
Hand tailored curriculum that develops and expands skills
LEARN MORE about the Falcon Bridge Program by scanning the QR code to visit us online:
THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
ONLINE APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
Available at www.stjoes.org, select Admissions, then Application for Admission
EARLY ACTION PROGRAM
Learn more about Admissions at Saint Joe’s
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. Acceptance decisions are made in September.
FRESHMAN FOR A DAY PROGRAM
The Freshman For a Day Program allows 7th and 8th graders 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
Open House on October 20 affords prospective students and parents the opportunity to tour Saint Joseph and experience everything we have to offer!
STUDENT INTERVIEW
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.
APPLICANT RESUME
Students applying to Saint Joseph High School may submit an Applicant 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 and provides information to our Scholarship Committee when reviewing prospective students for awards. To fill out your resume, please visit www. stjoes.org, select Admissions, then Applicant Resume.
ENTRANCE EXAM PREP COURSE
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.
SCHOLARSHIP & ENTRANCE EXAM
Students interested in applying to Saint Joseph for 9th grade admission and scholarships 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
TUITION & OTHER FEES
2024-2025
TUITION
$18,079.00
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 PAYMENTS
Tuition may be paid annually, semi-annually, quarterly, or on a 12-month plan through FACTS Management.
NEED-BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
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
Academic Scholarships are awarded to the top scoring applicants on the Saint Joseph Entrance Exam.