SJA Admissions Brochure 2017-2018

1991 • 1996 • 2002 • 2016

2017-2018 Faith

DEVELOPMENT

Academic

EXCELLENCE

Personal GROWTH

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE www.sjabr.org

St. Joseph’s Academy is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence founded in 1868 in Baton Rouge by the Sisters of St. Joseph. SJA is one of only nine schools in the country to receive this prestigious U.S. Department of Education Award four times (1991, 1996, 2002 and 2016).

Celebrating 149 years in 2017-2018, this premier Catholic secondary school provides an environment of excellence, where relationships are strengthened and young girls become women of faith, hope and love.

Academy students grow in Catholic faith traditions through a comprehensive religious education program, liturgical rituals and service opportunities; become life-long learners through interaction with master teachers and mentors; and enjoy peer relationships and learn leadership skills in a variety of co-curricular activities.

The mission of St. Joseph’s Academy is to educate young women as responsible and unifying members of the world community. In the spirit and charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph, St. Joseph’s Academy offers opportunities for faith development in the Catholic tradition, academic excellence and personal growth.

FAITH DEVELOPMENT Required theology curriculum at each grade level.

Morning prayer each day.

Rosary each Wednesday morning.

More than 47,550 hours of service contributed to the community last year.

Retreats held annually for student reflection, prayer and discussion.

Senior Service Day held each year.

Student Ministers assist with retreats at Catholic elementary schools.

Reconciliation services twice a year.

Serve Together exchange with SJA-Cleveland focuses on education, healthcare and criminal justice.

Campus Minister guides spiritual formation.

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Room in Mother Alice Hall for personal and communal prayer, meditation and reflection.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Honors courses are offered in English, mathematics, science, social studies and foreign languages. There are 23 Advanced Placement courses (college-level work) offered across all disciplines.

In 2016-2017, 347 students took AP courses, with more than 81% scoring a 3 or higher on their AP exams, earning college credit.

SJA has been accredited by the Louisiana State Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1932.

SJA has implemented AP Capstone, an innovative diploma program that allows students to develop critical research, collaboration and communication skills.

SJA awards the Seal of Biliteracy to students who complete a level 4 foreign language course and earn qualifying scores on the English and Reading sections of the ACT.

96.4 percent of the class of 2017 earned $25.6 million in scholarships ($17.6 million in private or institutional awards and $8 million in TOPS awards).

The average composite ACT score for 2017 was 25.8 compared to the national composite score of 21.0 and the state score of 19.4.

100% of SJA graduates attend a four-year college or university. Members of the class of 2017 were offered admission to 110 colleges and universities.

Students are recognized annually in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

PERSONAL GROWTH ATHLETIC TEAMS compete on the 5-A level. Eligibility is determined by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Student-athletes compete in basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

There are 38 CO-CURRICULAR CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES for the development of students’ interests and talents. Through membership, students grow in leadership, initiative, responsibility and cooperation.

DANCES AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES are regularly held with Catholic High School.

“BIG SIS” SENIORS HELP “LIL SIS” FRESHMEN learn Academy traditions and make the transition into high school easier. The Big Sis/Lil Sis program, which dates back to 1910, celebrates the relationship between the freshman and senior classes and creates friendships that often last a lifetime.

SJA students attend CLUB

CONVENTIONS AND MUSIC FESTIVALS each year.

There are optional CULTURAL ENRICHMENT TRIPS taken yearly to Washington, D.C., (during Thanksgiving break) and to foreign countries (during Easter break or summer).

TECHNOLOGY

In 1997, SJA became a leader in technology integration, becoming one of the first high schools in the country to implement a 1:1 learning environment. In the two decades since, SJA has continued to develop programs that impact teaching and learning. Active engagement, collaboration, frequent feedback and motivated learning support the building of 21st century skills essential to meeting challenges and being able to collaborate with others in the workforce of tomorrow.

The crown jewel of the technology program is the student-run Help Desk, thought to be the only allgirls help desk in the country. All tablet maintenance is done onsite by paid student technicians.

Technicians undergo a rigorous internship in their computer architecture or computer support class.

Because women have traditionally been underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, SJA established the Andrea Clesi McMakin ’74 STEM lab to provide cross-curricular, handson learning in a laboratory setting. Students work with a laser cutter and microcomputers and are able to bring their ideas to fruition using one of 20 3D printers.

Placing a premium on 21st century learning, SJA created a state-of-the-art Innovation and Design Lab. The lab is the link between SJA’s STEM Lab and the global community, teaching students the sixstep engineering and design methodology – Identify, Interpret, Ideate, Invent, Implement and Improve – to help them learn to creatively design solutions to real-world problems.

GENERAL

St. Joseph’s Academy is the ONLY ALL-GIRLS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL in Baton Rouge.

SJA partners with SAGE DINING SERVICES to provide healthy, madefrom-scratch meals every day. Students enjoy a wide variety of nutritious choices custom-designed for SJA. CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 1,057 students

SCHOOL HOURS: 7:25 a.m.2:48 p.m. with seven academic periods and a lunch period.

For the 2017-2018 academic year, TUITION is $10,830.

Seniors pay an additional $440 senior fee for a total of $11,270.

SJA provides TUITION ASSISTANCE to ensure an Academy education is available to all young ladies who wish to attend and have the academic ability and motivation to succeed.

A limited amount of tuition assistance is available to qualified students and their families based on financial need. Contact Jane Pardi at (225) 388-2234 or pardij@sjabr.org

The LIBRARY is open until 5:30 each afternoon.

ADMISSIONS POLICY St. Joseph’s Academy has an admissions policy that is nondiscriminatory regarding race or national origin. Special consideration is shown to Catholic families who have consistently supported Catholic education or who have a legacy at SJA. However, students of all faiths are invited to apply. Final decisions regarding admission are made by the president and principal using admissions criteria established by the SJA Board of Directors and recommendations of the Admissions Committee.

Please direct questions to Admissions Director Mandy Hoffman at hoffmanm@sjabr.org or 225.388.2243

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

MISSION

The mission of St. Joseph’s Academy is to educate young women as responsible and unifying members of the world community. In the spirit and charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph, St. Joseph’s Academy offers opportunities for FAITH DEVELOPMENT in the Catholic tradition, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE and PERSONAL GROWTH.

3015 Broussard Street Baton Rouge, LA 70808 (225) 383-7207 www.sjabr.org