SJA Admissions Brochure 2019-2020

2019-2020 FA I T H DE V E LO PMEN T AC A DE MI C E XC EL L EN CE PE RS O NA L GROWTH

1991 • 1996 • 2002 • 2016

www.sjabr.org

For 151 years, St. Joseph’s Academy has stood as a pillar of excellence in the Baton Rouge community.

Founded in 1868 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, this premier Catholic high school for young women is a place 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 lifelong learners through interaction with master teachers and mentors; and enjoy peer relationships and learn leadership skills in a variety of cu-curricular activities.

Our 10,218 graduates are leaders in business, industry, academia, government, their churches and communities. They’re advocates, volunteers, wives, mothers and grandmothers. They serve the dear neighbor, always as women for others.

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 Mass celebrated regularly, including holy days and feast days.

In 2018-2019, our students completed 57,785 hours of service.

Opportunities for spiritual growth in religious-based clubs, including Student Ministry for juniors and seniors, Liturgy Committee, Liturgy Choir and Respect Life Club.

Opportunities for serivce immersion trips every summer both in the United States and abroad.

Chapel located on campus.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Honors courses are offered in English, mathematics, science, social studies and foreign languages. There are 25 Advanced Placement courses (college-level work) offered across all disciplines. Of the 385 SJA students who took AP tests in 2019, 310 students (or 81 percent) scored at least a 3 or higher on one of the tests taken, thus 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.

94.6 percent of the class of 2019 earned $26.2 million in scholarships.

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. The average composite ACT score for the class of 2018 (latest data available) was 25.6 compared to the national composite score of 20.8 and the state composite score of 19.2.

100% of SJA graduates attend a four-year college or university.

Members of the class of 2019 were offered admission to 114 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.

“BIG SIS” SENIORS HELP “LIL SIS” FRESHMEN

DANCES AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES are regularly held

with Catholic High School.

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 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 all-girls 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, hands-on learning in a laboratory setting. Students work with a laser cutter and micro-computers and are able to bring their ideas to fruition using one of 20 3D printers.

Placing a premium on innovative classroom environments, 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 six-step engineering and design methodology – Identify, Interpret, Ideate, Invent, Implement and Improve – to help them learn to creatively design solutions to real-world problems.

GENERAL SJA partners with SAGE DINING SERVICES to provide healthy, madefrom-scratch meals every day.

CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 1,102

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

Research affirms that adolescent girls perform better academically, have greater educational aspirations and hold more favorable attitudes toward academic study in an ALL GIRLS ENVIRONMENT. Graduates of all-girls schools are at a competitive advantage when entering college.

The LIBRARY is open until 5:30 each afternoon.

For the 2019-2020 academic year, TUITION IS $11,455. Seniors pay an additional $440 senior fee for a total of $11,895

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.

We offer two merit-based awards to deserving students. The JOSEPHINE BAHLINGER AWARD, named in honor of SJA’s first graduate in 1877, provides $4,000 toward the ninth-grade tuition of five incoming freshmen on the basis of outstanding academic performance, standardized test scores in the 90th percentile, service, exemplary conduct and active participation in co-curricular activities. The 1868 AWARD, named to commemorate the year of our founding by the Sisters of St. Joseph, provides $1,868 toward the ninth-grade tuition of 10 incoming freshmen with demonstrated achievement in an area or activity of particular interest to them.

Visit sjaawards.org for more information and to apply.

ADMISSIONS POLICY St. Joseph’s Academy is a Catholic, all-girls, college-preparatory high school. SJA has an admissions policy that is nondiscriminatory regarding race or national origin. Students of all faiths, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds who have the academic ability and motivation to succeed are invited to apply. Special consideration is shown to Catholic families who have consistently supported Catholic education or who have a legacy at SJA. Final decisions regarding admission are made by the President and Principal with recommendations of the Admissions Committee and support of the SJA Board of Directors.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA Overall middle school (grades 6-8) record Standardized test scores Personal interview with applicant and her parents

Space availability at SJA Recommendation of elementary school principal (for students attending Catholic elementary schools) Completed online application

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.

MISSION

Please direct questions to the Admissions Team of Meredith Smith and Leighann King at admissions@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2243.

A P I L L A R O F E XC E L L E N C E F O R 151 Y E A R S

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