Jesuit High School (New Orleans)

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 / 29.973056°N 90.103472°W / 29.973056; -90.103472
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 (1847) (as the College of the Immaculate Conception)
1911 (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

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).

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. Further renovations were made to the school after Hurricane Katrina.

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").

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. Jesuit's students and faculty returned to the campus by the end of 2005. On January 23, 2006, 1,285 of the 1,450 students returned to attend Jesuit for the second semester.

Recent leadership

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

The current principal is Jeremy Reuther.

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

  1. ^ "School Profile".
  2. ^ SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  3. ^ "About". Jesuit High School of New Orleans. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  4. ^ Patterson, KD (1992). "Yellow fever epidemics and mortality in the United States, 1693–1905". Social Science & Medicine. 34 (8): 855–865. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(92)90255-O. PMID 1604377.
  5. ^ "The History of the Jesuits in New Orleans".
  6. ^ Immaculate Conception Church, New Orleans, LA. Neworleanschurches.com. Retrieved on 2011-05-28.
  7. ^ "Immaculate Conception Church Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  8. ^ "The Story of Loyola University New Orleans | 2012 Bulletin | Loyola University New Orleans". 2012bulletin.loyno.edu. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  9. ^ "College of the Immaculate Conception, New Orleans, Louisiana". Family Search. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  10. ^ a b c "History". Jesuit High School of New Orleans. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  11. ^ "John Ryan Stadium". Jesuit High School of New Orleans. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  12. ^ Krieger, Rob. "Puerto Rican baseball players find home away from home at Jesuit". Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  13. ^ "The Origin of Jayson". 2012.
  14. ^ "Jesuit High School Faculty Directory". jesuitnola.org. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  15. ^ Vargas, Ramon Antonio (February 6, 2020). "Jesuit High, plaintiffs reach settlements in 2 lawsuits claiming long-ago molestation by janitors". NOLA.com.
  16. ^ writer, RAMON ANTONIO VARGAS | Staff (September 29, 2019). "Ex-deacon and Jesuit, Shaw high schools targeted by lawsuits alleging clergy abuse". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  17. ^ Another alleged victim accuses Jesuit High School janitor of rape. August 6, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2025 – via www.fox8live.com.
  18. ^ "Former Jesuit High administrator accused of sexually harassing teacher; lawsuit claims school protected him". wwltv.com. January 27, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  19. ^ [email protected], RAMON ANTONIO VARGAS | (April 8, 2019). "Washington man makes previously undisclosed claims of Jesuit High abuse in 1960s". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  20. ^ "14 priests and brothers who served at Jesuit High School in New Orleans on list of sexual abusers". WGNO. December 7, 2018.
  21. ^ Vargas, Ramon Antonio (November 13, 2019). "New molestation suit accuses Jesuit of using parent, alumni donations to pay abuse settlements". NOLA.com.
  22. ^ Team, WDSU Digital (November 13, 2019). "Lawsuit claims Jesuit used alumni donations for sexual abuse settlements". WDSU. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  23. ^ writer, RAMON ANTONIO VARGAS | Staff (August 5, 2019). "Disgraced Jesuit High janitor, hired despite molestation conviction, named in new 1980s abuse claim". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  24. ^ Vargas, Ramon Antonio (September 20, 2018). "'Disgusting time in our history': Jesuit leader horrified by 1970s abuse claims, urges vigilance". The Advocate.
  25. ^ a b c Glassman, James K. (July 1978). "New Orleans: I Have Seen the Future, and It's Houston". The Atlantic. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  26. ^ "Lot Detail – 1946 Tookie Gilbert Jesuit High School New Orleans "The Sporting News Collection Archives" Original 8" x 10" Photo (Sporting News Collection Hologram/MEARS Photo LOA)". sports.mearsonlineauctions.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Famous Jesuit High School Alumni". Ranker. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  28. ^ Donnes, Brittany (January 26, 2024). "Twitch CEO Dan Clancy '81 Inspires Blue Jays at Career Day". Jesuit High School of New Orleans. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  29. ^ Porter, David L. (1995). Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: 1992–1995 supplement for baseball, football, basketball, and other sports. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 50. ISBN 9780313284311.
  30. ^ HARRY (February 22, 2017), Harry Goes Home: Jesuit High School in New Orleans, retrieved December 31, 2017
  31. ^ "Smith and Hernandez". The Mercury. November 24, 1991. p. B8.
  32. ^ "Kyle Keller Bio". lionsports.net. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  33. ^ "Tanner Lee, Jesuit, Pro-Style Quarterback". 247Sports. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  34. ^ Dabe, Christopher (April 28, 2018). "Former Tulane quarterback Tanner Lee goes to Jaguars in 6th round". The Times-Picayune.
  35. ^ Boulard, Garry (2002). Louis Prima. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0252070907.
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