Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to be Catholic to be accepted into Jesuit?
Jesuit High School welcomes students of all faiths. However, as a Catholic school under the direction of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), Jesuit requires all its students to study theology and to participate in various religious activities, such as student Masses and retreats.
About 25% of Jesuit’s student body is not Catholic. The school does not proselytize, but encourages each student to grow in his own religion and personal faith.
Does Jesuit offer a “shadowing” program or individual campus tours?
No. Prospective students and their families have an opportunity to tour the campus during Jesuit’s annual Open House in late November. This year’s Open House will be held November 15, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
Does Jesuit accept transfers from other schools?
Normally Jesuit High School accepts qualified students only into the freshman year. Each year, as space permits, the applications of a select number of sophomore transfers are considered. In general, junior and senior transfers are not accepted. However, individual decisions are made for all applicants, with special preference given to students transferring from another Jesuit high school.
What does the HSPT measure?
The High School Placement Test (HSPT) measures cognitive and basic skills, and includes five sections: verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading comprehension and vocabulary, mathematics and language.
Can students take the entrance exam twice and be evaluated based on the best score?
No. Each applicant may take the entrance exam only once. The same is true for the placement tests offered in May.
Do the sons, grandsons and relatives of alumni have an “edge” on the competition for acceptance?
Relationships to Jesuit alumni do not influence the acceptance philosophy if the applicant does not meet the basic criteria for admission.
All applicants must do well on the entrance exam to be accepted to the school. Because Jesuit only accepts sophomores on a limited basis, and does not accept students in the upper grades, it is crucial that candidates for admission are also evaluated based on their individual potential to be successful throughout the entire four years of Jesuit’s high school program.
Does Jesuit provide a discount for multiple sons enrolled at the school?
No. Because Jesuit operates on a lean budget and tuition structure, the school is unable to provide discounts when a family has more than one son enrolled. However, we do recommend that you apply for financial aid.
Does my family income level affect my eligibility for acceptance?
Students are accepted based on their academic qualifications and not their ability to pay tuition. Since it opened its doors in 1899, Jesuit has never denied acceptance to an academically qualified student who is from a genuinely disadvantaged or low-income family.
Jesuit’s mission of forming “men engaged in the world who are dedicated to serving God by being open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, caring, and just” is not intended only for those who can afford it. This policy is made possible by Jesuit’s Financial Aid Endowment program, which enables the school to remain economically and socially diverse. This diversity enriches the overall Jesuit educational experience for every young man who attends the school.
How are financial aid decisions made?
The qualifications for financial aid are established by a third party processing company that is approved by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). An impartial school sub-committee evaluates the applications and determines the distribution of aid on an individual basis based on the findings of the independent processing company. The amount of financial aid varies according to need.
All families are welcome to apply for aid. However, Jesuit’s financial aid program is designed to provide tuition relief for disadvantaged or lower income families, which is why assistance is granted on need-based circumstances.
When will we be notified whether we qualify for financial aid?
Financial aid award notification is generally sent out in May.
If a student who has been accepted and enrolled opts to leave the school, can he re-enroll at another time if he changes his mind?
No. Any student who voluntarily withdraws from the school or is asked to withdraw for whatever reason (academic, disciplinary, or personal) will not be allowed to reapply for admission, nor can he receive a Jesuit diploma.