Jesuit High School (Carmichael)

Jesuit High School of Sacramento, California, USA (founded 1963) is a Catholic high school run by the Society of Jesus. The school enrolls about 1,000 young men from all over the greater Sacramento Valley. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento.

About JHS

Jesuit High School is a four-year college preparatory conducted by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Enrollment is at capacity and includes a senior class of 268. Admission is selective: approximately 40% of the applicant pool is admitted each year. Traditionally, 98-100% of Jesuit's graduates go immediately to college, 90-95% to four-year institutions, and approximately 50% to private colleges and universities.

Jesuit High School of Sacramento is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA). The current term of WASC accreditation is six years, through 2008. Jesuit is a member of the College Board, the Jesuit Secondary Education Association (49 high schools in the United States) and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

The school’s campus straddles the dividing line between the city of Sacramento, CA and the suburban district known as Carmichael, CA. It draws students from more than 70 local elementary and junior high schools. 25% of the student body commute a distance greater than 20 miles. Nearly 200 students receive tuition assistance and participate in a work- study program.

The Board of Trustees of Jesuit High School sets the tuition and fees schedule during their spring meeting each year. For the 2007-2008 school year, expenses broke down into the following categories:

• Tuition: $10,390
• Student Body Fee: $500
• Registration Fee: $25 (one time registration for freshmen and transfer students)
• Books/Supplies: $300 - $500

History

A Jesuit High School for the Sacramento area had been initially envisioned by the late Bishop Robert Armstrong. It was his successor, Bishop Joseph McGucken who invited the Jesuits of the California Province to begin the project. In January of 1961, the Society of Jesus purchased twenty-one acres of the Horst Ranch property which was to be used for the new school campus.

In May of 1962, a fund raising effort was spearheaded by Mr. Elwood Maleville, Mr. Jack Maleville, and other Catholic lay people. The well known architect Harry Devine began work on the plans for the first phase of the 2.5 million dollar plant. The contracting firm of Harbison and Mahoney undertook the construction of the buildings, having a fall 1963 target date for completion.

On September 17, 1963, Jesuit High School opened its doors to 93 freshmen students. The faculty consisted of six Jesuit priests and one lay person. Fr. Jack Geiszel, S.J. was appointed Principal, and Fr. Joseph Keane, S.J., was named first Superior and President. The school was dedicated by Bishop Alden Bell to the Jesuit North American Martyrs.

In September of 1964 twenty-one acres, known as the Haggin Bottomland, were acquired for athletic facilities. The faculty residence was enlarged in 1966, and two years later the gymnasium-little theater complex was completed.

In 1973-74, Jesuit High School was threatened with closure due to financial and manpower difficulties. An "Ad Hoc Committee to Save Jesuit High School" was formed to work out the serious problems facing the school. A Board of Trustees, under the leadership of the late Mr. James Carr, the head of the Ad Hoc Committee, was established and assumed the financial and policy-making responsibilities for the school. The Jesuit Order retained its role as administrators of the school.

The Board of Trustees, which is composed of five Jesuits and eighteen men and women, is dedicated to maintaining the high standards of Jesuit education in the Sacramento area.

Jesuit enrollment has increased over the years to a current level of 1,000 students. Recently there have been many improvements on the campus. In 1978-79, the school sponsored a scholarship development drive and provided the basis of funding for the new library addition which opened during the 1980-81 school year; it also provided increased scholarship aid to families needing financial assistance to send their sons to Jesuit. In May, 1982, the library was dedicated by Bishop Alden Bell to Rev. Joseph J. King, S.J. In 1986, construction of a competitive swimming facility was completed. In 1992, a new Mathematics/Life Sciences classroom wing was completed. Construction of the new Student Life Center which includes a cafeteria, theater, and music rehearsal and performance space was completed in fall, 2000. Over the summer of 2003, Alumni hall, a 5 classroom building outfitted with the latest technology, replaced room 705. Also, new offices were built for Campus Ministry and Christian Service in the 300 wing and new counseling offices went into the 100 wing.

Jesuit High School continues to be blessed with the strong support of the students, alumni and their families, together with the good will and interest of the many friends of the greater Sacramento community.

Sports and Activities

Jesuit offers a multitude co-curricular activities, including: The Plank (the Jesuit High School newspaper), The Cutlass (the school yearbook), Robotics, Future Business Leaders of America, Mock Trial, Moot Court, Drumline, Young Democrats and Republicans, and Movie Club.

The Jesuit Robotics team recently won a collegiate underwater robotics competition in St. Johns, Canada, beating out such colleges as M.I.T. and Texas A&M. The robotics team is a mini-company that, up until recently, was completely funded by student efforts. However, with the victory came some monetary support from the school and greater recognition of the internationally recognized program. Currently, the program is run by student director Patrick Dills and captains Jason Isaacs and Eric Guess. The team is compromised of nearly 20 individuals from all year levels, each with specific tasks that helps streamline the design and construction of the robot.

Jesuit High School has a rich history of success in athletics. The school offers thirteen varsity sports; most of which also feature JV and Freshman squads. Jesuit has one of the nation's finest high school rugby union programs, with three national championships; second only to Highland High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. Additionally, the Jesuit High School Cross Country team has won nine state championships, and qualified for Nike Team Nationals two years in a row in 2005 and 2006, placing 7th and 4th respectively. Jesuit also has collected state championships in baseball, water polo, swimming, and rugby. Recently, the Jesuit Basketball team has emerged as one of the elite team in the state, ranking as high as second in the state in 2006. In 2003, the Jesuit soccer team was ranked first nationally by the NSCAA/adidas national ranking, which is the foremost soccer ranking authority. The Jesuit soccer team finished the 2001 season with a ranking of fourth in the nation posting a 27-1-1 record consisting of 19 shut-outs.

Notable Alumni

Football

• Matt Bouza - nine-year NFL wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts
• Nigel Burton - defensive coordinator at the University of Nevada, Reno
• Giovanni Carmazzi - quarterback, third-round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers
• Etu Molden - wide receiver/defensive back for the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League
• Ken O'Brien - 11-year quarterback for the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles
• J.T. O'Sullivan - quarterback for the Detroit Lions
• Kyle Sweeney - football coach at MacMurray College

Olympians

• Jeff Float - Olympic gold medalist swimmer

Golf

• Scott Gordon - golfer on the Nationwide Tour
• Robert Hamilton - golfer on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour
• Jason Hartwick - golfer on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour

Baseball

• Lars Anderson - first baseman for Greenville Drive Class A (Intermediate), Boston Red Sox Prospect
• Aaron Hanke - Drafted in 2007 by Arizona Diamondbacks. Currently plays outfield for their minor league affiliate Yakima Bears.
• J.P. Howell - pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
• Jerry Nielsen - former MLB pitcher
• Mike Rose - catcher for the Buffalo Bisons, an AAA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians

Rugby

• Chris Miller - former national team member for USA Rugby
• Kort Schubert - former national team member and blindside flanker for USA Rugby
• Louis Stanfill - national team member and blindside flanker for USA Rugby

Other

• Corbin McPherson - third-round pick by the New Jersey Devils in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft
• Mike Sayers - member of the BMC pro cycling team
• Michael Stember - middle distance runner finished ninth in the semifinal at the 2000 Summer Olympics
• Sam Warburg - professional tennis player
• Kelly Brothers - KCRA 3 newsmember

Trivia

• The school is built on what was once a large hops farm.

• Many of the buildings on campus are named after the Jesuit North American Martyrs.

• The school colors are Crimson (for the blood of the martyrs) and Gold (for the gold of California).

• Jesuit High School is a brother school to Loretto High School.

• Jesuit High School is well known throughout the California high school community for their good sports teams and facilities.

• As of 2006, Jesuit High School has won three national championships and seven state championships in rugby union.

• Gio Carmazzi was drafted in the 6th round by the San Francisco 49ers.

• JHS has an annual "Christmas Tree Lane" fashion show, featuring the seniors and their parents doing couple dancing/modeling, and girls from two local Catholic high schools, St. Francis and Loretto.

External links

• School website