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. In 1911, the school became a separate secondary institution when the college division relocated and later developed into Loyola University New Orleans. Jesuit High School was moved to a new location in 1926.
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History
Founding and early history
The College of the Immaculate Conception was founded in 1847 and opened in 1849. 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), near the French Quarter. The opening of the school was delayed by the 1849 yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans. The school's founder, Jean Baptiste Maisunabe, S.J., succumbed to the disease and was succeeded by John Cambiaso, S.J., who helped oversee the construction and development of the Church of the Immaculate Conception which still stands at the site of the original campus.
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. The Jesuit High School remained on Baronne Street until 1926, when it was moved to its current location at 4133 Banks Street in Mid-City.
Several additions and renovations have been made 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. In 1957, a gym and recreation center were built across Banks Street to support athletic teams and physical education programs.
A resource center featuring a school library, additional classrooms, and science facilities was built in 1974. In 2001, a new Student Commons was constructed on the first floor beneath the Resource Center. Further renovations were made to the school after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
In 2012, John Ryan Stadium, a multi-purpose sports stadium primarily used for baseball, was constructed at 100 Blue Jay Way in Metairie, LA, expanding the school into Jefferson Parish.
After Hurricane Maria impacted Puerto Rico in 2017, Jesuit hosted students from Colegio San Ignacio in Puerto Rico.
Mascot, colors, and logo
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, with the name "Jayson" chosen by the editors of the school paper.
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 J's"—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. Up to five feet (1.5 m) of water flooded the school, destroying the ground floor and closing the school temporarily. 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 president. In January 2020, Fr. Chris Fronk, S.J., stepped down as school president. Fr. John Brown, S.J. became the next president in 2020.
The principal in 2023 was Jeremy Reuther.
History of sexual abuse
There have been several instances of child sexual abuse at the school. Multiple lawsuits have alleged sexual abuse by priests, employees, and administrators associated with the school, including incidents reported to have occurred on campus. The Jesuit order confirmed that at least fourteen priests assigned to Jesuit High were accused of sexual abuse.
The school has paid undisclosed settlements to victims and their families. In 2019, a lawsuit against the school's administration accused the school of knowingly hiring a convicted pedophile as head janitor in the 1980s.
In 2018, Jesuit High School president Fr. Chris Fronk, S.J., said he was "horrified" by the sexual abuse at the school dating back to the "disgusting time in our history" of the 1970s.
Notable alumni
In a 1978 article in The Atlantic, James K. Glassman wrote that "practically every white Orleanian of note went to Jesuit." Some notable alumni are:
In chronological order:
Larry Gilbert (Class of 1910), MLB player (Boston Braves)
Felix Edward Hebert (Class of 1920), U.S. Congressman (1940–1976)
Robert B. Landry (Class of 1927), United States military officer
Hap Glaudi
Charlie Gilbert (Class of 1937), MLB player (Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies)
Fats Dantonio (Class of 1938), MLB player (Brooklyn Dodgers)
Connie Ryan (Class of 1938), MLB player and manager
Jimmy Fitzmorris (Class of 1939), Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana (1972–1980)
Ray Coates (Class of 1944), MVP 1947 Cotton Bowl, member of LSU’s 1946 Southeastern Conference championship baseball team
Adrian G. Duplantier (Class of 1945), United States federal judge
Putsy Caballero (Class of 1946), MLB player (Philadelphia Phillies)
Tookie Gilbert (Class of 1947), MLB player (New York Giants)
John Petitbon (Class of 1947), Notre Dame and National Football League player
Notable students (attended but did not graduate)
Edward Douglass White (Class of 1865), Chief Justice of the United States
Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr., known by his stage name Dr. John
Louis Prima (transferred to Warren Easton High School in 1926)
Alois "Al" Hirt ‘39, trumpeter and entertainer
Stephen Stills, guitar player with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young