Strong academics a tradition at Joliet Catholic Academy

Did you know that Joliet Catholic Academy’s Class of 2011 recorded an ACT mean score of 23, with the top 50 percent scoring 25 or better and the honors program scoring a 29.4?

Did you know that JCA’s Class of 2011 earned nearly $8 million in scholarships, or an average of $43,000 per student, with 91 percent of those scholarships being awarded for academic achievement?

Did you know that JCA’s Class of 2011 included 28 Illinois State Scholars and a National Merit Commended Student?

Colleges like Illinois State University are starting to take notice. According to a newspaper article published on Aug. 31, ISU questioned how well the state’s public schools are preparing students for college.

The data provided by the newspaper showed that public school students struggled to get a B average as freshmen at the Illinois state universities and community colleges, even after leaving top-performing public schools with good grades.

“More and more (public school) students seem to be less prepared for college, particularly math and English skills are not where we would like them to be when they come to college,” said Rita Cheng, the chancellor at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

At Joliet Catholic Academy, a college preparatory high school for boys and girls, English is a four-year requirement. Math is a three-year requirement. Ninety-nine percent of JCA graduates go on to college.

A trend-setter for religious studies in the Diocese of Joliet, JCA was the first high school to require four years of theology and follows the curriculum guide approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Indeed, excellence in education is part of the tradition that is JCA ... along with faith in action and award-winning extracurriculars, including nine state championships since 2000. Melissa McCarthy, a 1988 graduate and 2012 Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actress, walked these very same hallways.

This information should promp prospective students to ask: where will you be in four years?

A seat at Joliet Catholic just might await, with registration for incoming freshmen on this Thursday, Feb. 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. To schedule a “shadow” visit or a private tour, or for more information, contact Debbie Dispenza (Ext. 274) or Mary Ragusa (Ext. 214) in the Admissions Office at (815) 741-0500 or via email at admissions@jca-online.org.

— Provided by Joliet Catholic Academy