Chicago Jesuit Academy

Specialties

Mission: Chicago Jesuit Academy offers children with educational and economic needs access to a Catholic, college preparatory middle school education in the Jesuit tradition. Additionally, CJA provides advocacy and the long-​term resources to help students develop the moral and intellectual foundation to succeed in college prep high schools, universities and their adult roles as family, business and community leaders.

Vision: Chicago Jesuit Academy offers a rigorous academic environment that develops the whole student academically and socially in accord with the Jesuit mission and tradition. CJA invites students to become persons for others who aspire to be loving, intellectually competent, open to growth, religious and committed to doing justice in the service of others. Chicago Jesuit Academy actively shares best practices with other institutions. CJA partners with the broader community to promote transformative educational resources, greater social justice and a deeper understanding of the obstacles to equality.

Means: Chicago Jesuit Academy is a full-​scholarship institution. The success of CJA’s mission is made possible by the ongoing and disciplined sacrifices of the Academy’s students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, volunteers and benefactors.

History

Established in 2005.

In 2005, we began a journey down an uncharted path — believing that together we could provide children on the West Side of Chicago the opportunity to not only earn a better education, but to better realize the unique gifts that God has entrusted to them.

For all of our students, we are more than their school — we are their future. The University of Chicago has quantified the challenges our scholars face. More than half of the children in our neighborhood will not complete high school. More than 94% of the young men will fail to earn a college degree by their 25^th birthday.

At Chicago Jesuit Academy we prepare all of our students to succeed in college prep high schools and beyond. After high school, CJA expects all of our alumni to have the opportunity to attend a college or university that will enable them to further develop their personal, professional and academic talents.