St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine, Florida)

St. Joseph Academy Catholic High School is a private Catholic high school in St. Augustine, Florida. It is located in and administered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine. The oldest Catholic high school in Florida, it was founded in 1866.

History

St. Joseph Academy, founded in 1867, by the Sisters of St. Joseph, is the oldest continuously operating Catholic high school in Florida. 1874 marked the first “graduation”a class of 2! In 1876, the Academy was state chartered and in 1877 a boarding school for young women began. (It would remain until 1968.) A 4 story structure dormitories and classrooms was built in 1909 to accommodate resident and day students. Located in the historic district of St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, the structure was home and school for 8 decades to hundreds of students. Since its founding, the Academy has continued to provide young people in St. Johns County and the surrounding areas with a value-centered education in the context of the Catholic tradition. With the 2014-2015 school year, St. Joseph Academy begins its ninety-first year of continuous accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

In 1980, management of the Academy was transferred from the Sisters of St. Joseph to the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine. The 1980 graduating class was the last from the original campus on St. George Street adjacent to the Sisters of St. Joseph convent. With the transition of management, the Academy relocated from St. George Street to its present site at 155 State Road 207.

The Diocese of St. Augustine, the administration and faculty, and a dedicated group of parents, students and alumni are committed to uphold the integrity and proud traditions of the school developed through its long history.^[3]

School Profile

Saint Joseph Academy is a 4-year college preparatory school begun in 1866, and is the oldest continuous Catholic high school in the State of Florida. It is operated in the Diocese of St. Augustine. Saint Joseph Academy is located on the northeast coast of Florida in St. Augustine.^[4]

St. Joseph Academy accommodates up to 400 students with expansion planned to 600 students in grades nine through twelve.

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (S.A.C.S. C.A.S.I.) Member: National Catholic Education Association, Florida Catholic Conference and Florida High School Athletic Association (F.H.S.A.A.)^[4]

Guidance

One Director of Guidance and one Guidance Administrator Assistant provide guidance services. Personal, academic, and career counseling are provided to students on an ongoing basis.^[4]

It is the mission of the St. Joseph Academy Guidance Department to serve the students and parents by providing assistance with academic planning, personal decision-making and career planning. This is accomplished through our Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Jeri Williar. Mrs. Williar has a BA in Sociology from Eastern Illinois University and a Masters in Counseling Education from the University of North Florida. She had been the Assistant Registrar at Flagler College and Guidance Counselor at Nease High School. Ms. Judy Bernhard, the Guidance Administrative Assistant, and a cadre of skilled parent volunteers, complete the department. The four areas of information emphasized are Academic Counseling, Career and College Counseling, Developmental Counseling, and Personal Counseling.^[5]

Academic Counseling includes ensuring proper course selections for each student, meeting graduation requirements for the State of Florida and verifying that all students meet the course of study requirements for admission into most four-year colleges and universities.^[5]

Career and College Counseling involves providing opportunities for students to analyze their career interests through computerized programs. Arranging local college field trips, coordinating opportunities for College Visits and facilitating campus visits by college representatives are a few aspects of this area.^[5]

Developmental Counseling includes offering opportunities for parents to communicate with teachers about academic concerns through devices like parent conferences and Bi-Weekly Progress Reports, as well as coordinating motivational events for students to stimulate academic achievement, such as Academic Achievement Celebrations, academic awards banquets and awarding the Lamp of Knowledge as a recognition worn by students on the SJA letterman jacket.^[5]

Personal Counseling follows a variety of paths and is done in conjunction with the Campus Minister.^[5]

The Guidance Department attempts to be the place all stakeholders feel comfortable asking that 'one silly question' and always receive a positive, helpful answer.^[5]

Curriculum

Saint Joseph Academy has a college preparatory curriculum requiring 19 academic units. Twenty-eight credits are required for graduation and a typical course of study would include:

• Theology - 4.0 credits
• English - 4.0 credits
• Mathematics - 4.0 credits
• Science - 4.0 credits
• Social Studies - 3.0 credits
• Foreign Language - 3.0 credits
• Life Mgt./Personal Fitness - 1.0 credits
• Practical or Performing Arts - 1.0 credit
• Electives - 4.0 credits

Honors Courses

• English I, II
• Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Marine Science, Anatomy/Physiology
• Social Science: American Government/Economics
• Mathematics: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus
• Foreign Language: Spanish II, III, ASL IV
• Advanced Placement Courses
• Calculus AB/BC
• Statistics
• Studio Art
• Studio Art 3-D
• Studio Art 2-D
• Psychology
• Spanish Language
• Spanish Literature
• World History

Other AP opportunities may be offered through the Florida Virtual School.

Dual Enrollment Classes are offered on our campus through St. Johns River State College:

• World Civilizations
• U.S. History
• English Composition
• Literature
• Creative Writing
• Marine Biology/Environmental Science
• Spanish
• Athletics

Nearly 70% of students participate on athletic teams: Football, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, Swimming, Cross Country, Golf, Track, Cheerleading, Tennis and Flag Football.^[4]

Grade and rank information Cumulative grade point averages are based on semester grades. Class rank is based on all students and on all subjects. Honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment courses receive an additional quality point.^[4]

Class of 2013 statistics

The Saint Joseph Academy class of 2013 was 58 students, who matriculated as follows:

Accepted to college 100% (13th consecutive year)

Percentage graduated with honors 76%

Florida Bright Futures 58%

Scholarship money earned $3+ million

Community service hours 13,550+

Class of 2013 - SAT Composites

Class of 2013 - ACT Mean Scores

Notes and references

External links

• School Website