Frequently Asked Questions

General
What is tuition, and how is it collected?
Tuition for 2012-2013 is $8,030. Registration for new students is $550. We allow parents to pay tuition in interest-free installments, so there is no need for bank financing. You may choose to pay tuition monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. Monthly tuition payments are made through automatic bank draft. Quarterly, semi-annual, and annual tuition payments may be made through automatic bank draft or check.

How does tuition compare to the actual cost of a Catholic High education?
The Brothers of the Sacred Heart and Catholic High School are committed to keeping Catholic education affordable, and that is why no family has ever paid the full cost of a Catholic High education. The difference between tuition and the actual cost of educating a student at CHS is the Gap. For 2012-2013, the Gap is $2,030 per student.

How can parents help close the gap between tuition and the cost of a Catholic High education?
Each year the school asks parents to contribute to its Parents Annual Giving Event (PAGE). These voluntary, tax deductible donations go into the yearly operating budget of the school and help to make up the difference between tuition and the actual cost of educating our students. PAGE donations help to meet the challenge of keeping CHS affordable as the cost of academic excellence continues to rise. Through the financial support from PAGE, we were able to limit tuition increases for the 2012-2013 school year and increase faculty and staff compensation and benefits.

What if I can’t afford private school tuition?
In keeping with the educational tradition of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, no student is refused admission or asked to leave Catholic High School solely because of his family’s inability to pay tuition. Financial assistance is available for students whose families are unable to pay the full cost of tuition. Applications for financial assistance for the 2013-2014 school year are due by April 18, 2013. Applications are to be completed and submitted online through a program called FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition). Any parent who does not have access to a computer or who needs help completing the online application can get assistance by contacting Mrs. Pinney Johnson at Catholic High School by phone at (225) 383-0397 or by e-mail at pjohnson@catholichigh.org. A link to the FAST Website and the Catholic High School application for financial assistance can be found on the CHS Website.

What other expenses should I expect besides tuition and registration?
There are course fees for some elective courses as well as typical beginning of the year expenses such as school locks, health and physical education uniforms, outerwear, yearbook, and depositing money to your son’s cafeteria debit account. These costs typically average from about $150-$200 per student. Based on a student’s schedule, he may have to purchase books in June, through the bookstore link on our website, and this typically averages from about $100-$150 per student.

How is the CHS lunch program different from elementary school?
We do not have a federal lunch program. A number of our young men “brown bag” it to school. However, Piccadilly Restaurant, LLC provides daily food service for CHS including breakfast, lunch and after school snacks. Students purchase items using their CHS ID cards as debit cards. Monthly menus and pricing of food items are posted on the school’s Website.

What are the school’s operating hours for the 2012-2013 school year?
Classes will begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 2:47 p.m. on a regular schedule day of classes.

When can my son be dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon?
Some students arrive as early as 6:00 a.m. In the afternoon, parents may pick up students anytime after 3:00. Students are encouraged to remain on campus to use the library, to meet with teachers, and to participate in extracurricular activities. There is no after school program or additional charges for those remaining after school hours; however, after 4:00 p.m. there is no administrative supervision.

How is Catholic High different from diocesan schools like St. Michael and Redemptorist?
The school is under the direction of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and is not a part of the diocesan school system.

What is the CHS dress code?
CHS students wear dress or casual slacks, a dress or sport shirt with a collar, dress shoes, dress socks, and a brown or black belt with pants designed for one. More details are available in the CHS Student Handbook located on the CHS Website.

Who can park on campus and what is the cost?
Parking at CHS is limited to juniors and seniors. Students who park in school parking areas must pay a fee ($285 for the 2012-2013 school year) to cover costs associated with parking.

What kind of information do parents have access to online?
The Catholic High Web page offers access to important information about all aspects of Catholic High School. It includes links to our downloadable calendar, as well as CHS webmail, and services like Edline that provide access to a student’s academic performance.

What opportunities are there for parent involvement at Catholic High School?
Dads are encouraged to join the CHS Men’s Club an organization open to men who want to support CHS. CHS also has an active Mothers’ club open to mothers of current CHS students. Other volunteer opportunities occur throughout the year and will be announced as they become available.

Religious
What opportunities will my son have to grow in his faith?
Catholic High has an active religion department and campus ministry program. All CHS students go on an annual class retreat. Mass is celebrated by the entire school community about once a month and students have an opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation at school each semester. Prayer services are held each Thursday during lunch in the Brothers’ Residence Chapel. All students receive four years of religion instruction, and religion teachers emphasize spiritual development along with academic knowledge of the faith. CHS has a student ministry program open to juniors and seniors.

Our family is not Catholic. What expectations does CHS have for non-Catholic students?
Catholic High is respectful of other faith traditions, and asks all students to be respectful of the Catholic faith. All students are encouraged to be contributing members of whatever faith tradition to which they belong. However, all Catholic High School students take a full-credit religion course each year and attend liturgies and retreats.

How does Catholic High teach the importance of service?
All students are expected to complete service hours as part of their religion school curriculum. The number of hours varies by grade level, and so does the type of service expected. As students grow in maturity, they are asked to provide more service to the truly needy. All service is accompanied by students’ written reflection on their work. A limited number of mission trip opportunities, both international and domestic, are also available each year.

Admission
How important is a legacy to a Brothers of the Sacred Heart School for receiving an offer of admission to Catholic High School?
Because Catholic High School is a community we value the relationships we have built with alumni over the years, and we hope alumni want their sons to experience CHS. A legacy, while important to us, is not a guarantee of admission, nor is the lack of a legacy an impediment.

When is the testing date?
This year’s Placement Test date is Saturday, December 1, 2012. An applicant must test at his school of first choice for high school.

When are the admission letters mailed?
Offers of admission will be mailed Thursday, February 28, 2013. Letters from Ascension Catholic, Redemptorist, St. John, St. Joseph’s Academy and St. Michael will be mailed on this day also.

What if my son is not offered admission to CHS but I still want him to attend a Catholic high school?
On the application form a parent will be asked to indicate schools of first, second and third choice for the applicant. If an applicant is not offered admission to his first choice, the application materials will be forwarded to the schools of second and third choice for their consideration. Such consideration does not imply an automatic offer of admission.

How many students will receive offers of admission this year?
The CHS freshman class will have approximately 275 students. In addition to the current CHS 8th graders, CHS will offer admission to about 250 new freshmen and 35 new 8th graders.

If my son is enrolled in a Catholic school, has good grades, good conduct and a good attendance record, what are the chances that he will be offered admission to CHS?
Your son has a good chance of being offered admission; however, there is no guarantee of admission.

For freshmen applicants, how important are the interview and the Explore placement test for making admission decisions and how should my son prepare for them?
The purpose of the interview is to provide personal attention to each applicant so that he is more than information on a page. It allows the young man to speak for himself, to share why he wants to attend CHS, and it allows us to get a better sense of who he is and what his interests are inside and outside of school. The interview also allows the applicant to ask questions and find out more about Catholic High School. A parent (or guardian) is required to attend the interview and we ask that you attend the interview at your scheduled time.

The Placement Test is used primarily for placement decisions after offers of admission have been made.

We do not recommend test preparation courses for the Explore test, nor do we recommend rehearsing answers for the interview. Your son should relax and be himself for the interview, and simply do his best on the Explore test so that we can put him in the courses most likely to help him achieve his full potential.

How does not being in a Catholic school affect my son’s chance of receiving an offer of admission to CHS?
Catholic High School does give preference to students whose families have shown a commitment to Catholic education. Nevertheless, we typically are able to offer admission to a limited number of qualified applicants who have not attended a Catholic elementary school.

What is the profile of students admitted to Catholic High’s 8th grade?
Typically, the students offered admission to the 2012-2013 8th grade of CHS:
o had conduct grades of As and Bs during middle school years (6th and 7th grades)
o had academic grades of As and Bs during middle school years
o had good attendance records during middle school years
o Scored in the 80th percentile or above on the Explore placement test.

Academic
How does Catholic High integrate technology into instruction?
All classrooms are equipped with LCD projectors and ELMO document cameras. Teachers make use of a variety of Web 2.0 technologies like blogs and wikis to engage students. CHS has 3 computer labs, devoted primarily to instruction in technology electives, and our library has computers that students can use during unassigned periods and lunch. Students have access to a wide variety of databases for research, and many teachers assign projects that require students to make good use of our technology resources. CHS is committed to using technology to improve students’ critical thinking and college readiness skills.

How does CHS prepare students for college?
Catholic High School has a challenging college preparatory curriculum. Whether a student chooses our academic program, or participates in honors and Advanced Place- ment classes, he can expect to learn skills that he will need to succeed in college. The CHS faculty actively use students’ standardized test scores to identify those skills students need to work on so that they will be college-ready by the time they graduate.

Arts
What opportunities do you provide for students interested in the Arts?
Catholic High has a strong arts program that includes visual and performing arts. Four years of Art classes are available for interested and qualified students. The chorus and band programs provide students with musical training, and both programs consistently receive high ratings in local, district and state level competitions.

What if my son wants to play sports and be in choir or band?
Catholic High School promotes holistic education, and many of our students are both athletes and involved in the Arts. Coaches and moderators collaborate to minimize conflicts so students who have the interest and ability can pursue both artistic and athletic extracurriculars.

Extracurricular and Athletic
What clubs can freshmen join?
There are many extracurriculars available at CHS, and freshmen are eligible to participate in most of them. Freshmen are encouraged to participate in Bear Camp and Club Membership days at the beginning of the year to get more information about opportunities for freshmen to get involved.

When will my son be athletically eligible at Catholic High School?
All eighth graders and freshmen are eligible to compete in all 9th grade level sports. Eligibility for varsity athletics is sanctioned by the LHSAA and can be discussed with the Athletic Director at Open House.

How many sports can a student play at Catholic High School?
There is no set limit to the number of sports a student can participate in. The Athletic Department is committed to supporting all students who desire participation in multiple sports. All coaches collaborate to give every athlete an opportunity for a diverse sports experience.

What athletic opportunities does CHS offer beyond LHSAA sanctioned sports?
Catholic High has an active intramural program. The program is under the direction of Ms. Cathy Robichaux,  and Mr. Jason Romero. Intramural activities take place throughout the school year, including basketball, dodgeball, volleyball, and flag football, to name a few. In addition, two extracurricular clubs have athletic activity as their focus: Lacrosse and Ultimate.