St. Joseph's High School

I live St Joseph High School for the Spirit of Excellence given to all students in all aspects of life spiritually, academically and physically. I also love the commitment of service to the church, community and each other!
--Submitted by a parent

St. Joe is an excellent academic institution. They have great extra-curricular activities. The football team has always been great. They went the class 3A state championship game in 2007. The theology classes are definitely a bother especially for non-catholics. I feel like religion is shoved down the throat of students. Also, service hours are required and count for up to 10% of the theology quarter grade. I didn't enjoy that. There is a lot of partying that goes on amongst students on weekends.
--Submitted by a student

I found St. Joseph's to be a good, if not excellent, high school. The average workload is manageable while still challenging students to budget their time and work hard. The theology classes can be irksome, especially for non-Catholics. These teachers are appointed by the diocese rather than hired by the school, and they don t always seem academically qualified. I had problems with theology teachers being misinformed, bullying, and judgmental. However, several of the teachers were thoughtful and fair and allowed us all to explore questions of faith in a productive setting. The good thing is that theology does not bleed over into the other courses. I was taught creationism in one class, but my biology class taught evolution. I appreciated this balanced approach science remained science. I noticed absolutely no problem with crime, though I often walked to and from school.
--Submitted by a student

St. Joseph High School is a top notch school. Most of the teachers are truly outstanding (Mrs. Miller, Mrs. O'Brien, Mr. Harshman, and Mr. Dillon), and those that are not outstanding are still well above average. This school provides a broad array of extracurricular and sport activities for all students. Parents are involved in every aspect of the school and related activities. The school's drama program - musicals and plays is also amazing. The cost is well worth it. Let's face it parents, we can't afford not to send our children to top high schools with college becoming uber-competitive. The only potential negative with St. Joseph High School is its proximite to the inner city of South Bend - 1.5 miles or so: South Bend has, in my opinion a crime and drug problem. I haven't noticed this impacting the school but it is only a couple miles away.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a former student of St Joe. The school helped to keep me motivated at a time that is difficult for everyone. I would recommend St Joe to anyone who values quality education as well as a spiritual experience. I just read the Manta review and laughed. St Joe is a private Catholic institution, that is why those two 'topics' referenced are taught there. I hope that people choose the school for what it offers not what people do not understand.
--Submitted by a former student

St. Joseph is easily the best school in South Bend in terms of quality and academic rigor. Peer groups are also quite strong. Because it is a small school, funding for music, art, and sport programs is not what it is at larger, public schools, but St. Joe still has managed to have state-ranked swim, soccer, and volleyball teams in the past.
--Submitted by a student

Being a student of St. Joseph's high school myself, and being a student of a faith other than Catholicism, I believe I can provide a unique perspective on what it is to be a student at St. Joseph's. It is true that we must take Theology courses. However, the Theology courses taken are not detrimental at all to the rest of the academics offered, and the overall atmosphere of the school is one of great openness and tolerance for individuals of all beliefs. The teachers are amazing, the extracurriculars superb, and the academics are far superior to any other schools that I have visited in the South Bend area. I believe that this school has prepared me far more for life than any other South Bend school could have done. They taught me evolution, not creationism, and have never forced upon me Catholic beliefs, especially in the academic realm.
--Submitted by a student

The academic programs of St. Josephs High School were relatively okay. Overall I was not pleased with the actions of students and teachers alike. The level of disrespect is so high it is appalling. Many people will tell you that St. Josephs has an excellent learning program in which students can flourish in a nurtured learning environment; yet in all actuality, the teaching is presently the same as public schools with the exception of two learning aspects: 1) catholic instruction and prayer (which wastes 8 credits in 4 years), and 2) creation theory is taught instead of the theory of evolution. I do not believe that it is appropriate or academically worth, to squander $5,000 of my money for two subjects that frankly, my child will not require in order to thrive in a working society for America unless they were to become a priest or nun of some kind.
--Submitted by Lorraina Manta, a parent

This is an excellent learning institution for not only Catholic but all faiths and beliefs. At St. Joseph's High School they teach students all the necessary course which will enrich their minds and knowledge so as to prepare them for college and life after college. At St. Joseph's they have a courses for students who have difficulty learning, courses for those who are more advanced and then they have course studies for those students whom are much more expanded in school. I would recommend St. Joseph's High School, South Bend to anyone considering a good high school for their child. Being an Alumnas of the school, is one thing that I myself would never trade, because the 4 years I spent at St. Joseph's will forever be a part of my life with memories of teachers and classmates whom I shared a space with for 4 years of my life. St. Joseph's High School is a place to grow, learn and never forget.