Xavier High School

Xavier is a legend in its own mind. The negative reviews speak the truth: it is far from what it presents itself to be. Living off an undeserved reputation - as if it still is what it was in the 30s-60s. It ceased being a real Catholic school by the early 70s. They used to have 40 Jesuits; now perhaps 3 on faculty (if that....). They only care about the football gods & apple polishers. Oh, its a breeding ground for the elite....and the self-serving. The oppressive amount of homework will not make you a better person, nor will it 'educate' you. Honesty is punished; be warned! Faculty is mostly these due to friends in the alumni office or administration, not because of quality. And all they want from you is money, money & more money. As an alumnus, I know! Save your $$; go to Bronx Science or Stuyvesant. You will be glad you did.
--Submitted by a student

I am currently a sophomore at Xavier now and I would definitely reconsider going here. I hate this school. Its filled with a bunch of tools and stuck up white kids. Also the teachers want you to have no social life what so ever judging by the amount of homework the give a night. Unless you want your son doing at least 3 hours of homework a night. Also they are really quick to kick you out. If your grades start slipping they will kick you out at anytime and leave stuck trying to find somewhere to go in the middle of the year. And they always talk about being such a great Jesuit school meanwhile we don't get off for any of the holy days of obligation. So while your friends from catholic school are off you will be in school. Definitely reconsider!
--Submitted by a student

how does this awful school hold on to 5 stars. they have ruined my self esteem. they have taken away my confidence. No teacher takes an interest in the students unless they are the popular athletes. I am so unhappy here. Look somewhere else. You will be happy you did
--Submitted by a student

I second the two previous comments below. I kick myself everyday for not taking the oppertunity to transfer as a sophomore. Xavier has molded me to become more introverted and secluded because I don't belong to their typical groups.Please visit and look elsewhere.
--Submitted by a student

Would like to counter some of the negative comments. '81 alumni. Puerto Rican kid out of Bushwick Brooklyn (no silver spoon). Xavier prepared me well for life and gave me solid foundations upon which to be successful. Strong academic, ethical and leadership experience. Great school if you want to work hard, stess oneself and build confidence in one's ability. Later attended West Point and was selected for fully funded masters program and served as an instructor at the Academy. Served 20 years (never felt pressed in that direction by my experience at Xavier). Those complaining about a poor experience invariably didn't succeed and hold the institution responsible for their shortcoming. I don't know any successful people that have that attitude. Others state another school is superior with ZERO evidence. Talk with the staff and the students and make up your own mind. Wouldn't you want your son to do that when he becomes a man?

The very best experience of my life. Next year, my class will celebrate our 50th anniversary and we are all to a man, thankful for our shared experience at Xavier. We meet every year because we value the friendships we made there and to reinforce our support of what Xavier means to us. The Jesuits and lay teachers were totally committed to not only teaching us, but also to molding us into caring, compassionate young men. The JROTC reinforced the Jesuit mission and the discipline that was needed by many of us, and still is today. There are other good schools in NYC, but only Xavier improves a young man's character in addition to providing a very challenging college preparatory education in an institution with a 164 year tradition. the detractors are either students who could not measure up or parents who are not able to see the shortcomings are in their child, not the school.

As an alumn of this place, I can't disagree more with the majority of the negative comments I've read so far. I currently go to Stevens Institute of Technology, and Xavier definitely prepared me for many of my current and real-world responsibilities. Part of that includes growing up and facing the fact that nothing is easy. Xavier without a doubt taught me how to face this on my own. While the Science/Math academics aren't Xavier's strongsuit, it makes up for it with sociability and character programs such as CFX, Kairos/Magis, and JROTC. The parents who do not approve of the JROTC do not understand the fact that it is an option your son chooses to take. On average there are 300-350 Cadets enrolled, there are nearly 1,000 students at Xavier, if not more. Great school, good teachers, repremanding staff, hands down. Xavier is a powerhouse for leaders.

I disagree totally with the review below. It is quite the opposite. Though many students participate in the JROTC program, it is far from a 'military factory' or even a military school for that matter It is among not only the best schools in Manhattan and NYC, but even New York State altogether. A Xavier education is something to be extremely proud of, as it remains one of the most selective schools in New York.
--Submitted by a student

I am a graduate of Xavier (Aug. 1944), and thank God for my Jesuit education. As a matter of fact, I am inordinately proud of the way those good priests and lay instructors labored to form our brains while at the same time informimg us. My four years at Xavier were some of the happiest and intellecually rewarding years of my life. It was a great introduction to and preparation for the world and university.

I am a student at Xavier who will tell you straight up that attending this school over one like Xaverian,etc was the best decision I have ever made.You are going to have some slackers just like in any work place, but Xavier does a great job kicking all of those kids out. The person below me is wrong. I've learned during my time in Xavier that the only way a person can grow is through their own failure. Yes it is a" daily grind" and the train rides to and from school get tedious after a while, but its that grind and hard work which separates Xavier students from others.Once when the train switched tracks and I was with my friends, it was me not them who knew how to navigate my way around the city and back home. As far as financial aid goes, a student can knock off anywhere from $1,000 - $6,000 by working in the Head Masters Office during the summer (1,000 knocked off per week) or during free periods from school start - finish. Yes, HW can be a major pain in the rear at times especially when you get home late from school bc of extracurriculars but like i said before its that daily battle that separates Xavier from other people. Work hard Fresh. yr build ur GPA then as best u can.
--Submitted by a student