Jesuit Academy aims to be a learning oasis 

You might call the Chicago Jesuit Academy (CJA), located at 5058 W. Jackson Blvd. just east of Columbus Park, an educational oasis on Chicago’s West Side. 

Testing results reveal that 97% of CJA students — 72% of whom come from the Austin, Garfield Park or Lawndale neighborhoods — completed the 2023-24 school year testing above, on or within one grade of their level in math, even though 33% of these same students began the year two or more grade levels behind, whereas only 1% and 2% of the students at the public schools closest to CJA tested proficient in those subjects in 2023-24. 

CJA alumni are 7.3 times more likely to earn a post-secondary credential within six years of their high school graduation compared with their peers on the West Side who attend Chicago Public Schools. 

And tuition at CJA is free; students get breakfast and lunch at no cost; and the school accepts incoming students — the school starts at third grade level — on a first-come, first-served basis and is not academically selective.  

Where CJA is selective is giving priority to children who qualify for free or reduced meals in school. According to their website, “We accept students in all grades without regard to race, ethnicity or religion.” 

What is the formula? 

Longer school days: A typical day starts at 7:50 a.m. and ends at 4:05 p.m. The 2025-26 school year begins with a three-week (July 7-25) mandatory summer session in which students get to know their teachers and classmates, get to know CJA, get at least an hour of math and an hour of reading each day, and often go on weekly field trips. 

Academic rigor: CJA does not consider grades for acceptance. “Several of our students,” the website explains, “may come into CJA a grade level or two behind and our goal, using our supports, is to help the student be on or above grade level by 7th and 8th grade … we try to meet our students where they are at and continue to push them to achieve their greatness. We aim for rigorous academics for all.”  

CJA administers the iReady test three times a year; the results in reading and math are immediately available, which enables teachers to take action right away to support students. 

Supports: Each class is limited to 24 students with two teachers per class, a 12:1 ratio. This same co-teacher structure applies to specials like music, art, and gym as well. The faculty includes four social workers, three learning interventionists, a speech/language pathologist and a full-time nurse. All students get free breakfast, lunch, and snack.  

Co-Curricular: Required and scheduled twice a week, they include full-pads lacrosse (including for girls), track, a bike club, girls volleyball, girls cheer, flag football, culinary arts, music taught by two professional jazz musicians (Google Marques Carroll), board games club, agriculture club and art club. 

Faith-based: CJA presents itself as a school for students who want a faith-based environment, without attempting to convert anyone. 

“The Jesuits,” explains David Zalesky, director of Student Recruiting and Compliance, “have an overarching theme of helping our students become “people for others.” We do not have a specific religion class right now, but CJA does reinforce the Jesuit values daily: Loving, Religious, Open to Growth, Committed to Doing Justice for Others, and Seeking Intellectual Excellence. 

“The entire school has a chapel service — not a Mass — every Friday. We read scripture and have a message from a staff member, a student group, or an alumnus. Sometimes, a whole class will give the sermon/message. Our music teachers play trumpet and piano; sometimes our social worker joins on bass guitar. It is a time for community. We do pray at the start of most classes and lunch, as a social-emotional centering time and a community building routine as well.” 

The student body is 34% Baptist, 24% other Christian, 15% Roman Catholic, and 27% other or not reported. 

Social/leadership skills: When visitors appear at a classroom door, a designated student will get up from his/her desk, shake hands with the visitor, say why they like the school and engage in conversation. 

CJA serves meals family-style, with white tablecloths and silverware. When the students are done, they bus their food, roll up the tablecloths, and sweep the floor. 

State of the art: A new $35 million, 50,000-square-foot expansion, dedicated in 2023, was added to the existing building on the campus which was purchased from the Archdiocese of Chicago and was formerly used as the Resurrection Parish school. 

Because CJA believes in a hybrid model — combining a single-gender model with a coed environment — the expansion allowed CJA to admit girls for the first time in 2023. The boys attend classes on the second floor and the girls on the third. 

Of the 318 youth currently in the study body 198 are boys and 120 are girls. 

Parents: CJA’s website states that the primary factor regarding academic achievement of children is their parents. 

Money: CJA receives no county, state, or federal money. Except for meal reimbursements for the breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, every other penny comes from donors. 

The 2023 CJA annual report said that the cost per student was $29,500. According to the website Illinois Report Card, Chicago Public Schools spent $25,469 per student in FY 2023.