Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School: Tuition, Values, and Opportunities

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a highly-regarded Catholic high school that seeks to cultivate well-rounded individuals prepared to lead in a complex world. This article explores the school's tuition costs, its commitment to Jesuit values, the diverse opportunities it offers students, and its engagement with broader social issues.

Academic Excellence and Holistic Development

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School seeks to prepare the next generation of leaders with the intellectual and technological competence, loving and open hearts, faith inspiration, and social responsibility to bring about a more just, humane, and loving world. Students from all backgrounds, faiths, and ethnicities are welcome at Brebeuf Jesuit, where all are called to discover and cultivate the fullness of their God-given talents as a responsibility and as an act of worship. Each student is therefore challenged and inspired to strive for academic excellence, to engage whole-heartedly in co-curricular activities, to develop confidence in their leadership abilities, and to discover God`s presence in everyday life through serving others.

Tuition and Financial Aid

As a private institution, Brebeuf Jesuit has a tuition fee. The yearly tuition is $17,640. Brebeuf Jesuit uses FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment (FACTS) to manage the financial aid process. FACTS helps Brebeuf assess a family’s ability to pay school costs and make objective and fair financial aid decisions. Based on the results of the financial aid application, FACTS estimates the amount a family can contribute to tuition and fees. Legislation in the State of Indiana has expanded the eligibility guidelines for the School Choice Scholarship program. Brebeuf Jesuit offers unique scholarship programs that support the academic strength and co-curricular activities of our students.

Acceptance Rate and Class Size

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School has an acceptance rate of 50%, which is lower than the national average of 84%. The average class size is 12 students, allowing for more individualized attention.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School is December 1st.

Read also: Academics at Jesuit Universities

Jesuit Values in Action

One of the most direct ways Brebeuf Jesuit fulfills its mission is by helping students see God in all things. A variety of exercises are used to bring students together and to help them reflect on their relationships with God, others, and themselves.

Retreat Programs

Brebeuf Jesuit offers retreat programs. Junior and senior students are invited to apply to be a retreat leader! Leading any retreat is both a privilege and a lot of work, but ultimately a ministry to showing the love of God to your classmates. Witness is the most important quality to servant leading retreats. Leadership responsibilities include mandatory training sessions and team meetings, proper decorum, preparation, writing and presenting a talk, and co-leading a small group. Seniors may lead both Freshman Retreat, and one overnight retreat. In fact, the school encourages it so they can get to know you and you have retreat experience before they select you for an overnight retreat. Space is limited on retreats, and students must turn in applications promptly. Students are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Fees for the retreats are still being determined. Students of varied faiths and religious backgrounds are welcomed and respected on all of these retreats.

Student Life and Activities

Brebeuf Jesuit offers a wide array of opportunities for students to engage outside the classroom, fostering a vibrant and well-rounded student experience.

Athletics

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School offers 24 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cheering, Crew, Cross Country, Dance, Diving, Flag Football, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Indoor Soccer, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Winter Track and Wrestling.

Summer Program

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School offers a summer program.

Learning Center

Generally speaking, students who are admitted to the Learning Center have a language-based learning difference or ADHD and, as a result, struggle in the traditional classroom. Students admitted to the Learning Center are expected to meet the curriculum standards required by Brebeuf Jesuit. Learning Center students are taught study skills and strategies for many of the courses they take at Brebeuf Jesuit. Organizational skills are an integral part of the program. Students in the Learning Center work with one of the Learning Center teachers for four to five class periods per week. Students may also schedule additional time with their Learning Center teacher during their Personal Responsibility Time (PRT). Each Learning Center teacher works with a small group of students per class period.

Student Conduct

Brebeuf Jesuit holds the right to administer random drug tests.

Controversy and Values

Brebeuf Jesuit has faced controversy regarding its stance on social issues, particularly those related to LGBTQ+ rights. A few days before the news about Cathedral came out, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School was faced with the same option - fire its teacher in a same-sex marriage or lose its Catholic classification. Brebeuf Jesuit chose the latter. "We really just tried to look at it in terms of our community," Brebeuf Jesuit principal Greg VanSlambrook said. "Our decision trying to do the right thing by our teacher and by our community." After the school’s decision, it can no longer use the name “Catholic,” and will no longer be identified or recognized as a Catholic institution.

Indiana Choice Scholarship Program

Both Cathedral and Brebeuf Jesuit are in the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, meaning they get money from the state to accept the lower-income students. Over the last three school years, Cathedral has received $3,457,077.31 in scholarship vouchers from the state, according to data provided by the Indiana Department of Education. Over that same timeframe, Brebeuf Jesuit has received $1,137,056.03 in scholarship vouchers.

Backlash from State Lawmakers

There is no mechanism in place to stop Cathedral from receiving public money. Two Democratic Indianapolis state lawmakers, one in each chamber, tried during the last session. Rep. Dan Forestal and Sen. J.D. Ford have pushed to include language in state law that would prevent voucher money from going to schools that discriminate against a staff member based on their sexuality, gender identity, race and many other factors. In Ford’s bill, schools in the program would have annually submit copies of teachers’ contracts or other documentation, to prove they’re not discriminating. His bill died without getting a hearing. Ford said he was told it was a busy session and the bill didn’t meet the priorities of the Committee on Education and Career Development. “People are talking about it,” Ford said. “My constituents are talking about it, which means I have to talk about it.” Both lawmakers have a personal stake in what’s happened with these Indianapolis schools. Forestal is a Roncalli alumnus and Ford is the first openly LGBTQ state lawmaker. “I think I have a duty to speak up on behalf of the folks this is happening to,” Ford said. He also introduced an amendment into the state budget, to essentially do the same as the bill would’ve. But the amendment was defeated. Ford also said schools that don’t receive public money can do what they want, but things change when state funding gets involved. “If you are going to do that, that’s fine, I’m still going to have an issue with it,” Ford said. “It just wouldn’t be in my purview as a state legislator. If you want to go ahead and raise the funds and that’s what you want to do."

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