Joliet Catholic Academy: A Comprehensive Overview
Joliet Catholic Academy (JCA), situated in Joliet, Illinois, stands as a prominent coeducational Catholic high school within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet. Renowned as one of the oldest Catholic secondary institutions in the Chicago metropolitan area, JCA is particularly celebrated for its remarkable achievements in football. The academy's current form is the result of a merger between St. Francis Academy, formerly an all-girls school, and Joliet Catholic High School, previously known as DeLaSalle High School for Boys.
Historical Context
The origins of JCA can be traced back to two distinct institutions. The Joliet Franciscan Sisters established St. Francis Academy in 1869 as an all-girls school. Mother Mary Alfred Moes, who would later contribute to the founding of the Mayo Clinic, founded the academy in a modest stone building convent. The school relocated to the campus of the University of St. Francis in 1923, three years after the university's opening. In 1956, St. Francis Academy moved to its location at 1200 N. Broadway.
In 1918, Cardinal Mundelein, Archbishop of Chicago, had the De La Salle Christian Brothers create a new high school for boys as a part of their renovation of St. Patrick Church in Joliet. The school opened as DeLaSalle High School for Boys with only two classrooms in the parish center, but moved to a new building in 1927.
The summer of 1990 marked a significant turning point when Joliet Catholic High School and St. Francis Academy merged, giving rise to the modern Joliet Catholic Academy.
Academics at JCA
Joliet Catholic Academy is a college preparatory high school. JCA places students in different academic programs based on their middle school grades, scores on the incoming freshmen placement exam, and scores on other applicable exams. The main academic levels include Accelerated/ Honors, Upper College Prep, and College Prep. Students have the option to enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Credit courses through Joliet Junior College. Furthermore, eligible students can participate in the Honors Program, Academic Resource Center, or the "Degree-in-Three" program through the University of St. Francis. Available AP course subjects include History, Government and Politics, Spanish, French, and European History.
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Athletics
The athletic teams at JCA carry distinct names rooted in the school's history. The men's teams are known as the Hilltoppers, a moniker inherited from the former Joliet Catholic High School. Conversely, the women's teams retain the name Angels, which was previously used by St. Francis Academy. The school provides a wide array of sports for both men and women, including basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling, and bass fishing.
Notably, the football team at Joliet Catholic Academy has achieved unparalleled success, securing more state titles than any other team in Illinois. In fact, Joliet Catholic Academy meets its own gold standard with dominant Class 4A title win. Baseball is another area where JCA shines, with the team routing Richmond-Burton for the IHSA Class 2A state title and successfully defending their 2A title.
Notable Alumni
Joliet Catholic Academy boasts a distinguished list of alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields:
James Otteson (Class of 1986): A philosopher and economist, currently serving as the executive director of the Eudaimonia Institute and a professor of economics and Thomas W. Smith Presidential Chair in Business Ethics at Wake Forest University.
John R Lausch Jr: US Attorney
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Rylan Bannon (Class of 2014): An infielder in the New York Mets organization.
Joe Benson (Class of 2006): Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the second round (64th overall) of the 2006 MLB draft and made his major league debut on September 6, 2011.
Sean Bergman: A former MLB player for the Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, and Minnesota Twins.
Kevin Cameron (Class of 1998): A former MLB pitcher for the San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics.
Bill Gullickson (Class of 1977): A former MLB pitcher for multiple teams, including the Montreal Expos, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Yankees.
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Chris Michalak: A former MLB player for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, and Cincinnati Reds.
Jack Perconte: A former MLB player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and Chicago White Sox.
Terry Gannon (Class of 1981): A former college basketball player at North Carolina State, where he was a member of the "Cardiac Pack" national championship-winning team in 1983.
Ed Mikan: A professional basketball player in the BAA and NBA.
George Mikan (Class of 1942): Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959, known as "Mr. Basketball."
Allie Quigley (Class of 2004): A current WNBA player for the Chicago Sky, recognized with the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award in 2014 and 2015.
Josh Ferguson (Class of 2011): Played football at the University of Illinois as a running back.
Coby Fleener (Class of 2007): Drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2012 NFL draft.
Daniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger: A motivational speaker who played college football at the University of Notre Dame.
Tom Thayer (Class of 1979): An NFL offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears, a member of the Super Bowl XX-winning team.
Mike Alstott: NFL player
Gordie Gillespie: A legendary coach who led the school to five state titles in football. He is also the all-time leader in baseball coaching victories among American college coaches.
Dean Hamiti Jr: Wrestler for Oklahoma State University
John C. Olympic Swimmer
Kelly Murphy: Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2008.
Extracurriculars
Joliet Catholic Academy offers a variety of extracurricular activities. These include academic teams, clubs, performing arts, student publications, and service organizations.
Controversies
In January 2006, Joliet police initiated an investigation into reports of drug use at JCA. Following this incident, the academy implemented a drug testing procedure. All students undergo testing during the first semester, and a random sample of 25% of the student body is tested again in the second semester. The procedure involves analyzing hair samples to detect the presence of major drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Joliet Catholic Academy is a private school. Financial aid is available to students. Tuition and fees may vary depending on grade and other factors, and may have changed for the current school year.
Key Information
Joliet Catholic Academy is a private school located in Joliet, IL. The student population of Joliet Catholic Academy is 597. The school’s minority student enrollment is 27.1% and the student-teacher ratio is 15:1.
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