Christian Brothers School is a unique educational institution as it is the only all-male middle school in New Orleans. Christian Brothers School seeks to meet the needs of the academically capable middle school boy. As a result, the school attracts students from approximately 40 different elementary schools and every school sytem of the greater New Orleans area.
The curriculum is grade-level accelerated in that students are appropriately challenged to master concepts which are more difficult than those typically encountered by students of similar ages. Many Christian Brothers graduates inform us that their first year of high school honors courses are, for the most part, a review of material which they covered while in middle school at Christian Brothers. Furthermore, instructional methodologies are best suited for the learning styles of middle school boys. Students actively engage themselves in learning, and their daily schedules allow for the physical release of energy throughout the day (including an organized intramural league during recess and daily physical education class).
When the school first opened in 1960, the faculty consisted entirely of Christian Brothers. As the Brothers aged and younger Brothers were not available to replace retiring Brothers, the Brothers hired lay men to work with them. This unintended tradition of an all-male faculty has become a successful feature to the program. The male teachers represent various vocations, ages, hobbies and personalities. Consequently, every student is able to identify with a least one member of the faculty such that the rapport between teacher and student is the hallmark of the school’s reputation. In fact, this rapport between the teachers and students outside of the classroom most influences the learning which takes place inside of the classroom.
At the end of each day, students have over twenty different extracurricular choices before them. These choices include programs in athletics, academics, service, and the arts. Every student in the school participates in at least one extracurricular activity each school year. Numerous extracurricular programs afford students the opportunity to explore interests and discover talents they are not aware they have. As part of this participation, every student “belongs” to a club or team. This sense of fraternity enhances a student’s self-esteem which contributes to his development within the Christian Brothers program.
Lastly, the school subscribes to the motto: “Your sons into young men, young men into Christian gentlemen.” This motto serves as a constant reminder to students and teachers permeating all that is done. The school mission calls for the provision of opportunities for the total development of the child in an atmosphere of mutual respect among teachers and students such that students are prepared for a challenging secondary program. As a result, Christian Brothers students are taught how to be good people as well as learned individuals.
Since July 2007