JSerra Catholic High School
By Shelley Hudson
JSerra’s picturesque 40-acre campus in historic San Juan Capistrano is a dream come true for its founders. The state-of-the-art classrooms, media center, technology department, and university-level athletic complex provide the setting for this private Catholic high school, now in its eleventh year of operation.
Headmaster Rich Meyer describes the institution’s “second phase” largely in terms of the first. “Our innovations in education produced significant milestones in JSerra’s first decade. It is now our responsibility to fortify our existing programs and continue to develop our unique brand,” he explains. “We currently have our largest enrollment so far, and we’ll reach capacity in the next few years. I want to maintain the balance we’ve created and build on it. We offer a base of solid liberal arts programs that provide a rich education; we add to that an overlay of specialized courses to challenge and engage every student.”
In order to keep energy and momentum funneled into JSerra’s ambitious curriculum, the school’s administration depends on a solid partnership with students and parents. High expectations are placed on academic performance, but in exchange, students have the ability to pursue opportunities not available elsewhere. JSerra’s incredibly successful Magnet Programs, for example, draw students who are interested in a specific field of study and offers them real-world experiences with industry professionals. The Medical, Business, and Law Magnet tracks have expanded in scope each year since they were introduced, and an Engineering program was added in September. “This kind of professional insight is just something you don’t find outside our model,” enthuses Headmaster Meyer. “We have medical students working with clinicians, business hopefuls taking on internships in the community, law students participating in mock trials, and pre-engineers competing in robotics. It’s an exciting time, and universities are very interested in what we’re doing here.”
The school’s Artist-in-Residence, JSerra Online, and Study Abroad options add depth to the curriculum as well. Accomplished professionals in Fine and Performing Arts and Broadcast Journalism mentor students in and out of the classroom. Broadcasting students produce original weekly content, dance students train under a talented professional dance teacher, and the choir will tour Spain and Portugal in a few months. A schedule of online classes provides flexibility for students who work, travel, or who have specific needs. Students can embark on a two-week adventure to Italy this summer to study the culture first hand. These demonstrative programs enhance the traditional classroom experience and pique a student’s natural curiosity about the world.
JSerra’s Athletic Department has earned its own reputation for excellence. The impressive on-campus facilities are among the best in the country and feature a 2,000-seat gym, an Olympic-class aquatics center, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, softball, and football fields, tennis courts, track, sand volleyball courts, and an expansive, multi-use fitness center. Student athletes can compete at the top of their game with access to first-rate equipment and the support of a dedicated coaching staff. “Athletic success is important for many reasons, but character is key—sports is a great vehicle for that. We have coaches working with students who understand that balance. Team sports provides an additional layer of opportunity to develop talents, responsibility, discipline, and accountability,” shares Meyer.
An astounding 75% of JSerra’s students are involved in one of the school’s 20 athletic programs. The Athletic Department boasts 17 all-league athletes for the Fall semester, with several teams reaching top-tier status. The girls cross-country track team won its fourth consecutive CIF and Trinity League titles, and the football squad celebrated the best year in school history. Three-sport athlete Dante Pettis received a football scholarship to the University of Washington, and he’s just one of many JSerra student athletes to earn recognition for dedication to both academics and athletics. “All of our efforts are geared toward nurturing the character and cultivating the faith of our young women and men,” asserts Headmaster Meyer. “Our ultimate success will be measured by the kinds of fathers, mothers, and citizens they become.”
JSerra Catholic High School
26351 Junipero Serra Road, San Juan Capistrano
949.493.9307 • JSerra.org
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