McQuaid Jesuit is one of the finest schools in the Rochester area for forming men who are prepared for the rigors of college; who have examined deeply their own faith and convictions; who are open to loving relationships; and who are committed to seeing justice done in the world—in short, a “whole” man.
McQuaid Jesuit does not seek to find one type of student. Admitted students come from public and private schools, city and suburbs, and have experienced different measures of success. One common factor that all successful applicants share, however, is a well-developed sense that hard work itself yields tangible benefits.
Students and parents are encouraged to recognize that each boy adapts at his own pace—one that is appropriate and comfortable to him. As in any new environment, each student should be allowed to explore at his own pace.
As a parent, ask yourself: Does he seem satisfied with his own progress—academically and socially? Is he making friends or taking part at a rate with which he is comfortable? If the answers are yes, he is finding his way. If not, keep in mind that he has both the time and gifts to make his experience better.
Section 3635 of the NYS Education Law requires all non-city districts to provide transportation for students that live within 15 miles of the school they attend. The distances in each case are measured by the nearest available routes from home to school. In order to obtain transportation for their children, parents must file requests with the district in which they live.
McQuaid Jesuit seeks to create young men who through experience and discernment can decide, act, and adapt for themselves. An experienced faculty and staff recognize that our students master those skills with maturity. Therefore, middle school students are given more guidance before making decisions and given less responsibility for fewer decisions. As students mature, they are allowed more personal responsibility but are made accountable for themselves and their decisions.
The majority of middle school classes are held in the middle school hallway, especially in sixth grade. However, a number of middle school faculty members teach classes throughout the building, which causes some overlap. Students in seventh or eighth grade who take an accelerated course of study may enroll in high school math and/or science classes. Also, middle school students have their own separate lunch period every day.
Class sizes vary depending on the course and student needs, but the average class size is 18 students.
Students must wear the following:
- dress shirt and tie
- suit coats (throughout the winter months)
- dress pants with belt
- dress shoes with socks
Although students are free to make individual brand and style choices, the dean of students acts as the arbiter of the dress code.
As one might expect, the amount of nightly homework will depend on a variety of factors including class level, sequence in the semester, and free time. Students quickly master time management and use opportunities wisely to study and prepare. For middle school students, a rule of thumb is ten minutes per class year. For example, students in the 6th grade might expect, on average, 60 minutes of homework per night. For high school students, homework for each core subject may average 20–30 minutes, for a total of 2–3 hours per night.
McQuaid Jesuit does not try to take the place of your family house of worship. Our goal is to lead you on a spiritual journey to help you discover for yourself your core beliefs so that you might use those gifts to create a better world. Young men of all denominations and degrees of devotion learn from each other in religion classes, service trips, and class retreats where group discussion and personal reflection lead each person to a better understanding of self. The presence of young men of many faiths enriches the McQuaid community and helps make all present more faithful believers.