Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a summary of our guiding principles from the "Profile of the Graduate of a Jesuit High School at Graduation, Jesuit Secondary Education Association, Commission of Research and Development" - "The Grad at Grad." Supposition: An adolescent is a threshold person, entering the adult world cautiously, an immigrant, eager to find his/her way.

 

OPEN TO GROWTH

...is beginning to be responsible... learning how to accept self-made conscious of feelings... open to a variety of feelings, and drives... developing habit of reflection.

 

INTELLECTUALLY COMPETENT

...developing logical skills and critical thinking... developing greater precision in written and oral expression... developing general knowledge of variety of disciplines... beginning to relate current events to cultural antecedents... growing in awareness of global social problems... public policy implications... growing in critical consciousness... moral ambiguities.

 

RELIGIOUS

...has read Gospels and encountered Christ... has basic understanding of Church's teaching, mission... aware of own responsibility to explore and validate one's faith... has had some personal experience of God... beginning to appreciate a living community and the Eucharist... is learning through failures... is becoming a man/woman for others.

 

LOVING

...learning to trust fidelity of friends, family, and adults... experiencing felt moments of God's love and loving self as he/she is... coming to grips with prejudice, stereotypes... learning to extend self to build up community... more at ease with the mature experiences with opposite sex... sensitive to beauty of created universe.

 

COMMITTED TO DOING JUSTICE

...more aware of selfish tendencies and how unjust... sees how faith is commitment to a just society... exposed to community service programs... aware of public policies and social issues and demands of just society.

The school was named after Edward Creighton, who, at his death, left his fortune to wife, Mrs. Mary Lucretia (Wareham) Creighton, who specified in her will that the money should go to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Omaha to build a free school for boys. Edward's brother, John A. Creighton, was one of the executors of the will and gave the property and securities to the Right Reverend James O'Conner, the first bishop of Omaha. The bishop gave the school to the Jesuits of the Missouri Province to be administered by them.

Research shows that boys and girls learn differently. Creighton Prep is geared towards the distinct learning needs of boys and our teachers teach to the strengths of boys. Students feel safe to be themselves and take a sincere interest in their own intellectual, physical, spiritual, moral and creative formation. Furthermore, the unique brotherhood that develops between students here is something that unites them as a student body and carries into their lives as alumni.

Athletics at Prep are certainly competitive.  Our teams are made up of talented, hard-working young men-not always the most talented athlete. For students who do not make a team, we direct your attention to the many co-curricular offerings. We know that only a small percentage of our athletes will eventually play on college rosters and we encourage athletes and non-athletes alike to venture beyond their comfort zone and become involved in new activities not related to athletics.

Fr. Pedro Arrupe, former Superior General of the Jesuits, coined the phrase "man for others" in a speech he delivered in 1973. The phrase has since become the motto of most Jesuit schools. Arrupe explained that the challenge of Jesuit schools is to foster "men and women who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not include love for the least of their neighbors; men and women completely convinced that love of God which does not issue in justice for others is a farce." That is the challenge that Creighton Prep students rise up to meet: to live in solidarity with the poor, and with a commitment to creating a more just society. Whether it is reaching out to the poor or disadvantaged in the community outside, helping a fellow student who is struggling in math class, it is in the giving of the heart, whether in matters big or small, that defines being a "man for others. "

Yes! Creighton Prep strives to educate the whole person. Through the development of every student's spiritual, intellectual, moral, physical and creative potential, we prepare students for life beyond Prep. As a preparatory school, we provide students with the tools to succeed in college. In fact, over 98% of our graduates attend outstanding four-year colleges and universities each year.  In addition, 64% of these graduates earned college scholarships worth $16.5 million, an amount that exceeds Creighton Prep's annual operating budget!

The only honest answer to this question is: "it depends." The amount of homework will depend on the course load a student takes as well as on the student's work habits. Upper division classes usually require additional time due to the level of the classes, but the workload is manageable.

Creighton Prep provides many opportunites in which young men and women can interact in an age-appropriate way. We have found that our full schedule of on-campus dances, spectator sporting events, drama and music performances provide our young men a social setting in which to meet and socialize with young women. In addition, many of our co-curricular activities strive to incorporate the young women from the local all-girls schools. The mix of social and co-curricular activities with young women provide our young men with healthy interactions to help prepare them for their college years and beyond.

The Admissions Committee at Creighton Prep High School primarily considers the following factors when making admissions decisions:

- Academic records from 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, including conduct and attendance

- Standardized testing scores in Reading, Language, and Mathematics from 6th, 7th, and 8th grades

- Extracurricular activities and community service

- School recommendations

One of the biggest concerns expressed by prospective students is whether or not they will fit in. The thing to remember about this question, and the uncertainty behind it, is that when you get to high school, everyone is the new kid. Though there are, inevitably, small groups of students who know each other from grade school, the majority of students are new to one another.

Understanding this, and working with it, the members of the Prep community reach out and embrace each and every student as an individual. The idea is called cura personalis, a Latin word meaning "care for the individual". This idea runs its course through the Admissions process, through your classes, through sports and clubs, and through graduation and beyond. At Prep we care about who you are, where you come from and why you are here.  We want you to be comfortable and we want you to feel at home. We are family at Creighton Prep!

When the Jesuit residence was completed in 1961, more than 30 priests and brothers called 7400 Western Avenue home.  Today, there are 12 Jesuits that live in the community.  Of those, nine are active within the school.