Cheverus High School

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Cheverus High School
Cheverus-Seal.png
CheverusHighSchool.JPG
Location
Cheverus High School
267 Ocean Avenue

,
04103

United States
Coordinates 43°40′46″N70°16′40″W / 43.679395°N 70.27776°W / 43.679395; -70.27776
Information
Former nameThe Catholic Institute High School
Type Private, college-preparatory school
Motto Latin: Crescamus in Illo per omnia
(May we grow in Him through all things)
Religious affiliation(s) Jesuit (Roman Catholic)
Established1917 (1917)
Oversight Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
NCES School ID 00563278 [1]
PrincipalJohn Moran
Teaching staff31.0 (on an FTE basis) [1]
Grades9–12 [1]
Gender Co-educational
Enrollment344 (2023–2024) [1]
Student to teacher ratio11.1 [1]
Color(s)Purple and gold   
MascotStag
Accreditation New England Association of Schools and Colleges [2]
Website www.cheverus.org

Cheverus High School (simply referred to as Cheverus, formerly The Catholic Institute High School) is a private, Jesuit, co-educational, college-preparatory school in Portland, Maine, United States. It was established in 1917 and is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. It is named after Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus, the first Bishop of Boston.

Contents

History

Cheverus High School was established in 1917 as The Catholic Institute High School [3] [4] and renamed Cheverus Classical High School in 1926, after Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus, the first Bishop of Boston. [5]

It was initially located on Free Street, [6] moved to Cumberland Avenue in 1946, [7] [8] and then to its present location on Ocean Avenue in 1952. [9] [10] The school was originally run by the diocesan clergy, and the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) took over responsibility in 1942. [11]

In 1998, nine male alumni claimed that they had been molested while attending the school. Two former faculty members were accused. The school confirmed the abuse and apologized to the victims. The victims also accused both the school and the Portland Diocese of hiding information, and that they had previously known about the abuse. Settlements to victims have reached a cumulative seven figures, with ongoing counseling additional. [12]

In September 2000, the former all-boys school became co-educational, admitting 28 girls, in addition to the 402 enrolled males. [13]

A Cheverus alumnus of 1940, Leonard F. Ahern, bequeathed the school $1 million in 2010 for a scholarship fund, for a $40,000 college scholarship to a graduating student, annually. [14]

The school received a $60,000 grant in 2011 from the Davis Family Foundation of Falmouth to support its “Be- yond Classroom Doors” project. The funds will help create a computer facility, and will also enhance the school's computer curriculum, providing resources for faculty teaching online. [15]

Academics

Cheverus offers 12 Advanced Placement classes, and has an honors option for most of its courses. Students must take 25.5 courses in 4 years, including at least 4 mathematics courses, 4 English courses, 4 theology courses, 3 science courses, 3 foreign language courses (continuing within the same language), and 3 social studies courses. [16]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for CHEVERUS HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  2. "NEASC-Commission on Independent Schools". NEASC-CIS. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  3. "Catholic and Cheverus Classical Have Ancient, Honorable Histories". Evening Express. October 24, 1933. p. 11. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  4. "Old convent Cheverus first home". Evening Express. January 5, 1980. p. 20. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  5. "Catholic Institute Is Renamed Cheverus Classical High School". Portland Press Herald. October 2, 1926. p. 14. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  6. "Catholic and Cheverus Classical Have Ancient, Honorable Histories". Evening Express. October 24, 1933. p. 11. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  7. "Big Building Project Under Way Here". Evening Express. April 25, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  8. "Big Building Project Under Way Here". Evening Express. April 25, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  9. "Most Modern in County... New Cheverus Opens Monday". Evening Express. April 18, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  10. "New Cheverus School Boasts Latest in Design, Equipment". Portland Press Herald. April 13, 1952. p. 6. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  11. "Cheverus Opens Tuesday, Record Enrollment Seen". Evening Express. September 12, 1942. p. 2. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  12. Pfeiffer, Sacha (March 17, 2002). "Maine school struggles to deal with sex abuse issue". The Boston Globe.
  13. "Jesuit (cont.)". Portland Press Herald. October 7, 2000. p. 20. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  14. "Cheverus receives $1M for scholarship fund". The Portland Forecaster. April 7, 2010. pp. A12. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  15. "Greater Portland Brief". Portland Press Herald. April 6, 2011. pp. B6. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  16. "About". Cheverus High School. Archived from the original on May 7, 2006. Retrieved April 1, 2006.