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HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMICS

GRADES 9-11

The foundation of education at Belen Jesuit is based on religious formation, academic excellence, value education, social responsibility, and athletic achievement. The rigorous curriculum and graduation requirements are designed to ensure that all students have a chance at admission to the most demanding colleges and universities in the country.
 

ONLINE CURRICULUM GUIDE

 

PROFILE OF THE GRADUATE AT GRADUATION

Belen Jesuit students praying in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.
RELIGIOUS

By graduation, the Belen Jesuit student will have a basic knowledge of the major doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church. Having been introduced to Ignatian spirituality, the graduate will also have examined his own religious feelings and beliefs with a view to choosing a fundamental orientation toward God and establishing a relationship with a religious tradition and/or community. What is said here, respectful of the conscience and religious background of the individual, also applies to the non-Catholic graduate of a Jesuit high school. The level of theological understanding of the Jesuit-educated graduate will naturally be limited by the student’s level of religious and human development.

Belen Jesuit high school students walking through hallway together past school logo.
OPEN TO GROWTH

The Belen Jesuit student at the time of graduation has matured as a person — emotionally, intellectually, physically, socially, and religiously — to a level that reflects some intentional responsibility for one’s own growth. The graduate is beginning to reach out in his development, seeking opportunities to stretch his mind, imagination, feelings, and religious consciousness.

Belen Jesuit students working together in a class.
INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS

By graduation, the Belen Jesuit student will exhibit a mastery of those academic requirements for advanced forms of education. While these requirements are broken down into departmental subject matter areas, the student will have developed many intellectual skills and understandings that extend beyond the academic requirements for college entrance. The student is also developing habits of intellectual inquiry, as well as a disposition towards life-long learning. The student is beginning to recognize the importance of intellectual integrity in their personal pursuit of religious truth and in his response to issues of social justice.

Belen Jesuit students smile for a photograph outside in the sunshine.
LOVING

By graduation, the Belen Jesuit student has continued to form his own identity. He is moving beyond self-interest or self-centeredness in close relationships. The graduate is beginning to be able to risk some deeper levels of relationship in which one can disclose self and accept the mystery of another person and cherish that person. Nonetheless, the graduate’s attempt at loving, while clearly beyond childhood, may not yet reflect the confidence and freedom of an adult.

Belen Jesuit students organise food donations as part of the Christian Service Program.
COMMITTED TO DOING JUSTICE

The Belen Jesuit student at graduation has acquired considerable knowledge of the many needs of local, national, and global communities and is preparing for the day when he will take a place in these communities as a competent, concerned and responsible member. The graduate has been inspired to develop the awareness and skills necessary to live in a global society as a person for and with others. Although this commitment to doing justice will come to fruition in mature adulthood, some predispositions will have begun to manifest themselves earlier.

AP CAPSTONE INNOVATIVE DIPLOMA PROGRAM

AP Capstone provides students with an opportunity to engage in rigorous scholarly practice of the core academic skills necessary for successful college completion.

AP Capstone is built on the foundation of two courses — AP Seminar and AP Research — and is designed to complement and enhance the in-depth, discipline-specific study provided through AP courses. It cultivates curious, independent, and collaborative scholars and prepares them to make logical, evidence-based decisions.
 

AP CAPSTONE SEMINAR
This course is the first course and partially fulfills the AP Capstone Program offered by the College Board and is a prerequisite for the AP Capstone Research course. The AP Seminar course is an inquiry-based course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations exploring real-world topics and issues from multiple perspectives. Students are empowered to collect and analyze information accurately and precisely to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments.

This AP course is designed to foster inquiry, scientific problem solving, global awareness, and independent thinking. The interdisciplinary units connect scientific study with real-world issues. Students will read, analyze and discuss research articles in the area of interest. Exploring different points of view and making connections across other disciplines is a fundamental component of the AP Seminar program.
AP CAPSTONE RESEARCH

This second course in the AP Capstone experience allows students to design, plan, and conduct a year-long research-based investigation on a topic of individual interest. Through this inquiry and investigation, students demonstrate the ability to apply scholarly understanding to real-world problems and issues.

Students further the skills developed in AP Seminar by understanding research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and analyzing and synthesizing information to build, present, and defend an argument.  Students may choose to:
 

  • Dig deeper into a topic studied in an AP course

  • Work across academic areas with an interdisciplinary topic

  • Study a new area of interest, perhaps one for further study at the college level

Going to Belen made me feel like I was very prepared for college. We were provided with very rigorous coursework and were challenged to bring the best versions of ourselves on a daily basis. Belen helped me become a Man For Others, and they play a part in why I try to help others at all times. 

- Carlos Morales ’22, FSU Junior, Accounting Major

 

COLLEGE-READINESS PROGRAM

Ray Dass Merit Program
Since 2024, our collaboration with Ray Dass has aimed to provide students with various resources to further enrich and support their learning. Mr. Dass is a nationwide provider of award-winning college-readiness programs, test prep, AP Exam reviews, and supplemental math programs. This program is available to all students in grades 9-11 at no additional cost.
SARA™ Test Preparation Software

SARA™ is an innovative and revolutionary approach to content mastery. Unlike short-term test prep classes or “cram” sessions, SARA™ actually teaches students the content they need to learn while providing nearly endless opportunities for practice, helping them become more comfortable with the material and questions they’ll encounter in school and on standardized tests.

To ensure students make the most of this opportunity, SARA™ will be integrated into the English and Math curricula. Details will be provided to students through the course syllabi, a range of materials distributed at the start of the academic year.

New Heights Architecture & Design Program

In 2025, we introduced an enrichment program for all 10th- and 11th-grade students interested in any field of design. In partnership with The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA), the New Heights Program engages participants in a dynamic study of Classical and Vernacular architecture through studio experiences that enhance their understanding of the built environment and their place within it.

Over the course of six sessions spanning nine weeks, students engage with classical and vernacular architecture through guided observation, critical thinking, sketching, and design.

 
Belen Jesuit High School student completing classwork.
Led by award-winning architects, landscape architects, and professors—including several Belen alumni—students in the New Heights Program will explore how architecture reflects cultural values, fosters community, and even reveals the divine.

One-to-One Device Program:
 

Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, High school students will transition to the 13-inch MacBook Neo: Apple A18 Pro chip, 8GB, 256GB SSD laptop with an STM Ace Vertical Super Cargo Case.

The MacBook Neo provides a true keyboard-first environment essential for AP courses, research papers, lab reports, and complex projects. The MacBook Neo is a standard productivity device for college, allowing students to use full desktop software and specialized programs, ensuring a seamless transition after graduation.

Belen Jesuit High School Students outside on campus with their teacher.

STEAM PROGRAM

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CONDE MEDIA CENTER

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CATHOLIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM

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WHERE TO NEXT

Continue exploring Academics at Belen Jesuit. Discover the programs, resources, and opportunities that challenge our students to grow intellectually, creatively, and with purpose.

Animated Belen Jesuit Senior character wearing a blazer and tie.