ABOUT US
Who We Are

Who We Serve

Faculty and Staff

Work at CJA

Our Way of Proceeding

Gies Campus and History

Board of Directors

Subscribe to eNews
ABOUT US

CJA is a loving and supportive life-long community for our students and alumni. We are a tuition-free, Catholic lower and middle school for students and families impacted by historic disinvestment. We also accompany alumni as they transition to high school, post-high school options and on to the start of their careers, and we engage with the larger community to support creating access to better educational resources.
ADMISSIONS
You belong at CJA

Visit CJA

Admissions Process

Apply to CJA
ADMISSIONS
CJA accepts 3rd-5th grade students first come, first served and we are not academically selective. For 6th-8th grade applicants, academics and willingness to partner with the school are taken into account. We accept students in all grades without regard to race, ethnicity or religion. Learn more about our school and see why your child belongs at CJA!
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Third & Fourth Grades

Fifth & Sixth Grades

Seventh & Eighth Grades

Student Support Services

Nurse

Specials

Meal Program

Co-Curriculars
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
At CJA, we believe in caring for the whole person. We provide rigorous academics in a loving and supportive environment but we also support our students physically, mentally and spiritually through a dedicated school nurse, a team of social workers, a faith-based education, enriching co-curriculars and a nutritious meal program.
ALUMNI SUPPORT
College & Career Persistence Program

High School Transition

Post-High School Transition

Career Transition
ALUMNI SUPPORT
After students graduate from CJA, they work consistently with their College & Career Persistence (CP) counselor until age 25 and they and their families are considered part of our community forever. Our dedicated team of CP counselors accompany students and alumni through the transition to high school, post-high school and ultimately careers.
IMPACT
A Unique Approach

Evidence of Impact
IMPACT

When children are given the resources they deserve in order to thrive in and outside of the classroom, they can reach their full, incredible potential. We see the impact each day in working with our students, alumni and partner schools. Their hard work, dedication and resilience demonstrates what can be achieved when obstacles to educational equity begin to be removed.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
High School Bridge

Notre Dame Partnership

HSB Partner Schools

Community Partnerships
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

We’re expanding our services to students across Chicagoland! By 2027, we’ll be supporting students in nineteen elementary schools as they identify and choose their best-fit high schools.

And, now that our expanded school building is open, we are working to deepen relationships with neighbors and local organizations as we seek to provide a community gathering space.
SUPPORT US
Donate Now

Ways to Give

Scholarship Pledge

Planned Giving

Goods & Services

Wish List

Volunteer

Hire an Alum
SUPPORT US
As a tuition-free school, the success of our mission depends entirely on the generosity of people who believe in the great promise of our students and alumni. All gifts are critical investments in ensuring access to the academic resources and holistic care for the community we serve.

College & Career Persistence Program

After Graduation, We’re Still With You Every Step of the Way

Students graduate from CJA at the end of 8th grade, but our College & Career Persistence (CP) Team continues to support alumni through the age of 25. This includes walking with students as they access and persist in best-fit high schools, summer programming, post-high school education and the start of their careers.

High School Transition

The CP Team starts working with students in 7th grade to find their best-fit high school and potential scholarships. Once students enter high school, their CP Counselors continue to support them in persisting at their high school, including annual campus visits and ongoing advocacy. They also prepare alumni for post-high school with ACT test prep, workshops and summer jobs.

Post-High School Transition

CP counselors work with rising high-school seniors to map out their plans for college, certificate programs or immediate workforce entry. The path each alumni takes is as unique as the person and CP ensures that, regardless of next steps, alumni will be ready and supported.

Career Transition

As alumni begin college or start their professional pathway, CJA continues to be a strong advocate as they chart their way toward meaningful employment. Our ultimate goal is that alumni have meaning and purpose in their work, opportunities for upward mobility and resources that help build the foundation for their financial goals.

Building Relationships and Caring for the Whole Person

CP counselors support alumni as they make these transitions by providing diverse summer camp and employment opportunities and by working with alumni and families to provide trauma-informed responses to emergent and non-emergent crises so that alumni can continue to chart their path toward meaningful employment even when real-life obstacles stand in their way.

Each Alum is Different, So is Their Path

When it comes to career paths, the journeys of our alumni are as varied and unique as each of them. For some alumni, this means a four-year college after high school, and for some, this means immediate employment. Regardless, alumni often tell us how impactful CJA was to their development and is in continuing to shape their lives. It is our ultimate goal that our alumni become people for others meaningfully engaged in their careers and communities.

ABOUT US

ADMISSIONS

SCHOOL PROGRAMS

ALUMNI SUPPORT

IMPACT

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

SUPPORT US