Be Ignited! Blog

WHAT IS THE ALL-BOYS ADVANTAGE?

We are experts in educating young men. The All-Boys Advantage means every facet of the learning platform at Fairfield Prep is engineered to guide and challenge boys to find their own niche and passion in life. We not only gear our academic curriculum towards how boys learn, but also create a foundation for boys to grow through Cura Personalis, the care for the whole person. Our teachers and coaches are trained in relational learning and teach boys how to exercise empathy in everyday situations - in and out of the classroom. Understanding what it may feel like in another person’s shoes is essential to building our unique Prep Brotherhood.

As part of last year’s virtual Open House we hosted a Student Panel discussion to talk about life at Prep. Hear Logan and Matt reflect on "What does the Fairfield Prep brotherhood mean to you?" 

 

At Fairfield Prep, we want all families to feel that an exceptional, Jesuit high school experience is both a valuable investment and accessible.  Through the generosity of our benefactors, we strive to make a Fairfield Prep education affordable to all.

There are two forms of tuition assistance offered at Fairfield Prep, funded by the generosity of our passionate and loyal alumni:

NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID

• $3.1 million in need-based financial aid awarded for the 2021-22 school year
• More than 1 out of every 3 students receives need-based financial aid
• Average award is 46% of tuition
• Maximum award is 95% of tuition
• 41% of financial aid recipients have Adjusted Gross Income of $125,000 or more
• Visit our Need-Based Financial Aid webpage for more information

MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS

• $640,000 in Merit Scholarships awarded to the Class of 2025, over their four year Prep careers
• Scholarships range from $2,000-$5,000 per year
• Separate essay and interview are required
• Visit our Merit Scholarship webpage for more information

The opening line of our Mission Statement begins, “Fairfield College Preparatory School is a Jesuit, Catholic School of excellence…”  So what exactly is a Jesuit education?  And why should you consider Fairfield Prep for your son’s high school experience?

What is a Jesuit Education?

The Jesuit Order, formally known as the Society of Jesus, is well known for its widespread missionary activity and is best known for almost 500 years of excellence in education in Jesuit high schools and colleges throughout the world.

It was in 1548 that St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, opened the first Jesuit school. Today the Jesuits run 60 secondary schools and 28 colleges and universities in the United States alone. Currently, 1/3 of the US Supreme Court Justices and 11% of the US Congress are graduates of Jesuit universities or high schools.

The distinctiveness of a Jesuit education stems from its deep-rooted history and a mission grounded in faith and intellectual rigor. Since its beginnings in the 16th century when the first Jesuit institution opened its doors in Messina, Sicily, Jesuit higher education remains committed to academic excellence, service, leadership, and caring for the whole person. Jesuit high schools embody a tradition that has stood the test of time, and have the proven experience of transforming ordinary boys and girls into extraordinary “Men and Women For Others.”

Why Fairfield Prep?

Founded in 1942, Fairfield Prep is situated on the 200 acre campus of Fairfield University. We are the only Jesuit Catholic secondary school in Connecticut, with a diverse student body representing 54 different towns. Prep’s mission is to form young men of intellectual competence, who possess the conscience to make wise decisions, a compassion for others, and a commitment to justice in our global society.

As a Catholic school, Prep helps young men to grow in their faith and understanding of the teachings of the Church and to learn to put their faith into action in the service of others. We welcome students of all faiths, believing that conscious reflection on one’s faith, whatever it may be, leads to spiritual maturity and a commitment to serve others.

A Fairfield Prep education centers on the education of the whole person: mind, spirit and body. The Jesuits call this cura personalis (Latin for “care for the whole person”) and is accomplished by putting relationship-building at the center of our educational model. To highlight the importance of “caring for the whole person,” The New York Times columnist David Brooks recently wrote this excellent op-ed stressing the importance of the student-teacher relationship "Students Learn From People They Love." 

“…a key job of a school is to give students new things to love—an exciting field of study, new friends.  It reminded us that what teachers really teach is themselves—their contagious passion for their subjects and students.  It reminded us that children learn from people they love, and that love in this context means willing the good of another, and offering active care of the whole person.”

To learn more about “Why Fairfield Prep?” please visit www.fairfieldprep.org/explore