Loyola High School in downtown Los Angeles is one of the best high schools in California. The school offers a Jesuit education along with top notch educators and activities.
I want to tell you about Loyola High School in Los Angeles. For the first time since I started this site, I’m writing about a topic neither food nor travel related.
I hope you won’t mind, because I feel so strongly about my son’s alma mater. Now is a perfect time to share this information with you, because Loyola High School is celebrating its 150th anniversary, making it the oldest continuously run educational institution in Southern California.
My son had a phenomenal education here. He was taught by some outstanding teachers who were fabulous role models. He met lifelong friends, and left the school as “a man for and with others”, as does each and every Loyola High School graduate.
Without getting into a lot of facts and figures, I’d like to tell you what I’ve learned about Loyola High School. I’m also going to share why I’m compelled to tell you about it in the first place.
When my son Steven was in middle school, our dentist would practically harass me each time we’d go in for an appointment. He tried desperately to convince me to have Steven apply to a high school named Loyola near downtown Los Angeles. I had no idea where it was, or anything about it, except that our dentist was obsessed with it. He couldn’t stop telling me how fabulous Loyola was, and how much his sons loved it. I remember him recounting that his daughter had wanted to dress up like a boy so she, too, could attend. Obviously, LHS is an all-male Jesuit high school. I remember thinking he was nuts.
After checking out possibilities for my son during middle school, visiting Loyola High School during their open house, and meeting students and staff, I began to see an inkling of what the crazy dentist saw in LHS. Once we made the difficult decision of turning down a scholarship from another high school in order for Steven to attend Loyola, the mystery began to dissipate. The nutty dentist didn’t seem quite so mental anymore. In hindsight, we had gone with our gut, and the decision to turn down that scholarship was one of the best we had ever made. Each one of the friends that Steven made at Loyola was more charming and impressive than the next. They were, and still are, truly outstanding young gentlemen.
Currently under the leadership of President Fr. Greg Goethals, Loyola isn’t just focused on education, although the academics here are top-notch. 99% of graduates go directly to higher education (96% of them to 4-year colleges) and has many notable alumni. On this campus, there is an atmosphere that I cannot describe. It combines friendship, loyalty, acceptance, compassion, and so many other characteristics that seem to exude from somewhere. It permeate the students, faculty, staff and even those who visit. (I’m sounding like that nutty dentist now, aren’t I?)
“The Grad at Grad” embodies six characteristics which each student should possess at graduation. There is a brotherhood which forms between the students, but it goes much further, and doesn’t stop with the boys. It reaches into their families and friends–it spills over into the schools, shelters and throughout the community where the boys volunteer. And they really volunteer. Take a look at this short clip on NBC Nightly News which will give you a glimpse into a part of their volunteer program.
Students aren’t the only ones who offer their services to and for others. The Loyola Mother’s Guild holds a luncheon/fundraiser each year, which is honestly, almost indescribable. I enjoyed participating in the Speech and Debate “table-decorating” for the luncheon each year. As you can see from the photos below (which is the best way to showcase this event), there’s quite a bit more to it than decorating the tables. In addition to providing for a cause, the mothers really enjoy preparing for the event and making new friends. All the participants dress according to the table theme, and sometimes the decorating requires carpenters, electricians and plumbers to help put the tables together!
One of the most elaborate table decorating with which I was involved, was when the Speech and Debate mothers turned the Loyola stage into “Ye Olde Cub Pub”. It came complete with a realistic fireplace, stone and timber walls, and a suit of armor! The entire luncheon is always very impressive and raises money which helps to keep tuition low.
Fathers and siblings also provide their time and effort. Here is a group of parents volunteering together at a debate event selling concessions. Guess who was in charge of the food?
Since 2014 is Loyola’s 150th anniversary, April 11th has been designated “150th Day of Service”. Students, parents (including me), alumni, staff and friends will spread throughout Los Angeles to offer their services on 100 projects at charitable locations. One such place is Homeboy Industries (founder Fr. Greg Boyle is a Loyola alumnus). It is truly difficult to imagine the number of lives that are touched by the ripple effect from Loyola High School. From the students and their four-year experience to everyone who benefits from the many service hours provided.
Loyola High School manages to accomplish so much more than so many other high schools. As a parent, we learn over the years not to be surprised anymore. For example, the letter in the following photo is a copy of one which was sent from Pope Francis, himself a Jesuit, congratulating Loyola on 150 years. When my friend Marie (another Loyola mother) and I heard this, we were amazed that he didn’t come to share his well wishes in person!
It has often been said that Loyola is “the best damn high school in Southern California”. However, I disagree: I think Loyola High School is world class. I am proud to have my very own Cub, and feel incredibly blessed to be a part of the LHS community.
The moral of the story is that if you have a seemingly nutty, overzealous dentist who recommends something to you, he may just know what he’s talking about! If you are in the LA area and have a son who will be going to high school in the future, don’t miss one of the best opportunities you may ever be able to give him. For more information on Loyola High School in Los Angeles, go to their website~
Loyola High School or Loyola’s 150th Anniversary
We will return to our regularly scheduled programming with my next post. Thank you for allowing me to go off topic. Coincidentally, St. Ignatius of Loyola was a Basque priest who began the Jesuit order, and a very typical Basque food happens to be salt cod. You guessed it, my next recipe will be for Insalata di Baccala, an Italian Salt Cod Salad, and I didn’t even plan that!
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[…] some historical places in Manresa, one of them relating to St Ignatius of Loyola. (My son went to Loyola High School here in LA, so I loved hearing this historical […]
Your blog was such a pleasant surprise to see this morning! Every year I make an Easter bread recipe that has been passed through generations, and I try to add a different spin on it each year. So when I saw your adorable individual rings with the eggs inside, I just had to see how you made them. When I clicked on the link, your post about Loyola High also popped up — the same school my son is attending as a sophomore! Small world:) Happy Easter and congratulations to your son on his graduation from Georgetown!
Wow, it is a small world, Michele! So glad you found both my Italian Easter bread and the Loyola post! I’m already looking forward to going to Preview Night at the end of the month! Happy Easter to you, too and thank you for your good wishes! CC
Loyola is an amazing school! So many of my friends from Cathedral Chapel Elementary went to Daniel Murphy and Loyola, as I went to Immaculate Heart. I am still friends with so many of my graduating class. My husband went to St Joseph’s in Metuchen, NJ and then graduated from Georgetown. Our youngest is deciding where to attend, with her older siblings pushing her towards Catholic University.They are alums. We have made so many amazing connections and support groups through Georgetown and our high schools! Congratulations to you and your family and (your family dentist who gave the best advice)!I wish your children much success and happiness! Nettie
Thank you so much, Nettie and all the best of luck to your youngest and her decision on where to go to college this year, also! It is a difficult time to navigate with so many considerations to take into account. Thank you so much for commenting and for your good wishes! CC
Dear Christina,
It is amazing sometimes how everything just seems to go so well together. Just think if you didn’t go to that dentist, how things would have changed. Fabulous article and your son is so handsome. God bless….Sounds like an awesome school as well as so many good programs have come from this terrific school. My brother and then my son went to Holy Cross in Bayside, Queens. I also was involved in many fundraisers and card parties, etc. They even had a play “Funny Girl” which when my brother was there, my dad was in the play. I love your photos and you look so pretty. God Bless all the people involved and the Jesuits. You are a proud mom as you should be..Nice to see a post outside the kitchen…Thanks for sharing…..Have a great week, and enjoy going back to the school.
Dottie :)
Isn’t that the most amazing part, Dottie? Yes, the dentist had everything to do with the path which we ended up choosing. Sounds like you had a great school near you, also. Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you have a lovely rest of the week, too! CC
Since I only have daughters, Loyola wasn’t really on my radar, but it sounds like an incredible institution, Christina.
As a mom myself who cares deeply about the schools my children will attend and the quality of education they’ll receive, I can relate to and appreciate your sentiments. My oldest is just barely turning 5 years old next month but my husband and I have already been looking far down the road. Loyola really sounds like the kind of high school we would want our children to attend. I love the comradery both the students and the parents share and the values that are instilled as part of the education. We have a Jesuit prep school near where we live as well but Loyola really does seem like one of a kind.
You are very smart to begin looking so early, Kimberly. I wish you the best of luck in finding great schools from elementary onwards for your children, because as you said, the values which are held by the school does have a part in molding who they become as adults. Thanks so much, CC
I remember when you were finding the best fit for Steven. How well things have turned out.
You’ve been, and are, a champion mom.
Congratulations!
And, how handsome is that boy?!!!!
You’re very sweet, Angela! I miss you and that lovely daughter of yours very much! xx
Well said Christina. Loyola High School is one of a kind. After hearing so much from other parents’ experience with their sons, I can’t imagine there is a better place for a young man to get an education. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you, Debbie! CC