The All-Boys Advantage
At Christian Brothers Academy, our saying is “bring us your boys and we will return to you men.” Every aspect of our school program is designed to enable boys to become successful men of the future, and since 1959, we have been providing young boys with the tools necessary to achieve in their academic, athletic, and extracurricular endeavors. Everything that takes place on campus, from the classroom, to the athletic fields, to the spiritual growth, is specifically designed with the educational and developmental needs of boys in mind.
We prepare our boys to be valued citizens who know how to set and attain high personal and professional goals. At CBA, we understand boys. We appreciate their sense of humor, their energy, and their unique learning styles, and we believe that our dedicated, focused approach is critical to helping boys realize their full potential. Christian Brothers Academy is a place where boys become men.
The Tradition
The men who founded CBA came from a tradition of all-boys prep schools in New York City and wanted to create a similar experience for young men in the shore area. Their vision of a college preparatory, non-boarding school that would prepare young men for the next level came to life when CBA opened its doors in 1959. While single-sex education has become more an exception than the rule, we at The Academy are convinced that this educational approach makes more sense now than ever. Current research indicates that coeducational classrooms can actually reinforce gender stereotypes, and that many boys are significantly lagging behind girls in terms of high school and college graduation rates.
Single-sex classrooms serve to break down stereotypes. It has been shown that in a single-sex environment, girls are more likely to take classes in math, science, and information technology, while boys are more likely to pursue interests in art, music, drama, and foreign languages. As any teacher will tell you, boys and girls at this age have very different needs, learning styles, and approaches to life. A single-sex setting, free of the distraction of social pressures and anxieties, allows boys to stretch themselves, try new things, and make important strides toward a strong and secure manhood. Here at CBA we hold onto our all-boys tradition not as a nod to the past, but as a way of bringing sense and order to the challenging times in which we live.
The Camaraderie
Ask any CBA student what he values most about our school, and the answer is typically the feeling of camaraderie we have
created here. Students, faculty, and staff know each other well, they respect the diversity of origins that characterize us, and they enjoy spending time together. Whether it’s being a “Colt Crazy” and supporting our teams, or joining one of our over forty clubs and activities, or staying after school to participate in intramurals, there is a special bond between CBA boys that makes them want to get involved and be around each other.
Furthermore, the entire school meets together on many occasions, such as Liturgies and assemblies. This regular, school-wide interaction fosters the sense of brotherhood that all CBA boys feel, and eliminates the sometimes rigid distinctions between older students and younger students that can be prevalent at other schools.
The Pride
Simply put, our boys are proud to be CBA boys. They like it because of the unique prestige and honor that comes with saying “I go to CBA.”
They are in an environment where they are free to be themselves, without the fear of embarrassment or urge to show off in front of the opposite sex. They like it because every boy here is truly a member of the community. Men of The Academy build relationships that last a lifetime with their classmates as well as faculty members. The frequent visits to campus by alumni as well as high turnouts at class reunions are telling of the memorable and meaningful experience that boys have here.
As for the girls, CBA boys have many opportunities to mingle with young women from neighboring schools. With co-ed social activities ranging from the popular CBA school dances, to movie-date nights in our theatre, to tailgates at sporting events, young women have a regular presence on the CBA campus. In short, a boy need not worry about interacting with girls at The Academy, as the opportunities to do so are plentiful.
