Admissions FAQ

List of 8 frequently asked questions.

• What distinguishes Loyola from other schools in the area?

  An all-male Catholic school founded over 160 years ago in the Jesuit tradition of education, Loyola is one of the finest school in the Baltimore area for forming men who are prepared for the rigors of college, who have examined deeply their own faith and convictions, who are open to loving relationships, and who are committed to seeing justice done in the world—in short, a “whole” man.

• What is the average class size?

  Class sizes may vary from 10 to 24 depending on the course and student needs. However, Loyola deliberately forms smaller class sections in those disciplines in which collaboration is most essential. For example, some freshmen English classes, in which the craft of quality written expression begins, may be as small as 10 students per class. By contrast, in those classes where a variety of opinions expressed leads to greater appreciation and learning of the subject matter, such as history or religion, larger classes are formed.

• How does the school develop the boys spiritually?

  Through daily religion classes, annual retreats, and regular opportunities to perform service in the community, Loyola students have the opportunity to nourish their spiritual side—one present in all young men. Centuries ago, the Jesuits realized that, in order to teach, they first needed to learn the language of those whom they meant to instruct. In the same way, conversations about faith and spirituality and the tenets underlying them—tenets like integrity, honesty, and faith—are the means by which experienced instructors translate theology for our young men. Throughout their years at Loyola, students are continuously challenged to discuss, explore, reflect, and express their individual core beliefs. By graduation, students will have developed a bedrock understanding of their own creed upon which they can build the remainder of their lives and through which they can, in the words of St. Ignatius, "Go forth, and set the world on fire."

• How do you incorporate technology into the classroom?

  At Loyola Blakefield, our teachers and students have access to state of the art classrooms outfitted with wireless projectors and sound systems. Each faculty member at Loyola has a tablet PC that connects wirelessly to our classroom projectors. Our faculty implement their tablet PCs into their classroom instruction, professional development, and professional and personal productivity. With our three laptop carts outfitted with 24 laptops each, our faculty are able to design and develop digital-age learning experiences and facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity through engaging technology-embedded lessons and activities. Our teachers are leveraging this available technology in the classrooms and combined with their expert pedagogical backgrounds are able to create rigorous, technology-enhanced lessons with cutting edge web tools, websites, software, and resources that enhance and complement how and what the students learn. Between the laptop carts and five computer labs on campus, including an Digital Media Lab outfitted with iMacs and top-of-the-line photography, graphic design, and video production software, students are always able to connect and utilize available technology before, during, and after the school day.
  
  Read more about our 1:1 technology initiative which will take effect at the start of the 2017–18 school year.

• How diversified is Loyola?

  As a key component of our mission statement, Loyola embraces all forms of diversity and seeks constantly to widen its appeal so as to create a vibrant community of racial, religious, and economic diversity. Presently, students of color make up 15% of our school population and students of faiths other than Roman Catholic over 23%.

• How well prepared are the boys for college?

  Our college counseling department helps each student find a school that best fits his needs. Administrators and professors at many colleges and universities tell us that they know almost immediately when they have encountered a Loyola Don, both by his respectful manner and by his academic prowess. Most especially, they recognize Loyola graduates by their writing proficiency. Alumni describe their freshman experience at some of the best universities as “easier than they expected” and that they felt no intimidation by the rigor or expectations. Though many are drawn to continue their Jesuit experience at the university level, recent graduates are attending Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Duke, Dartmouth, Virginia, Penn, Hopkins, Notre Dame, and many more.

• How do the boys new to the school mix with those rising from the middle school?

  Creating a unified freshman class begins before the first day of academic classes. For those interested in participating in team sports, fall tryouts begin each year in August. There, students have the chance not only to make new acquaintances and friendships, but also to share in the achievement of a common goal. The entire freshman class becomes better acquainted during the orientation period that occurs one week prior to the start of school. Each day, students are re-grouped and then participate in shared activities like study skills classes, social service work, and team building at a “challenge course” facility. As the school year begins, events like the Freshman Welcome Mixer and community homerooms continue to promote unity.

• What's a typical freshman schedule?

  All students through 11^th grade complete courses in each of the six core curricular areas: math, English, history, science, foreign and classical languages, and religion. As such, most freshmen enroll in Algebra 1, English 1, World History, Biology, Morality (Religion), and a foreign language. In addition to these, freshmen complete courses in physical education, studio or performing arts, and computer science.