Cheverus High School

267 Ocean Avenue

Portland, ME 04103

6 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on November 03, 2022

I can’t recommend Cheverus highly enough. My child was in the local public school system (attending an “expeditionary model” middle school but was not being taught algebra, geometry, civics, geography, and writing. There were no challenging books to read, no writing papers, and just a lot of focus on expeditions and building community (which is great but not at the expense of actual learning). Teaching quality was all over the place — a few great teachers, a lot of just “going through the motions” teachers, and a couple of genuinely awful teachers. PSAT test scores consistently came back low because the foundational learning was just not there. We decided to make the move to Cheverus and it was like night and day. Without exception, EVERY SINGLE TEACHER was excellent and thoroughly motivated to get your child learning and mastering the subject material. Yes, there is a lot of homework, but it was 100% necessary to the goal of learning, fostering good study and organizational habits, and preparing to be successful in college and life. It’s amazing to me how much stronger my child’s writing and math skills are now after 3 years at Cheverus. Just got the SAT score back and it’s solidly in the 1400s (99% reading and 98% math). We considered other private schools in the area, but felt that Cheverus was by far, the most affordable (I should mention that my child is not Catholic (many kids at Cheverus are not) but never feels excluded). There are also incredible athletic and other opportunities at Cheverus. There is a volunteer requirement every year which has been a great way of connecting my child to the community at large. Overall, the Cheverus experience has been life-changing.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2013

Cheverus High School Is a generally welcoming environment. Students can feel safe, and free to be individuals. The downside is that if a student has any kind of challenges with learning, they will most certainly slip through the cracks. It is a struggle to get administration to agree to even the most modest of accommodations for students. There is a misconception that doing so will somehow threaten academic integrity. The teachers are for the most part open to assisting students, but it is limited. The expectation is for students to be able to work very independently. If a student fits into an academic box, they will manage well at Cheverus.
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2013

Cheverus has provided me with the opportunity to grow intellectually and spiritually. We have a demanding work load, usually about 2-3 hours of homework a night. The lowest level of class is College Prep, so if you are not an Honors/AP level student, you will still be challenged. The teachers are excellent and accessible - they want all of their students to succeed. The college placement rate is in the high 90s in terms of percent. Those who do not enroll in college almost always enlist in the military. When alums come back and share their college experiences, they always say that they were way more prepared than their peers. One has unlimited chances to get involved in the community. The Key Club sponsors a Thanksgiving Food Drive that feeds around 650 families in the Greater Portland area. CHS is a safe school, and in regard to illegal substances, they are present. I would say that it is less severe than the drug/alcohol abuse at public schools. CHS has zero tolerance for that kind of behavior, and if they are aware of the situation, the student will be expelled. I am proud to be a Cheverian, and I am thankful for all of the opportunities that CHS has provided to me.
Submitted by other on May 14, 2012

Strong academics and the option to explore spirituality. Tight close knit community on campus and then with alumni across the US as well.
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2011

I was very unhappy with the school in general. One thing that uninterested me was the amount of illegal substances that the students were getting into. In addition to the fact most of the teachers at Cheverus High seemed to be a little less understanding, knowledgeable, and personable than other school I have put my children through. I sent my son to Cheverus up until mid Junior year, we were unsatisfied with the school as a whole, especially with paying for my sons enrollment.
Submitted by student on September 29, 2011

Cheverus is a great school for anyone ready for a true challenge. Cheverus offers a true classical education. In English class we read the classics; Shakespeare, Poe, Salinger, Orwell, and Oedipus the King Homer, T.S. Eliot, and Hemingway. In Theology class we not only read the bible but also wrtitings such as "Platos Republic" and "The Fall" by Camus. The history department is full of great teachers that are passionate about the subject they teach. This school is academically demanding and lacks accommodations for students with learning dissabilities. If your child lacks motivation or interest in their education please don't send them to Cheverus. If your child takes school seriously Cheverus I a perfect fit.