2019 2020
College Profile
232 McClellan Road • Jackson, TN 38305 • (731) 664-0812 • Fax: (731) 664-5046 • www.usjbruins.org
CEEB: 430-967 Founded in 1970, University School of Jackson (USJ) is West Tennessee’s premier college preparatory school.
Accreditations
From the developmental curriculum in the pre-kindergarten program to the Advanced Placement courses in
Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
the Upper School, USJ focuses on the needs of the individual student, providing an environment in which each
Head of School Stuart Hirstein, shirstein@usjbruins.org
Associate Head of School Doe Roe, droe@usjbruins.org
Upper School Director David Suber, dsuber@usjbruins.org
Director of College Advising Carol Ryan, cryan@usjbruins.org
Assistant Director of College Advising Shannon Whisenant, swhisenant@usjbruins.org
College Advising Assistant Lori Howell, lhowell@usjbruins.org
Grades Infant-12th Grade Total Enrollment 1,005 Upper School (9-12) 255 Class of 2019 60 Class of 2020 69
student can maximize his or her potential in academics, athletics, fine arts, and leadership. We attract students throughout West Tennessee; some of our students travel an hour or more each day to our campus. USJ students routinely win awards in state and regional academic, athletic, and fine arts competitions.
Students
Faculty
Honor Code
Students who choose USJ seek a school with a challenging college preparatory curriculum and extensive extracurricular programs. An education at USJ prepares students for the most academically selective colleges and universities. In addition, a USJ education provides our students with access to many college scholarship opportunities. Not only do USJ students earn scholarships and gain acceptance to a college of their choice, our students also find that they are well prepared to succeed in college. Each candidate for admission to USJ is evaluated on the basis of a personal interview, admission tests, and academic records. USJ admits students of any race, color, gender, and national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, and national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, financial aid programs, and athletic and other schooladministered programs.
The Upper School staff consists of 34 faculty and administrators, with 27 masters degrees and two doctorates. Faculty are selected on the basis of their academic qualifications in the subject they teach, effective communication skills, and an abiding commitment to the teaching profession.
The Honor Code at USJ is predicated on the belief that all students are honorable young men and women and have the right to be trusted. Our students desire to learn more in an atmosphere where honesty and integrity endure and are integral parts of their lives. Elected class representatives and one speaker administer the Honor Code, guided by the Dean of Students and two faculty advisors. Students respect the council members’ leadership and impartiality.
Environment Our Upper/Middle School campus features science labs with separate classrooms, a comprehensive wireless network that supports the 1:1 laptop program, 500-seat performing arts theater, Library/ Media Center, and one of the finest secondary school athletic complexes in Tennessee. USJ’s unique learning environment challenges students to do their best in all that they pursue. Expectations for our students are high as we prepare them for the world beyond USJ.
Academic Profile Grading Scale
16 Advanced Placement Courses
Graduation Honors
Letter Grade/GPA A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 65-69 F < 65
English Language, English Literature, Calculus (AB/BC), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, U.S. History, AP Music Theory, AP European History, Spanish Language, French Language, Psychology, 2-Dimensional Design, 3-Dimensional Design, and Drawing. Students are required to take the AP exam in the spring in order to earn the AP weighting. (* Number of AP classes can vary due to student course requests.)
Seniors are honored for their academic excellence. Graduating with Honors requires a 94.5 weighted average, High Honors requires a 96.5 weighted average, and Highest Honors requires a 98.5 weighted average.
GPA – Honors & AP Weighting Letter grades on transcripts are unweighted. GPA is based on the weighted average of all honors and AP courses. Honors courses are given a 0.5 point weight, and AP courses are given a 1.0 weight to the semester grade in calculating the 4.50 GPA. Academic honors are determined by the 100-point average using number grades only with the honors grades weighted 5 points and the AP grades weighted 10 points.
Class Rank Due to the small class size and challenging curriculum, we believe class rank is not a strong discriminator with which to predict college performance. Therefore, USJ does not rank.
Advanced Placement Exams Taken in 2019
Honors Courses English I & II, Algebra I, Algebra II & Trigonometry, Geometry, Precalculus, Spanish I, French I, Spanish II, French II, Spanish III, French III, Spanish IV, French IV, Biology I, Chemistry I, and Physics.
Graduation Requirements 4 units of English 4 units of Math (Algebra I, II, III & Trigonometry, Geometry) 3 units of Social Science (U.S., World History, Social Science) 3 units of Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) 3 units of the same World Language 1 unit of Creative/Performing Arts 5 units of electives 23.0 Total Units + Community Service (minimum of 50 hours)
Calendar & Day The school year has two semesters; each with two quarters and end-of-semester exams. The school day has seven periods that are 50 minutes each. Given the privilege of a free period, seniors must take five courses and a study hall both semesters.
Memberships College Board, Educational Testing Service, ERB, ACT, National Association of Independent Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools, Tennessee Association of Independent Schools, Memphis Association of Independent Schools, Mu Alpha Theta, National Association for College Admission Counseling, Southern Association for College Admission Counseling, Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, National Art Education Association, National Association for Music Education, National Honor Society, National Social Studies Honor Society, Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, Société Honoraire de Française, National English Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and National Art Honor Society.
Advanced Placement Scholars (# of Students/Grade Mean) Year
Scholars
With Distinction
National Scholars
Total
79
With Honor
2019
19/3.17
5/3.85
11/3.99
-
35/3.61
Total Number of AP Exams taken
2018
6/3.42
11/3.72
12/4.14
4/4.33
29/3.98
2017
12/3.21
13/3.79
20/4.25
3/4.56
45/3.96
2016
7/3.30
5/3.57
11/4.06
1/4.56
22/3.84
2015
9/3.88
5/3.85
14/4.17
-
28/4.06
Total Number of AP Students
155
All USJ students who are enrolled in an AP course are required to take the AP exam.
Typical Course of Study University School of Jackson offers a challenging course of study for students throughout their four years in the Upper School. These academic pursuits are blended with extracurricular activities of the student’s choosing, including athletics, club leadership and participation opportunities, and the arts, and together result in a well-rounded life of excellence. Students are also encouraged to balance their participation in curricular and extracurricular activities with time spent with family and friends, helping them learn how to lead productive, fulfilling, and enriched lives.
Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
• English I or I Honors • Algebra I or I Honors • French I or I Honors or Spanish I or I Honors • Biology I or I Honors • World History • Elective
• English II or II Honors • Geometry or Geometry Honors • French II or II Honors or Spanish II or II Honors • Chemistry I or I Honors • Government/Economics • Elective
• English III or AP Language • Algebra II or II and Trigonometry Honors • French III or III Honors or Spanish III or Spanish III Honors • Physics, Physics Honors, AP Biology, or AP Chemistry • U.S. History or AP U.S. History • Elective
Electives
• Computer Coding • Creative Writing • Criminal Justice • Dual Enrollment • Digital Tools for Arts • AP European History • Forensic Science • Intro to Theater/ Advanced Theater • History in Film
• Journalism • AP Music Theory • Personal Finance • Project Management • Psychology • AP Psychology • Sculpture I, II • Speech • Strength and Conditioning
• Accounting • Anatomy & Physiology • Art I, II, III • Art History I, II • Band • Honors Band • Book Study Seminar • Broadcast Journalism • Choir/Chorus
Grade 12 • English IV Modern Literature or AP Literature • Algebra III & Trigonometry, Precalculus Honors, or AP Calculus AB/BC • 3 Elective choices from Electives list, below: • French IV Honors or AP French • Spanish IV Honors or AP Spanish Language, AP French Language • Physics, Physics Honors, AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Biology • U.S. History, AP U.S. History • AP European History
• Yoga • 20 Century Studies • S tudio Art AP: 2-Dimensional Design, 3-Dimensional Design, and Drawing • Study Abroad* • U.S. & World Issues • Health & Wellness • World Religions
(* Course offerings can vary due to student course requests.)
* Study Abroad (1/2 credit elective) • Costa Rica Study Abroad Program: Students are immersed in Spanish for three weeks, earning more than 40 contact hours of instruction at the Intensa Language Institute. The trip is offered during the summer of even years.
Class of 2019
National Merit Competition
ACT (100% tested)
Quintiles 1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
33-36
5%
GPA
4.65
4.30
3.98 3.51
2.83
28-32
40%
ACT
31
29
26
23
24-27
33%
20-23
16%
<20
7%
23
ACT Middle 50% Range 27-31
Class of 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Finalist 2 1 1
Commended 3 3 2 2**
Class Size 60 91 85 82 73
**w/1 National Achievement
Student averages in Class of 2019 ≥4.0 = 28 (48%)
3.99-3.5 = 13 (22%)
3.49-3.0 = 12 (21%)
2.99-2.5 = 2 (3%)
2.49-2.0 = 3 (5%)
≤2.0 = 0 (0%)
College Acceptance Summary for Classes of 2015-2019 The colleges listed below have accepted a USJ student from the Classes of 2015-2019. An asterisk indicates that a USJ graduate from the Classes of 2015-2019 has attended this college. Academy of Art University Appalachian State University *Arkansas State University *Arkansas Tech University *Auburn University *Austin Peay State University Baldwin Wallace University Ball State University *Baylor University *Belmont University Beloit College *Bennington College Berry College *Bethel University *Birmingham-Southern College Boston College *Boston University *Brandeis University *Campbellsville University *California Polytechnic Carson Newman Case Western Reserve University Centre College Chapman University Chicago Art Institute *Christian Brothers University Cincinnati Christian University *Clarmont McKenna College Clemson University *Costal Carolina University College of Charleston College of William & Mary College of Wooster Colorado School of Mines Colorado State University Columbia University Concordia University *Cumberland University *Delta State University DePaul University Duquesne University *East Tennessee State University *Eckerd College Emory University Florida Atlantic Florida Institute of Technology Florida International University Florida Southern University Florida State University Fordham University Freed-Hardeman University
*Furman University *Georgetown University George Washington University *Georgia Tech Hampshire College Hampton University *Harding University *Harvard University Hendrix College Illinois Institute of Technology *Indiana University *Jackson State Community College James Madison University Kenyon College *Lee University *Lipscomb University *Long Island University *Louisiana State University Louisiana Tech University *Loyola Marymont University Loyola- Chicago Loyola- New Orleans *Lyon College Maryville College Memphis College of Art Mercer University *Middle Tennessee State University Milikin University *Millsaps College *Mississippi College *Mississippi State University *Missouri Valley College *Montana State University *Morehouse College *Murray State University *New York University North Carolina A&T State University North Carolina State Northeastern University *Northwestern University Nova Southeastern University Ohio State University Oklahoma City University *Oklahoma Wesleyan University Oregon State * Pellissippi State Technical Community College Point Park University *Pratt Institute *Princeton University Purdue University
Reed College *Rhodes College Rice University Rockford College Rollins College *Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology *Samford University Santa Clara University Sara Lawrence College *Savannah College of Art *Seton Hall University *Sewanee: University of the South Smith College South Dakota School of Mines *Southeast Missouri State University Southern Illinois University,Carbondale *Southern Methodist University Southern University and A&M College St. Edwards University St. John’s College *St. Louis University *Tennessee Technological University Texas A&M University *Texas Christian University Texas State University The King’s College *Trevecca Nazarene University Trinity University *Tulane University Union College *Union University
Mary-Hardin Maryland Massachussetts-Amherst *Memphis *Miami *Michigan Minnesota *Mississippi Missouri New Hampshire, Durham *North Alabama North Carolina-Chapel Hill North Carolina-Wilmington Oregon Pacific *Pennsylvania Portland Rochester South Alabama South Carolina Southern California St. Francis Tampa *Tennessee-Chattanooga *Tennessee-Knoxville *Tennessee-Martin Texas The Cumberlands Viginia Washington Wisconsin Utah
University of ... *Alabama *Alabama-Birmingham *Alabama-Huntsville Alaska *Arkansas Arkansas-Little Rock Arizona California-Davis California-Santa Barbara California Irvine Denver *Florida *Georgia Illinois Kansas *Kentucky *Louisiana-Monroe
Valdosta State University *Vanderbilt University *Viterbo University Wake Forest University Washington & Lee *Washington University in St. Louis Watkins College of Art and Design Webster University Western Kentucky University Wittenberg University Williams College
University School of Jackson • CEEB: 430-967 232 McClellan Road • Jackson, TN 38305 • (731) 664-0812 • Fax: (731) 664-5046 • www.usjbruins.org