{{pp-move-vandalism|small=yes}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox school | name = Cheverus High School | seal_image = Cheverus-Seal.png | image = CheverusHighSchool.JPG | alt = | caption = | motto = {{Langx|la|Crescamus in Illo per omnia}} | motto_translation = May we grow in Him through all things | address = 267 Ocean Avenue | city = Portland | state = Maine | zipcode = 04103 | country = United States | coordinates = {{Coord|43.679395|-70.27776|region:US-ME_type:edu|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | other_name = | former_name = The Catholic Institute High School | type = Private, college-preparatory school | religious_affiliation = Jesuit (Roman Catholic) | established = {{Start date|1917}} | founder = <!-- or | founders = --> | closed = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | oversight = Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland | us_nces_school_id = {{NCES Private School ID|00563278|school_name=CHEVERUS HIGH SCHOOL|access_date=September 10, 2025|ref_name=NCES}} | principal = John Moran | teaching_staff = 31.0 {{FTE}}<ref name="NCES" /> | ratio = 11.1<ref name="NCES" /> | grades = 9–12<ref name="NCES" /> | gender = Co-educational | enrollment = 344 (2023–2024)<ref name="NCES" /> | campus_size = | campus_type = | colors = Purple and gold {{Color box|Purple}}{{Color box|Gold}} | athletic_conference = | mascot = Stag | nickname = | accreditation = New England Association of Schools and Colleges<ref>{{cite web |title=NEASC-Commission on Independent Schools |url=http://cis.neasc.org/cis_directory_of_schools |website=NEASC-CIS |access-date=July 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616135733/http://cis.neasc.org/cis_directory_of_schools |archive-date=June 16, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | publication = | newspaper = | yearbook = | affiliation = <!-- or | affiliations = --> | website = {{URL|www.cheverus.org}} | footnotes = }}
'''Cheverus High School''' (simply referred to as '''Cheverus''', formerly '''The Catholic Institute High School''') is a private, Jesuit, co-educational, college-preparatory school in Portland, Maine, United States. It was established in 1917 and is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. It is named after Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus, the first Bishop of Boston.
== History == Cheverus High School was established in 1917 as The Catholic Institute High School<ref name="Evening Express">{{Cite news |date=1933-10-24 |title=Catholic and Cheverus Classical Have Ancient, Honorable Histories |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-catholic-and-cheverus-cl/181208536/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |work=Evening Express |pages=11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1980-01-05 |title=Old convent Cheverus first home |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-old-convent-cheverus-fir/181220087/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |work=Evening Express |pages=20}}</ref> and renamed Cheverus Classical High School in 1926, after Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus, the first Bishop of Boston.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1926-10-02 |title=Catholic Institute Is Renamed Cheverus Classical High School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-catholic-institute/181217428/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |work=Portland Press Herald |pages=14}}</ref>
The original administration building of Cheverus on State Street was the former home of the first Chief Justice of Maine, Judge Prentice Mellen.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1931-04-12 |title=Miniatures of Distinguished Mellen Family Bequeathed to Historical Society |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-miniatures-of-dist/181138536/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |work=Portland Press Herald |pages=22}}</ref> The school was initially located on Free Street,<ref name="Evening Express"/> moved to Cumberland Avenue in 1946,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1946-04-25 |title=Big Building Project Under Way Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-big-building-project-und/181218118/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |work=Evening Express |pages=1}}</ref> and then to its present location on Ocean Avenue in 1952.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1952-04-18 |title=Most Modern in County... New Cheverus Opens Monday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-most-modern-in-county/181218409/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |work=Evening Express |pages=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1952-04-13 |title=New Cheverus School Boasts Latest in Design, Equipment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-new-cheverus-schoo/181219463/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |work=Portland Press Herald |pages=6}}</ref> The school was originally run by the diocesan clergy, and the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) took over responsibility in 1942.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1942-09-12 |title=Cheverus Opens Tuesday, Record Enrollment Seen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-cheverus-opens-tuesday/181219033/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |work=Evening Express |pages=2}}</ref>
In September 2000, the former all-boys school became co-educational, admitting 28 girls, in addition to the 402 enrolled males.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-10-07 |title=Jesuit (cont.) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-jesuit-cont/181220280/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |work=Portland Press Herald |pages=20}}</ref>
=== Sex abuse === In 1998, nine male alumni claimed that they had been molested while attending the school. Two former faculty members were accused. The school confirmed the abuse and apologized to the victims. The victims also accused both the school and the Portland Diocese of hiding information, and that they had previously known about the abuse. Settlements to victims have reached a cumulative seven figures, with ongoing counseling additional.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pfeiffer |first1=Sacha |title=Maine school struggles to deal with sex abuse issue |url=https://archive.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/stories/031702_maine.htm |work=The Boston Globe |date=March 17, 2002}}</ref>
== Academics == Cheverus offers 12 Advanced Placement classes, and has an honors option for most of its courses. Students must take 25.5 courses in 4 years, including at least 4 mathematics courses, 4 English courses, 4 theology courses, 3 science courses, 3 foreign language courses (continuing within the same language), and 3 social studies courses.<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=http://www.cheverus.org/info/AboutCheverus.asp |website=Cheverus High School |access-date=April 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060507144857/http://www.cheverus.org/info/AboutCheverus.asp |archive-date=May 7, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Notable alumni == {{See also|Category:Cheverus High School alumni}} * Joseph E. Brennan, lawyer and politician * Ian Crocker, swimmer * John Joubert, serial killer * Dick Joyce, MLB player * Charles J. Loring Jr., fighter pilot * Emily Durgin, distance runner
== Notable faculty == * Rodney S. Quinn, politician * John McLaughlin, television personality and political commentator * James Talbot, Jesuit priest and convicted rapist
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Cheverus High School}} * {{Official website|https://www.cheverus.org/}}
{{Portland, Maine}} {{Jesuit Schools Network}} {{Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland}}
Category:Cheverus High School alumni Category:High schools in Portland, Maine Category:Diocese of Portland Category:Catholic secondary schools in Maine Category:Jesuit high schools in the United States Category:Catholic Church sexual abuse scandals in the United States Category:Educational institutions established in 1917 Category:1917 establishments in Maine Category:Sexual abuse scandal in the Society of Jesus Category:Violence against men in the United States Category:Private schools in Portland, Maine