While enrollment peaked in the early 1960s, enrollment declined at both Julienne and Chaminade high schools in the early 1970s. In 1973, the owning religious orders decided to merge and opened Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School. For Julienne High School, the merger was, in a sense, a homecoming, since they were returning to the site of their first school at the corner of Franklin and Ludlow Streets. Both religious orders who owned and operated the two schools, the Marianists (Chaminade) and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (Julienne), immediately began working together to create a dynamic, co-educational Catholic high school.
In 1974, St. Joseph Commercial Academy was closed due to declining enrollment, after graduating more than 2,200 young women who were morally and academically well-prepared to enter the business world. Many of its students transferred to the newly-established Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School, where they became an integral part of the school.
Today, Chaminade Julienne stands as a truly unique school in Dayton, serving 52 different zip codes throughout the Miami Valley and representing more than 46 different grade schools. Diversity is one of Chaminade Julienne’s greatest strengths. Each student has the opportunity to learn with and from individuals whose social, economic, racial and religious backgrounds are different than their own. Students gain a real-world view of the community and an appreciation for the ways diversity can enrich their personal, academic, and eventually, professional lives.
CJ also continues to be an educational community of faith that offers a challenging academic program. CJ staff members are committed to educating the whole person, to serving the poor, and to developing family spirit. CJ students have the opportunity to travel locally, nationally and internationally as they gain first-hand knowledge of the world while serving various cultures. In 1989, Chaminade Julienne was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a National School of Excellence in honor of the school’s rich tradition, committed faculty, diverse student body and supportive community. As always, students at CJ enjoy a variety of academic, social and athletic activities, as part of a challenging educational curriculum including religion, computer and fine arts classes.
The school colors of blue and green and the Eagle mascot carry the message of the unity of CJ and its predecessor schools—schools whose continued and combined traditions form the foundation of excellence in education that defines CJ today as the premier choice for Catholic education in the Miami Valley.