Laptop Requirements

Students in grades 11 and 12 have the option to utilize a personal laptop rather than receive a JSerra issued laptop. If they choose to do so, the laptop must follow the below minimum requirements. 

Students in these grades may also choose to opt-in to the One-to-One laptop program until August 28 by filling out an Opt-In form HERE. For more information about the One-to-One Laptop Program, please click HERE.

Requirements for 2026-27

Students can select their systems of choice by ordering online or going to stores such as Best Buy, Costco, and Microcenter. If students are joining a Magnet program, please see additional recommendations or requirements.

We require that laptops be a Windows or Mac device. No Chromebooks or iOS devices (iPads).

JSerra provides Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) on the web to all students. Instructions for accessing Office 365 can be found in the Microsoft 365 Suite page.

Student work will not be accepted in Apple or Google software application formats (ex. Pages, Sheets, Numbers, etc.).

Device Requirements

In terms of the specific minimum device requirements, they are as follows:

• Windows 11 or MacOS 14 (Sonoma)
• 13th or 14th Generation Intel processor or comparable AMD processor, or M1 processor or higher
  • ARM processors will NOT work for Arts or Law Magnet courses.
• 8 GB memory (16GB or more highly recommended)
• 128 GB hard drive (recommend SSD or m.2)
• Webcam/Mic
• Wireless 802.11 A/C

Example Laptops

Examples of commonly purchased student laptop models include:

• Lenovo Yoga or ThinkPad
• Apple MacBook Air
• HP Pavilion x360
• Dell XPS or Inspiron 
• Microsoft Surface Laptop Go or Pro*

*We do NOT recommend Surface Pro X as it utilizes an ARM processor.

Other models can be used if the requirements are met.

It is preferable if laptops have touchscreens with a digital pen. Laptops with tablet capability will help make learning more interactive in the classroom and will have the ancillary benefit of reducing the use of paper on campus if students are taking notes on their laptop directly.