Nation’s Top 50 Catholic High Schools Announced

Today, September 20, 2012, the winners of the 2012-2013 Catholic High School Honor Roll competition were announced by The Cardinal Newman Society. Since 2004, the Honor Roll has recognized excellence in Catholic identity, academics and civic education at Catholic high schools across the United States.

The top 50 schools are recognized for overall excellence, and other schools receive honors for special recognition in particular categories. This year seven schools were recognized for excellence in Catholic identity, six schools for academics, five schools for civic education, and five schools for two of the three categories.

“Since competition began in 2004, the Honor Roll has been a helpful tool for administrators, families, and benefactors in recognizing the quality of a Catholic high school,” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society. “The Honor Roll schools are a reminder that Catholic education is getting better every day—not only academically, but in the renewal of Catholic identity—and we are delighted to see the increased level of competition among the schools that participated in the program this year.”

This year’s top 50 Honor Roll schools are diverse: large and small, new and long-established, both highly selective and open enrollment admissions policies, and high and low tuition rates. The common trait is an institutional commitment to providing a truly integrated and faithful Catholic education across all disciplines and in all areas of student activities.

The top 50 schools are located in 21 states, with Pennsylvania having the highest number of honorees with seven schools, followed by Texas with six and Michigan with five.

Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School in Florida is the largest school with 1,489 students. St. Ignatius College Preparatory School and Faustina Academy, both in Texas, are the smallest schools with 48 students each.

The Catholic High School Honor Roll was created by The Acton Institute in 2004. The Cardinal Newman Society assumed the program this year, consistent with its mission of helping Catholic families and promoting faithful Catholic education.

Top 50 Catholic High Schools for excellence in Catholic identity, academics and civics education:

California
Saint Augustine Academy, Ventura
Saint Michael’s Preparatory School, Silverado
Saint Monica Academy, Pasadena

Colorado
Bishop Machebeuf Catholic High School, Denver

Delaware
Padua Academy, Wilmington

Florida
Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School, Southwest Ranches
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, Miami
Rhodora J. Donahue Academy, Ave Maria

Georgia
Holy Spirit Preparatory School, Atlanta
Pinecrest Academy, Cummings

Indiana
Saint Joseph High School, South Bend
Saint Theodore Guerin High School, Noblesville

Kentucky
Holy Angels Academy, Louisville

Louisiana
John Paul the Great Academy, Lafayette

Massachusetts
Trivium School, Lancaster

Maryland
Mount de Sales Academy, Catonsville

Michigan
Detroit Catholic Central High School, Novi
Everest Collegiate High School, Clarkston
Father Gabriel Richard High School, Ann Arbor
Saint Francis High School, Traverse City
West Catholic High School, Grand Rapids

Minnesota
Chesterton Academy, Minneapolis
Providence Academy, Plymouth
Saint Agnes School, St. Paul

Missouri
Notre Dame Regional High School, Cape Girardeau

New York
All Hallows High School, Bronx
Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, Elmhurst
The Montfort Academy, Katonah

Pennsylvania
Aquinas Academy, Gibsonia
Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, Ebensburg
Geibel Catholic Middle-High School, Connellsville
Oakland Catholic High School, Pittsburgh
Quigley Catholic High School, Baden
Saint Joseph High School, Natrona Heights
Serra Catholic High School, McKeesport

South Carolina
St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Greenville

South Dakota
O’Gorman High School, Sioux Falls

Tennessee
Knoxville Catholic High School, Knoxville
Notre Dame High School, Chattanooga
Saint Cecilia Academy, Nashville

Texas
Bishop T. K. Gorman Regional Catholic School, Tyler
Faustina Academy, Irving
Sacred Heart Catholic High School, Muenster
Saint Ignatius College Preparatory School, Fort Worth
The Atonement Academy, San Antonio
The Highlands School, Irving

Virginia
Paul VI Catholic High School, Fairfax
Pope John Paul the Great Catholic High School, Dumfries
Seton School, Manassas

Wisconsin
Xavier High School, Appleton

Catholic high schools awarded Special Recognition in one or two Honor Roll categories:

Excellence in Catholic Identity and Civic Education
Holy Cross Academy, Oneida, NY
Holy Rosary Academy, Anchorage, AK
Saint Joseph Academy, San Marcos, CA

Excellence in Academics and Civic Education
Marquette Catholic High School, Alton, IL
Notre Dame Preparatory School, Pontiac, MI

Excellence in Catholic Identity
Antonian College Preparatory High School, San Antonio, TX
Central Catholic High School, Bloomington, IL
John Paul II High School, Corpus Christi, TX
Pius X High School, Lincoln, NE
Pope John XXIII High School, Katy, TX
Salesianium School, Wilmington, DE
The Lyceum, South Euclid, OH

Excellence in Academics
Beckman High School, Dyersville, IA
Holy Family High School, Broomfield, CO
Rosati-Kain High School, St. Louis, MO
St. John Vianney High School, St. Louis, MO
St. Pius X Catholic High School, Atlanta, GA
The Aquinas Institute, Rochester, NY

Excellence in Civic Education
Bishop Chatard High School, Indianapolis, IN
Cardinal Gibbons High School, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Catholic Memorial High School, Waukesha, WI
Mount Carmel Academy, New Orleans, LA
Nouvel Catholic Central High School, Saginaw, MI