America's Elite Catholic Boarding Schools: Tradition Meets Excellence

As a church musician with a deep interest in education, I've spent years covering various aspects of private schools. Recently, I decided to explore America's Roman Catholic boarding schools. These schools are those bastions of faith-based education that have shaped generations of leaders.

What I discovered was fascinating: just nineteen schools across the country, each with its own unique character but all sharing a commitment to academic excellence and Catholic values. From the historic Georgetown Prep to the picturesque Santa Catalina School by the Pacific, these institutions tell a remarkable story of American Catholic education.

The snapshots of the schools use information that these schools have uploaded to Boarding School Review. I have added links to each school's social media and websites so that you can explore these schools as you search for a school that fits your needs and requirements.

Finally, when you click the school's link, it will take you to Boarding School Review where you can review a wealth of data about each school as well as a Quick Facts panel on the right side of the screen.

About the school:

• The Academy of the Holy Family (AHF), a Catholic high school for young women, was founded in 1874. We are located in the New England countryside, approximately two hours away from Boston and three hours from New York City.
• The Academy has educated young women from the United States and abroad. A tight-knit school community, AHF offers its students the opportunity to express their faith and learn in a comfortable atmosphere.
• Classes are small, enabling students to receive individual attention. Courses offered include college prep, honors, and some advanced placement classes. The faculty consists of both religious and lay persons.
• At the Academy we strive to "Pursue knowledge; embrace the truths of Christ; respond to the needs of others." Our young women are confident, active in the community, and graduate from AHF, ready to attend various colleges and universities.

About the school:

• Canterbury School blends academic excellence with nurturing intellectually curious, values-centered, and well-rounded students.
• The school offers you a personalized and enriching experience, and our dedicated faculty guides and champions your journey and ambitions.
• At Canterbury, you receive a transformative education that prepares you for college and a fulfilling, impactful life beyond.

About the school:

• Chaminade College Preparatory School is a Catholic school in the Marianist tradition for boys grades 6-12.
• Chaminade's excellent academic program begins with our Pre-AP curriculum in our Middle School.
• Chaminade offers 27 Advanced Placement courses as well as 80 college credit courses through the University of Missouri and St. Louis University. 100% of our graduating seniors can enter college with credit.
• Chaminade students learn to live remarkably through our numerous activities and athletics, as well as our Experiential Education program that takes our young men out into the world.
• The third hallmark of the Chaminade experience is our Character Formation. Chaminade devotes significant, consistent resources to developing key relationships between students and faculty through our House System program.
• As a Catholic community in the Marianist tradition, Chaminade embraces students of all cultures and faiths.
• We are a school specializing in educating young men.

About the school:

Founded in 1911, Cotter Schools is a private, coed, day and boarding school located in Winona, Minnesota. Cotter serves students of all backgrounds from Pre-K through Grade 12 and offers boarding for students in grades 7 through 12. Cotter Schools prides itself on creating a strong community of learners, and we look forward to welcoming you to the Cotter Family!

About the school:

• Founded in 1789, Georgetown Preparatory School is America's oldest Catholic boarding and day school for young men in grades 9 through 12 and the only Jesuit boarding school in the country.
• Situated on 93 acres in suburban Washington, D.C., Prep's mission is to form men of competence, conscience, courage, and compassion, men of faith, and men for others.
• At Georgetown Prep, we are committed to the rich heritage of Jesuit educational principles of intellectual excellence, reflection, and personal responsibility.

This video offers an overview of Georgetown Prep.

Geographic Distribution

These schools are well-distributed across the country, from California to New England, though there's a notable concentration in the Northeast (particularly Connecticut with three schools).

Enrollment Patterns

• Largest: Chaminade College Preparatory (800 students)
• Smallest: Academy of the Holy Family (40 students)
• Most schools maintain moderate sizes between 200-400 students

Grade Configurations

Most follow two main patterns:

• Traditional high school only (9-12)
• Extended middle through high school (6-12 or 7-12)

Several schools also offer:

• Post-graduate (PG) years
• day students

This comprehensive organization of all Catholic boarding schools in America demonstrates their commitment to maintaining smaller, focused learning communities while offering varied educational options to meet different student needs.

About the school:

• La Lumiere School is a private, independent boarding and day school founded in 1963, located in La Porte, Indiana.
• Our close-knit community is a rich mosaic of exceptional students, all with the common goal of becoming the best version of ourselves.

About the school:

Marianapolis Preparatory School is an independent, coeducational, Catholic, boarding, and day school located in Thompson, CT for grades 9-12 and post-graduates.

About the school:

• Maur Hill-Mount Academy (MH-MA) in Atchison, Kansas, provides a respected education to students from across the United States and internationally.
• As a Catholic boarding and day school, students will experience a challenging and supportive atmosphere with a residential program that provides a safe, nurturing, and structured environment.
• MH-MA has a diverse student body that comes from several states and countries to be challenged, supported, and grow in a faith-filled college prep environment that sees 98% of graduates entering college.

About the school:

• Mount Michael Benedictine School is a Catholic college preparatory residential/day school rooted in Benedictive Values for young men committed to excellence.
• Students develop spiritually, intellectually, and socially through the comprehensive curriculum and communal experience to become future leaders.

About the school:

• Portsmouth Abbey School is a Catholic, coeducational boarding and day school for students in grades 9 through 12.
• The school is located on a beautiful 525-acre campus along Narragansett Bay, just a few miles from Newport, RI.
• For over 90 years, the Abbey's liberal arts curriculum has prepared students for lives of significance and purpose.
• This education is grounded in the Western intellectual tradition and teaches students to solve problems, communicate ideas, work together, and innovate.

This video offers an overview of Portsmouth Abbey School.

Notable Alumni

Several of these schools have produced remarkable graduates across various fields:

Georgetown Preparatory School

• Brian Cashman - General Manager of the New York Yankees
• David Chang - Celebrity chef
• Bill Bidwill - Former NFL team owner

La Lumiere School

• John Roberts - Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
• Jim Gaffigan - Stand-up comedian and actor

Canterbury School

• Joseph Campbell - Renowned mythologist and author
• Dominick Dunne - Writer and investigative journalist
• Mike Dunham - NHL goaltender

Chaminade College Preparatory

• Bradley Beal - NBA player (Phoenix Suns)
• Ben Bishop - NHL player
• David Lee - Former NBA player

Marianapolis Preparatory

• Several professional athletes, including multiple NBA and NFL players

About the school:

St. Bede Academy has been providing quality Catholic education in North Central Illinois since 1890. Tri-Level Academic Program: Academic, College-Prep, and Honors Levels. We offer 7 AP, 25 Honors Courses & 4 Dual-Credit and Early2College Courses. Our ACT scores traditionally rank #1 in the surrounding area, and many of our Top Ten students graduate with a GPA above 4.0. 97% of students participate in extra-curricular activities in our 16 sports teams or 32 Clubs & Student Organizations.

About the school:

• Founded and administered by the Benedictine Monks of St. Bernard Abbey, St. Bernard Preparatory School stands on 1,500 years of monastic history and experience of the love for learning.
• The school strives to create an environment that encourages student growth in self-discipline, respect for self and others, and mature social interaction. The college preparatory curriculum is based on the liberal arts: languages and literature, history, mathematics, science, theology, and the arts.
• This program emphasizes the ability to think, to read with understanding, to express oneself with precision and grace, and to solve problems creatively.
• Courses not only provide the transmission and reception of facts, but they also encourage the development of mental and physical discipline, breadth and depth of view, responsible thought and action, and critical thinking.
• The school motto, Corpus, Mens, Spiritus (Body, Mind, Spirit) indicates the mission of St. Bernard Preparatory: "St. Bernard Preparatory School is committed to fully engaging students in learning for the whole person: body, mind and spirit.
• St. Bernard pursues this mission through the search for truth and the striving for goodness in the classroom, through participation in religious, social, and athletic events, and by involvement in mentoring and community service activities.

About the school:

• Saint John's Prep is an independent college prep day and boarding school guided by Benedictine values.
• Students in grades 6-12 from diverse backgrounds immerse themselves in a learning environment surrounded by the natural beauty of our pristine woods and lakes shared with Saint John's University.
• We prepare students for lives of purpose, service, and achievement in a global society.

About the school:

• St. Lawrence Seminary High School is located on 150+ acres in the rolling hills of central Wisconsin.
• The center of the campus is located atop a prominent "Hill" that serves as part of our challenging cross-country course. Eleven buildings fill the "Hill", from the traditional main building, Laurentianum, where the original St. Lawrence College met, to the beautiful, modern Chapel.
• These buildings hold everything the students need for daily life, including, but not limited to the Chapel, classrooms, computer lab, dorms, a gym, racquetball courts, fitness center, a bowling alley, a store, the library, dining hall, an auditorium and many other facilities.
• Along and below the hill are two soccer fields, five tennis courts, a toboggan run, and room for all kinds of "pick-up" games.

About the school:

St. Mary's students can choose from more than 200 curriculum courses each year. This means your schedule is chosen by you and reflects what you're passionate about. As a student, you have the freedom to pick classes that match the person you want to become.

You will not only get a world-class education and world experience, you will have fun while creating lifelong friendships! From exciting white-water rafting and backpacking trips, to entertaining movie nights and relaxing family dinners, each and every experience at St. Mary's allows you to grow and connect with the people and the world around you.

About the school:

• Saint Stanislaus is a Catholic day and boarding school for boys in grades 7-12.
• Since 1854, our students have thrived academically and spiritually in a college-preparatory atmosphere that fosters structure and accountability. The beachfront campus (just an hour from New Orleans) is an unrivaled outdoor lab for our marine science program, which takes advantage of our proximity to world-class research institutions and universities to engage students in hands-on learning opportunities.
• Our college-preparatory program integrates our ESL Program, Advanced Placement, and honors curriculum with a commitment to faith and community service to help young boys become men of character.

About the school:

• Founded in 1950, Santa Catalina School is an independent Catholic day and boarding school for girls in California.
• Our students choose from a variety of academic offerings, including 11 Advanced Placement (AP) classes, 19 Advanced Topics (AT) classes, marine ecology research program, theatre, digital media, photography, and dance.
• Our students discover skills, talents, and interests they never had. Class sizes are small, and are taught the way girls learn most effectively, often with open discussion and group projects.

About the school:

• Subiaco Academy is a Benedictine Catholic college preparatory boarding and day school for young men in grades 7-12.
• We offer 100% college placement, an average class size of 15, a 10/1 Teacher /Student ratio, and 13 AP courses.
• Subiaco offers 9 major athletic teams that compete with the public schools and phenomenal visual arts, drama, and instrumental music programs.
• Outdoor activities include hiking, fishing, and camping.

About the school:

Woodside Priory is the only boarding school in Silicon Valley. Located within 40 minutes of San Francisco and 10 minutes of Stanford University, the Priory is a coeducational boarding and day school for grades 9 through 12, as well as a coeducational day school for grades 6 through 8.

Conclusion

These nineteen schools represent something extraordinary in American education. With combined enrollments ranging from just 40 students to 800, they're proving that size doesn't determine impact. Their alumni include Supreme Court justices, professional athletes, celebrated authors, and business leaders. But perhaps most importantly, they continue to fulfill their original mission: providing an education that nurtures both mind and spirit. In an age of educational upheaval, these institutions stand as testimonies to the enduring value of tradition, excellence, and faith-based learning.

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