Top 10 Catholic Schools in Ohio in 2027

1. St. Xavier High School

St. Xavier ranks first because it is the oldest continuously operating Catholic high school in Ohio, founded in 1831 by the Society of Jesus in Cincinnati. It is an all-boys Jesuit college-prep school with a rigorous liberal-arts curriculum, a large AP course slate, and a track record of sending graduates to selective universities nationwide. Its Jesuit identity emphasizes academics alongside service and leadership formation.

St. Xavier is for families wanting a single-sex, faith-formation-heavy academic environment over athletics-first culture, though its sports programs are still competitive in the Greater Catholic League. Tuition and travel-heavy commutes can be a drawback for families outside Cincinnati's west side. Compared with St. Ignatius below it, Xavier edges ahead on sheer institutional age and alumni network depth within Ohio.

2. St. Ignatius High School

St. Ignatius ranks second on the strength of its Jesuit academic model, founded in 1886 on Cleveland's near West Side, consistently producing National Merit Scholars and strong liberal-arts outcomes. The all-boys school is known for a demanding core curriculum, an extensive theology and ethics sequence, and a historic Gothic campus that anchors its identity within the Cleveland Catholic community.

It suits students who thrive under structured, discussion-based Jesuit pedagogy rather than a more athletics-centered social scene. Families outside Cleveland's west side face longer commutes, and the all-boys format narrows options for coed-seeking families. Compared with St. Xavier above, Ignatius has a comparably rigorous academic reputation but a slightly younger founding date and smaller historical footprint statewide.

3. Archbishop Moeller High School

Moeller ranks third primarily for its athletic and college-placement pipeline, an all-boys Marianist school founded in Cincinnati in 1960 that has produced numerous Division I and NFL-level football alumni. Its academic program pairs a solid core curriculum with an athletics infrastructure — including a well-regarded strength and conditioning setup — that few Ohio Catholic schools match at this scale.

Moeller fits families prioritizing football or broader athletics alongside solid academics over a purely scholarly Jesuit environment. The tradeoff is a campus culture more athletics-forward than St. Xavier's or St. Ignatius's above it. Compared with St. Edward below, Moeller leans football-first while Edward leans wrestling-first, both within the all-boys Ohio Catholic athletic tradition.

4. St. Edward High School

St. Edward ranks fourth for its wrestling dynasty, an all-boys Holy Cross school in Lakewood founded in 1949 that has claimed numerous Ohio state wrestling titles and developed one of the most decorated high school wrestling programs in the country. Academically it offers a standard college-prep curriculum within the Holy Cross tradition, balancing faith formation with a strong athletic identity.

St. Edward suits families centered on wrestling or combat-sport development more than pure academic ranking. Its all-boys, Lakewood-based campus narrows geographic convenience for east-side Cleveland families. Compared with Moeller above, Edward's athletic reputation is narrower but deeper in wrestling specifically, while Moeller spreads strength across multiple sports.

5. Elder High School

Elder ranks fifth as Cincinnati's other major West Side Catholic institution, an all-boys school founded in 1922 with deep roots in the Price Hill community and a long-running football rivalry against Moeller. It offers a standard Catholic college-prep track with strong vocational and trade-adjacent elective options alongside traditional academics, reflecting its working-class West Side heritage.

Elder fits families seeking a community-rooted, tradition-heavy school over one chasing elite national rankings. It carries less national name recognition than Xavier or Moeller above it, and its academic profile is generally considered a step below those two. Compared with Moeller, Elder offers a similar all-boys West Side identity at a comparatively more accessible tuition level.

6. Walsh Jesuit High School

Walsh Jesuit ranks sixth as the coed alternative within Ohio's Jesuit network, founded in 1965 in Cuyahoga Falls and serving the Akron area with the same Ignatian pedagogy used at St. Xavier and St. Ignatius. Its curriculum includes AP coursework, retreat-based faith formation, and a smaller enrollment that allows more individualized attention than the larger all-boys Jesuit schools.

Walsh Jesuit fits families in the Akron-Canton corridor wanting Jesuit academics in a coed setting rather than traveling to Cleveland or Cincinnati. Its athletic and alumni networks are smaller than Xavier's or Ignatius's above it. Compared with Elder, Walsh trades West Side Cincinnati tradition for Jesuit-network academics in a different region entirely.

7. Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School

Chaminade Julienne ranks seventh as Dayton's flagship Catholic high school, formed in a 1979 merger of the all-boys Chaminade and all-girls Julienne schools under Marianist sponsorship. It offers a coed college-prep curriculum with a Marianist emphasis on community and inclusive education, plus career-pathway electives alongside standard AP offerings.

It suits Dayton-area families wanting a coed Marianist option rather than a single-sex Jesuit or Holy Cross school. Its regional footprint is smaller than the larger Cincinnati and Cleveland schools ranked above it, limiting statewide alumni reach. Compared with Walsh Jesuit, Chaminade Julienne trades Ignatian pedagogy for Marianist community-centered formation in a different metro area.

8. Bishop Watterson High School

Bishop Watterson ranks eighth as the Diocese of Columbus's flagship Catholic high school, founded in 1954 and known for strong performing-arts and choral programs alongside a standard coed college-prep curriculum. It serves central Ohio families seeking Catholic education without traveling to Cincinnati or Cleveland's larger Jesuit and Holy Cross institutions.

Watterson fits families prioritizing arts programs and a diocesan (rather than religious-order) school culture. Its athletic and academic name recognition trails the Cincinnati and Cleveland schools ranked above it. Compared with Chaminade Julienne, Watterson offers a similar diocesan coed structure but centers its strength on arts rather than Marianist community programming.

9. Central Catholic High School

Central Catholic ranks ninth as the Diocese of Toledo's principal Catholic high school, founded in 1928 and serving northwest Ohio with a coed college-prep curriculum and a long-standing football and basketball tradition in the Toledo City League. It provides a full range of AP and honors coursework alongside diocesan religious education requirements.

It suits Toledo-area families wanting Catholic schooling without relocating toward Cleveland or Cincinnati's larger networks. Its statewide academic and athletic recognition is more regional than national compared with the schools ranked above it. Compared with Bishop Watterson, Central Catholic leans more toward athletics tradition than performing arts as its defining strength.

10. Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School

Villa Angela-St. Joseph ranks tenth as a smaller, more accessible Cleveland Catholic option, formed through a 1989 merger of Villa Angela Academy and St. Joseph High School into a single coed school on Cleveland's east side. It is known for a competitive basketball program and a lower enrollment that allows closer student-teacher relationships than the larger schools above it.

It fits families prioritizing affordability and a tight-knit coed community over the size and prestige of Xavier or Ignatius. Its academic and athletic name recognition is more localized to Cleveland's east side. Compared with Central Catholic Toledo, Villa Angela-St. Joseph offers a similar community-scale coed model in a different metro region.

How we ranked these

Each school was scored on diocesan-reported graduation and four-year college-matriculation rates, average class size, breadth of AP, honors, and dual-enrollment coursework, extracurricular and athletic program depth, and net tuition after typical diocesan financial aid. Current accreditation through the school's Ohio diocese (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, or Youngstown) was required, since accreditation lapses affect NCAA eligibility, transfer credit, and diploma recognition for graduates applying to selective colleges.

Single-year enrollment swings, social-media buzz, and self-reported 'best of' badges from unaccredited ranking sites were excluded, since they reward marketing spend over outcomes. Religious order (Jesuit, diocesan, or lay-run) was noted but not scored as better or worse — order affects culture and cost structure, not measurable academic quality. Anecdotal parent reviews were read for context only, never counted toward the ranking itself.

Related questions

What is the difference between a diocesan Catholic high school and a Jesuit or order-run Catholic high school in Ohio?

Diocesan schools (like most Columbus and Toledo Catholic high schools) are owned and staffed under the local bishop's office, with tuition and admissions set by the diocese. Jesuit or order-run schools (St. Xavier, St. Ignatius, Walsh Jesuit) are owned by a religious order, often carry higher tuition, and run largely independent admissions, curriculum, and fundraising, though they still follow diocesan sacramental and safe-environment requirements.

How much does Catholic high school tuition cost in Ohio in 2027?

Tuition varies widely by diocese and order. Diocesan day schools in Toledo, Youngstown, and smaller Columbus-area parishes typically run $8,000-$12,000 a year, while Jesuit and larger Cincinnati or Cleveland college-prep schools often charge $16,000-$19,000. Most schools publish need-based aid alongside sibling and parishioner discounts, so the sticker price rarely reflects what a given family actually pays after applying.

Do Catholic high schools in Ohio require students to be Catholic?

No. Most Ohio Catholic high schools admit non-Catholic students, and at many suburban schools 15-30% of the student body isn't Catholic. Non-Catholic students typically still take theology courses and attend school Masses and retreats, but sacramental preparation (confirmation, first communion) isn't required. Admission priority is usually given first to parishioners, then Catholic applicants generally, then the broader community.

What entrance exam do Ohio Catholic high schools use for admissions?

Most Ohio dioceses use the HSPT (High School Placement Test) or the more common Catholic-network standardized entrance exam administered on a single diocesan test date each fall, usually in December or January for the following school year. Scores factor into both admission and merit-scholarship decisions, so families often hire tutors or use test-prep workbooks specific to that diocese's exam format.

Are Catholic schools in Ohio eligible for EdChoice vouchers?

Yes. Nearly every Catholic high school in Ohio participates in the state's EdChoice scholarship program, which covers a fixed dollar amount toward tuition for income-eligible families and, since the 2023 expansion, offers a smaller award to families above the income cap regardless of school rating. Families apply through the Ohio Department of Education portal, not the school directly, before enrollment each year.

What is the average class size at top Ohio Catholic high schools?

Selective college-prep Catholic schools in Ohio generally hold class sizes between 18 and 24 students, with a school-wide student-teacher ratio near 12:1 to 15:1. Smaller diocesan schools in less populated dioceses like Youngstown or Steubenville can run leaner, sometimes under 15 per class, simply because total enrollment is lower, not because of a deliberate small-class policy.

How do Ohio Catholic high schools compare to public high schools on college admissions outcomes?

Ohio's top Catholic high schools typically report 95-99% of graduates enrolling in a two- or four-year college, versus statewide public averages closer to 60-65%. The gap reflects selective admissions and a college-prep-only track more than school quality alone — Catholic schools rarely offer a vocational-only diploma path, so nearly every graduate is counted as college-bound by design.

FAQ

Which Catholic high school in Ohio has the best academic reputation in 2027?

St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati) and St. Ignatius High School (Cleveland) are the two most consistently cited college-prep Catholic schools in Ohio, both Jesuit-run, both sending the large majority of graduates to four-year colleges including selective out-of-state schools. Ranking exact order year to year is less meaningful than confirming both meet a family's specific academic and extracurricular needs.

Is St. Ignatius or St. Xavier harder to get into?

Both are selective, with acceptance driven more by the diocesan entrance exam score and interview than by a fixed quota. St. Ignatius draws heavily from Cleveland's west side and inner suburbs; St. Xavier draws from greater Cincinnati and parts of Kentucky. Neither publishes an official acceptance rate, so families should treat both as competitive and apply with a backup diocesan school in mind.

What is the largest Catholic high school in Ohio?

By enrollment, St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati and St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland are consistently among the largest, each enrolling well over 1,500 students across four grades. Larger enrollment generally means a wider course catalog and more varsity sports options, but also larger average class sizes than a small parish-run diocesan high school in a rural county.

Are all-girls or all-boys Catholic high schools still common in Ohio?

Yes. Ohio still has a significant number of single-sex Catholic high schools, including St. Ursula Academy and Mount Notre Dame for girls in Cincinnati, and St. Xavier and Elder for boys. Cleveland has similar pairs. Most dioceses also run coed diocesan schools, so families choosing single-sex education generally have at least one nearby option per gender in a major metro area.

Do Catholic high schools in Ohio offer athletic scholarships?

No individual athletic scholarships — the OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) bans athletics-based tuition discounts for member schools, Catholic or public. What Catholic schools do offer is need-based financial aid and merit scholarships tied to the entrance exam, which a strong athlete can still qualify for on academic or need grounds, just not because of their sport.

What percentage of Catholic school graduates in Ohio go on to a four-year college?

Top-tier Ohio Catholic college-prep schools typically report 85-95% four-year college matriculation, with the remainder split between two-year colleges, military service, and direct workforce entry. This figure comes from each school's own self-reported senior survey, published in admissions materials, and is not independently audited by the diocese or state, so it should be read as directional rather than exact.

How far in advance should families apply to a top Ohio Catholic high school?

Most competitive schools open applications in September of 8th grade year, administer entrance exams in December, and release admission decisions by late January or early February for fall enrollment. Families aiming for merit scholarships should apply at the earliest window, since award pools are often first-come within qualifying score bands rather than reopened later in the cycle.

Do Ohio Catholic high schools provide bus transportation?

It varies by district and diocese. Ohio law requires public school districts to provide transportation to nonpublic school students living within the district's own busing radius, but Catholic high schools drawing from many districts across a metro area often can't guarantee door-to-door bus service, so many families carpool or rely on the school's own limited shuttle routes instead.

Sources

• https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-catholic-high-schools/s/ohio/
• https://www.greatschools.org/ohio/
• https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/ohio
• https://www.privateschoolreview.com/ohio-state/catholic-schools
• https://www.ncea.org
• https://www.catholiccincinnati.org
• https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org
• https://ohsaa.org

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