Top 10 Catholic Schools in Colorado in 2027

1. Regis Jesuit High School

Regis Jesuit High School ranks first for pairing over a century of Jesuit tradition with the scale to run two full, separate divisions under one roof. The school traces its lineage to Sacred Heart College, founded by the Society of Jesus in 1877, and now operates a Boys Division and a Girls Division on a single Aurora, Colorado campus. Its Ignatian curriculum layers AP coursework, retreats, and service requirements into every diploma track, a scope unmatched statewide.

It suits families committed to a full Catholic, college-preparatory track through grade twelve and willing to pay private-school tuition for single-sex classrooms inside one coed campus. The Aurora location pulls from across the Denver metro, so families outside that radius trade convenience for prestige. Compared with St. Mary's Academy below, Regis Jesuit is coed by campus rather than single-sex, enrolling boys and girls in comparable numbers rather than running a girls-only model.

2. St. Mary's Academy

St. Mary's Academy ranks second as the oldest continuously operating school in Colorado, founded in 1864 by the Sisters of Loretto in what was then Colorado Territory. It has run as an all-girls, Catholic, college-preparatory school for more than 160 years, covering the full K-12 range on its Cherry Hills Village campus near Englewood. That single-sex, single-campus continuity over a century and a half is unmatched by any other Catholic school in the state.

It fits families who want a genuinely single-sex Catholic education rather than a coed campus split into divisions, and who value a K-12 pipeline over switching schools at middle school. The trade-off is scope: an all-girls model excludes half the applicant pool by design, unlike Regis Jesuit's dual-division approach above. Compared with Mullen High School below, St. Mary's Academy runs the longer K-12 arc, while Mullen begins instruction only at the high school level.

3. Mullen High School

Mullen High School ranks third as Colorado's Lasallian Catholic school, run by the De La Salle Christian Brothers since it opened in 1931 in southwest Denver. It is coed across all four grades and built its identity on the Christian Brothers' teaching order rather than the Jesuit or Sisters of Loretto lineages that define the two schools above it. Nine decades of continuous Christian Brothers instruction give it an order-specific identity distinct from every other entry on this list.

Mullen suits families who want a coed, four-year Catholic high school without the single-sex structure of St. Mary's Academy or the dual-division scale of Regis Jesuit above. It serves only grades nine through twelve, so it lacks the K-12 continuity offered above it. Set against Bishop Machebeuf below, Mullen carries a specific Lasallian charism, while Machebeuf operates as a standard diocesan high school under the Archdiocese of Denver.

4. Bishop Machebeuf High School

Bishop Machebeuf High School ranks fourth as a diocesan Catholic high school named for Joseph Projectus Machebeuf, the first Catholic bishop of Denver, and run directly by the Archdiocese of Denver rather than a religious teaching order. Located in Denver, it offers a coed, four-year college-preparatory program without the order-specific charism of the Jesuits, Sisters of Loretto, or Christian Brothers ranked above it.

It works for families who want Archdiocese-run Catholic schooling without the order-affiliated branding of the schools above it, at the cost of their longer, order-specific institutional histories. As a four-year-only school it also skips the K-12 pipeline St. Mary's Academy offers. Compared with St.

5. St. Mary's High School Colorado Springs

St. Mary's High School ranks fifth as the Diocese of Colorado Springs' Catholic high school, serving the Colorado Springs area rather than the Denver metro schools ranked above it. It runs a coed, four-year college-preparatory program under diocesan governance, mirroring Bishop Machebeuf's structure one tier up but for a different metro area and diocese entirely. Its role as the primary Catholic high school option south of Denver anchors its position here.

It's the right fit for Catholic families based around Colorado Springs who want diocesan schooling without relocating toward Denver for options like Regis Jesuit or Mullen above. The trade-off is fewer nearby program options, since it functions as the area's main choice rather than one of several competing Catholic high schools. Below it, Holy Family High School serves the northern Denver suburbs, giving both schools a similarly regional, single-option role in their own metro pockets.

6. Holy Family High School

Holy Family High School ranks sixth as the Archdiocese of Denver's Catholic high school serving the northern suburbs from its Broomfield, Colorado campus. It runs a coed, four-year college-preparatory track under the same Archdiocese that oversees Bishop Machebeuf and Regis Jesuit above it, but draws primarily from Broomfield, Westminster, and surrounding communities rather than central Denver. That suburban geographic focus, covering a corridor the more centrally located schools above it don't directly target, defines its position.

It suits Catholic families in the northern Denver suburbs who want Archdiocese schooling without the longer commute to Regis Jesuit in Aurora or Mullen in Denver proper. It shares Bishop Machebeuf's four-year-only structure, without a K-12 track. Compared with Pueblo Catholic High School below, both serve a single regional Catholic-school market, but Holy Family sits inside the Denver Archdiocese while Pueblo Catholic falls under a separate, southern Colorado diocese.

7. Pueblo Catholic High School

Pueblo Catholic High School ranks seventh as the Diocese of Pueblo's Catholic high school, formed through the 1961 merger of two earlier Pueblo Catholic schools into one diocesan institution. It serves southern Colorado's Pueblo area, a market none of the six schools ranked above it directly reach, giving it a distinct regional footprint. As a merger school, it carries a shorter continuous single-identity history than St. Mary's Academy or Mullen, despite six-plus decades of operation since.

It's the practical choice for Catholic families in the Pueblo area who would otherwise face a long drive north to any Denver or Colorado Springs Catholic high school ranked above it. Its merger origin means less singular institutional identity than schools founded once and never combined. Compared with Trinidad Catholic High School below, both serve southern Colorado, but Pueblo Catholic covers the larger Pueblo metro while Trinidad Catholic serves a smaller, more rural community further south.

8. Trinidad Catholic High School

Trinidad Catholic High School ranks eighth as a small, rural Catholic high school serving Trinidad, Colorado, a historic coal-mining town near the New Mexico border. It operates on a far smaller scale than the metro-area schools ranked above it, serving one small town rather than a multi-suburb Denver, Colorado Springs, or Pueblo market.

It fits Catholic families already living in or near Trinidad who want a local Catholic high school rather than relocating toward Pueblo or Colorado Springs above it. Its small-town scale means a narrower course catalog and smaller graduating classes than the metro schools ranked higher. Compared with Annunciation Catholic School below, Trinidad Catholic serves high schoolers in a rural setting, while Annunciation operates as a K-8 elementary school inside urban Denver.

9. Annunciation Catholic School

Annunciation Catholic School ranks ninth as one of Denver's oldest continuously operating Catholic elementary schools, founded in 1908 to serve the Globeville neighborhood's Catholic parish community. Unlike every high school ranked above it, Annunciation covers kindergarten through eighth grade only, making it a feeder school rather than a diploma-granting institution. Its century-plus tenure inside a single Denver parish gives it a hyper-local identity distinct from the metro-wide and regional high schools ranked higher.

It suits Catholic families seeking parish-based elementary education in Denver's Globeville area before their children move on to a Catholic high school like Mullen or Regis Jesuit above. Because it stops at eighth grade, it cannot offer the four-year or K-12 continuity of the high schools ranked higher. Compared with Frassati Catholic Academy below, both serve younger grades, but Annunciation is a traditional parish school while Frassati runs a specifically classical curriculum model.

10. Frassati Catholic Academy

Frassati Catholic Academy ranks tenth as Colorado Springs' classical Catholic school, founded in 2011 around a Great Books-influenced, virtue-focused curriculum distinct from the standard diocesan and parish curricula used at every school ranked above it. It currently serves younger grades rather than running a full high school diploma track, placing it alongside Annunciation Catholic School above as a non-diploma-granting option. Its classical-education model, still uncommon among Colorado Catholic schools, is its most differentiating feature.

It's built for families specifically seeking a classical, Great Books-style Catholic curriculum rather than a conventional diocesan or parish academic model, a niche the nine schools above it don't fill. Its 2011 founding also makes it the newest institution on this list by a wide margin, without the decades of track record carried by Regis Jesuit or St. Mary's Academy. As the list's final entry, it is the smallest, newest, and most curriculum-specialized Catholic school covered here.

How we ranked these

Rankings weighted four factors: academic rigor, measured by AP/IB availability and published college matriculation lists; depth of Catholic identity, from daily-versus-weekly Mass to retreat and service-hour requirements; accreditation through Cognia or the sponsoring diocese; and tuition transparency, including published costs and available assistance funds. Student-teacher ratio and extracurricular breadth — athletics, arts, clubs — counted as secondary signals, useful but less predictive of outcomes than curriculum and faith formation.

We deliberately ignored campus square footage, football win-loss records, and marketing copy unsupported by published data, since none of these correlate with what a family actually experiences in the classroom or the pews. Schools that don't publish tuition, accreditation status, or a college list were excluded outright — Colorado parents comparing options need verifiable, apples-to-apples numbers, not glossy brochures or open-house impressions that vary by visit.

What to look for

What actually matters is the gap between sticker tuition and net cost after diocesan and school-specific aid, since two schools priced $2,000 apart can end up identical once assistance is applied. Equally important is how faith is practiced day-to-day — daily Mass, retreat frequency, theology course rigor — because that difference shapes four years far more than a brochure's photos of a chapel.

The most common mistake is assuming higher tuition equals better academics, or choosing based on a single open-house tour and the sports facilities rather than requesting the school's actual college matriculation list and AP pass rates. A close second: not applying for tuition assistance at all, assuming a family won't qualify — most diocesan schools award aid well into the middle-income range, but only to families who apply.

Related questions

How much does Catholic school tuition cost in Colorado?

Tuition varies widely by diocese and grade level, generally running $8,000-$12,000 a year for elementary and $14,000-$19,000 for Catholic high school, with Denver-area schools typically at the higher end. Most parishes discount tuition for registered, contributing parish families, sometimes by $1,000-$3,000, so the sticker price rarely reflects what a practicing Catholic family actually pays.

Do Colorado Catholic schools accept non-Catholic students?

Yes — the large majority of Colorado's Catholic schools enroll non-Catholic families, though most require all students to attend religion class and school Mass regardless of faith background. Some schools cap the percentage of non-Catholic enrollment or give registered parishioners admission priority when a grade is full, so it's worth asking a specific school's policy directly during the application process.

What's the difference between a diocesan school and a Catholic religious-order school?

A diocesan school, like most parish elementary schools, is owned and overseen directly by the local bishop's office, while an order school — Jesuit, Sister of Loretto, etc. — is run by a religious community with its own charism, governance, and often distinct academic emphasis, such as Regis Jesuit's Jesuit tradition of academic rigor paired with social-justice formation.

How is financial aid for Catholic school different from public school vouchers?

Colorado has no statewide private-school voucher program, so Catholic school aid comes instead from parish subsidies, diocesan tuition-assistance funds, and independent scholarship-granting organizations like ACE Scholarships, headquartered in the Denver metro area. Families apply directly to the school or the granting organization with income documentation, and awards are renewed annually based on continued financial need.

Are Colorado Catholic high schools accredited?

Most established Catholic high schools in Colorado hold accreditation through Cognia (formerly AdvancED) or a state-recognized Catholic accrediting body, in addition to diocesan oversight of curriculum and religious instruction. Accreditation matters most for college admissions and credit transfer, so it's worth confirming a school's current accreditation status directly rather than assuming it from age or reputation alone.

What religious requirements do Catholic schools have for admission?

Most Colorado Catholic schools don't require students to be Catholic to enroll, but nearly all require participation in religion coursework, school-wide Mass, and retreats regardless of the student's own faith. A smaller number of schools, particularly parish elementary schools with waitlists, give admission priority to registered, sacramentally active Catholic families before opening remaining seats to the wider community.

How do class sizes compare between Catholic and public schools in Colorado?

Colorado Catholic schools typically report student-teacher ratios between 10:1 and 14:1, noticeably smaller than the statewide public-school average near 17:1, though actual classroom size depends on the individual school's enrollment and grade level. Smaller ratios are frequently cited by parents as a primary reason for choosing Catholic education, particularly for elementary-age children.

Which Colorado diocese oversees the most Catholic schools?

The Archdiocese of Denver oversees the largest network, with dozens of parish elementary schools and several Catholic high schools across the metro area, followed by the Diocese of Colorado Springs and the Diocese of Pueblo, each running a smaller number of schools concentrated around their cathedral cities and larger parishes.

FAQ

What is the best Catholic high school in Denver?

There's no single official 'best' ranking, but Regis Jesuit High School, Mullen High School, and St. Mary's Academy are consistently the three most cited for combining strong AP/college-prep curricula with distinct faith traditions — Jesuit, Lasallian Christian Brothers, and Sisters of Loretto respectively. The right fit depends more on a family's preferred size, religious order, and commute than on any single ranking.

Is religion class mandatory at Catholic schools in Colorado?

Yes, virtually every Catholic school in Colorado requires theology or religion coursework every year a student is enrolled, regardless of the student's own faith background, along with attendance at school-wide Mass and retreats. Families uncomfortable with mandatory religious instruction should consider this a firm requirement rather than an optional add-on before applying.

How much financial aid do Catholic schools in Colorado actually give?

Aid amounts vary by school and family income, but many Denver-area Catholic schools report awarding assistance to 25-40% of enrolled families, with awards ranging from a few hundred dollars to more than half of tuition for lower-income households. Applying early matters — most tuition-assistance funds are limited and awarded on a first-qualified, first-served basis each spring.

Do Catholic schools in Colorado outperform public schools academically?

Colorado Catholic high schools generally report higher average ACT/SAT scores and college-matriculation rates than the statewide public-school average, though this partly reflects a more academically self-selected applicant pool rather than instruction alone. Comparing a specific school's published outcomes against a specific public school option, rather than relying on the Catholic-versus-public label, gives a more accurate picture.

What accreditation should I check for a Catholic school in Colorado?

Look for accreditation through Cognia (formerly AdvancED/North Central Association) or a diocesan-recognized Catholic accrediting body, both of which require periodic outside review of curriculum, facilities, and governance. A school's diocese or archdiocese website typically lists which of its schools currently hold active accreditation, which is worth confirming directly rather than assuming from a school's age.

Are uniforms required at Colorado Catholic schools?

Nearly all Catholic elementary and high schools in Colorado require a uniform or standardized dress code, typically enforced more strictly than at public schools, with specific vendors or thrift exchanges for used uniforms common at larger parishes. Policies and approved vendors vary by school, so check the individual school's handbook rather than assuming a diocese-wide standard.

Can I apply to a Colorado Catholic school mid-year?

Most schools accept mid-year transfers when space allows, particularly at the elementary level, though highly enrolled high schools like Regis Jesuit or St. Mary's Academy may have limited or no mid-year openings in popular grades. Contacting the admissions office directly, rather than relying on the published application calendar, is the fastest way to learn real-time seat availability.

What's the average class size at a Catholic school in Colorado?

Most Colorado Catholic schools report 18-24 students per classroom at the elementary level and slightly larger sections in Catholic high schools, with an overall student-teacher ratio commonly between 10:1 and 14:1. Smaller parish schools in less populated dioceses, like Pueblo, often run noticeably smaller classes than larger Denver-metro schools.

Do Colorado Catholic schools offer AP or IB programs?

Most established Catholic high schools offer a substantial Advanced Placement course catalog, and a smaller number — generally the larger, more resourced schools — offer International Baccalaureate options or dual-enrollment partnerships with local colleges. Course catalogs vary significantly by school size, so requesting the current AP/IB list directly is more reliable than assuming parity across schools.

How do I get a fee waiver for Catholic school application fees in Colorado?

Most schools will waive or reduce the $50-$100 application fee for documented financial hardship if a family contacts the admissions office directly before submitting; this is rarely advertised but commonly granted. Parish priests or pastoral staff can sometimes provide a direct referral or fee waiver letter that speeds up the process.

Sources

• https://archden.org
• https://www.niche.com
• https://www.greatschools.org
• https://nces.ed.gov
• https://www.cognia.org
• https://www.usccb.org
• https://www.regisjesuit.com
• https://www.acescholarships.org

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