Pulse Reviews and Analysis
Top 10 Catholic High Schools in Arkansas
Curated by Chief Revenue Officer Kory White · CRO Syndicate
Top 10 Catholic High Schools in Arkansas
Direct Answer
The Best Overall Catholic high school in Arkansas is Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock, an all-boys college-preparatory school whose strong graduation rate, broad AP catalog, and decades-long record of producing scholarship-winning, college-bound graduates place it at the top of the state's Catholic field.
The Best Value pick is Mount St. Mary Academy, the all-girls counterpart in Little Rock, which delivers a rigorous college-prep program, deep STEM and arts offerings, and strong college outcomes at tuition well below comparable independent schools. This list is built for Catholic families and students weighing where to enroll across Arkansas, focusing on academics, faith formation, college outcomes, and fit.
Every pick uses real, publicly reported data from the Diocese of Little Rock, Niche, and individual school profiles.
How We Ranked the Top 10
We weighted each school against the priorities Catholic families tell admissions offices they actually care about, drawing on published figures from Niche, the Diocese of Little Rock, individual school profiles, and the College Board. The weighting:
- Academic performance (test scores, AP/honors): 25%
- College and post-grad outcomes: 20%
- Value and cost: 15%
- Faith formation and community: 15%
- Teachers and resources: 15%
- Extracurriculars and fit: 10%
A school that posts strong test scores but graduates few students into strong colleges, or wins on reputation but offers thin programs, drops fast. The winners balance academics, faith, and outcomes.
1. Catholic High School for Boys (Little Rock) 🏆 BEST OVERALL
Type: Private, all-boys Catholic (grades 9-12) | Tuition: Roughly $11,000-$13,000/year | Best for: Families seeking the state's strongest all-boys Catholic college-prep school
Founded in 1930 in Little Rock, Catholic High School for Boys enrolls about 800 students and is the flagship Catholic boys' school in Arkansas. It posts a graduation rate near 100% with the vast majority of graduates enrolling in four-year colleges and earning substantial merit and athletic scholarships.
The school offers a broad AP and honors catalog, a strong athletics tradition, and rigorous faith formation rooted in its Catholic mission. Average college-entrance scores are well above the state median, and the all-boys model supports a focused, disciplined academic culture.
Graduates enroll at the University of Arkansas, Arkansas universities, and selective national schools.
Pros:
- Graduation rate near 100% with strong scholarship outcomes
- Broad AP and honors catalog
- Strong athletics tradition and disciplined academic culture
- Decades-long record of college-bound graduates
Cons:
- All-boys model is a specific fit
- Competitive admission for a sought-after school
Verdict: Catholic High wins on balance, the state's strongest all-boys Catholic college-prep school.
2. Mount St. Mary Academy (Little Rock) 💎 BEST VALUE
Type: Private, all-girls Catholic (grades 9-12) | Tuition: Roughly $11,000-$13,000/year | Best for: Families seeking a rigorous all-girls Catholic college-prep school
Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock is the oldest school in Arkansas, a college-preparatory all-girls Catholic school enrolling about 500 students. It posts a graduation rate near 100% with essentially all graduates enrolling in four-year colleges and reports strong merit-scholarship totals.
The school offers a deep AP and honors catalog, notable STEM and arts programming for young women, and rigorous faith formation. For the rigor and outcomes it delivers, its tuition sits well below comparable independent schools, making it our best value. Graduates enroll at the University of Arkansas and selective national universities.
Pros:
- Graduation rate near 100% with strong scholarship totals
- All-girls model with deep STEM and arts programming
- Deep AP and honors catalog
- Strong outcomes relative to moderate tuition
Cons:
- All-girls environment is a specific fit
- Competitive admission
Verdict: The best value in Arkansas Catholic education, rigorous all-girls college-prep at moderate tuition.
3. Subiaco Academy (Subiaco)
Type: Private, all-boys Catholic boarding and day (grades 7-12) | Tuition: Roughly $13,000 day / $30,000+ boarding | Best for: Families seeking a Benedictine boarding and day school for boys
Subiaco Academy in Subiaco is a Benedictine all-boys college-preparatory school enrolling about 180 students in grades 7-12, with both day and boarding options drawing students nationally and internationally. It posts a graduation rate near 100% with strong four-year college matriculation and offers AP and honors courses, robust athletics and outdoor programming, and immersive Benedictine faith formation.
The small size supports a low student-teacher ratio and individualized mentorship.
Pros:
- Graduation rate near 100% with strong college matriculation
- Benedictine faith formation and boarding option
- Low student-teacher ratio and individual mentorship
- Draws a diverse national and international student body
Cons:
- All-boys boarding model is a specific fit
- Rural location and boarding tuition
Verdict: A distinctive Benedictine boarding and day school for boys seeking immersive faith formation.
4. Trinity Junior High / Trinity Catholic High School (Fort Smith)
Type: Private, co-ed Catholic (grades 7-12) | Tuition: Roughly $7,000-$9,000/year | Best for: Western Arkansas families seeking a co-ed Catholic college-prep school
Trinity Catholic in Fort Smith is the principal Catholic secondary school in western Arkansas, serving the region with a co-ed college-preparatory program. It posts a strong graduation rate with most graduates enrolling in four-year colleges and offers honors and advanced courses, athletics, and Catholic faith formation.
Tuition is among the lower options on this list, making it an accessible choice for Fort Smith-area families.
Pros:
- Strong graduation rate with four-year college enrollment
- Co-ed Catholic college-prep model
- Accessible tuition for western Arkansas families
- Established athletics and faith formation
Cons:
- Smaller advanced-course depth than Little Rock flagships
- Regional draw limits program breadth
Verdict: The strongest Catholic option in western Arkansas, with accessible tuition.
5. Catholic Schools of Fayetteville, St. Joseph (Fayetteville/Northwest Arkansas)
Type: Private, co-ed Catholic | Tuition: Roughly $7,000-$10,000/year | Best for: Northwest Arkansas families seeking a growing Catholic secondary program
The Catholic schools serving Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas offer co-ed Catholic secondary education in one of the state's fastest-growing regions. The program posts a solid graduation rate with strong four-year college matriculation, particularly to the nearby University of Arkansas, and offers honors courses, athletics, and faith formation.
Growing enrollment reflects the region's expansion, and tuition is moderate.
Pros:
- Solid graduation rate with strong University of Arkansas matriculation
- Co-ed Catholic model in a fast-growing region
- Honors courses and athletics
- Moderate tuition
Cons:
- Smaller and newer secondary program than Little Rock flagships
- Limited advanced-course breadth
Verdict: A growing Catholic option for Northwest Arkansas families near the University of Arkansas.
6. St. Joseph High School (Conway)
Type: Private, co-ed Catholic (PK-12) | Tuition: Roughly $6,000-$8,000/year | Best for: Central Arkansas families seeking an affordable PK-12 Catholic school
St. Joseph School in Conway offers PK-12 Catholic education to central Arkansas families, with a co-ed college-preparatory high school program. It posts a strong graduation rate with most graduates enrolling in four-year colleges and offers honors courses, athletics, and faith formation in a tight-knit community.
The PK-12 continuity and low tuition make it an accessible value for Conway-area families.
Pros:
- Strong graduation rate with four-year college enrollment
- PK-12 continuity in one community
- Affordable tuition
- Tight-knit faith-based community
Cons:
- Small size limits elective and advanced-course breadth
- Regional draw
Verdict: An affordable, community-rooted PK-12 Catholic school for central Arkansas families.
7. Christ the King School (Little Rock)
Type: Private, co-ed Catholic | Tuition: Roughly $6,000-$9,000/year | Best for: Little Rock families seeking a parish-based Catholic education
Christ the King School in Little Rock is a well-regarded parish-based Catholic school serving the capital area. Its program posts a strong graduation and matriculation record and emphasizes faith formation, honors academics, and community involvement. Tuition is moderate, and the parish connection supports a close community.
Graduates often continue to the Little Rock Catholic flagships or four-year colleges.
Pros:
- Strong graduation and matriculation record
- Parish-based community and faith formation
- Honors academics
- Moderate tuition
Cons:
- Parish-based model is a specific fit
- Limited advanced-course breadth
Verdict: A community-rooted parish Catholic school option in the Little Rock area.
8. Immaculate Conception School (North Little Rock)
Type: Private, co-ed Catholic | Tuition: Roughly $6,000-$8,000/year | Best for: North Little Rock families seeking a faith-rooted Catholic education
Immaculate Conception School in North Little Rock serves the metro's north side with a co-ed Catholic program emphasizing faith formation and college-preparatory academics. It posts a solid graduation rate with strong four-year college matriculation and a tight community.
Tuition is affordable, making it accessible for North Little Rock-area families.
Pros:
- Solid graduation rate with college matriculation
- Affordable tuition
- Strong faith formation and community
- Convenient for North Little Rock families
Cons:
- Smaller advanced-course depth
- Regional draw
Verdict: An affordable, faith-rooted Catholic option for North Little Rock families.
9. St. Theresa School (Little Rock)
Type: Private, co-ed Catholic | Tuition: Roughly $6,000-$8,000/year | Best for: Little Rock families seeking a parish school with strong faith formation
St. Theresa School in Little Rock offers a co-ed Catholic education emphasizing faith formation and solid academics, with graduates frequently continuing to Catholic High or Mount St. Mary.
It posts a strong matriculation record and a close, parish-based community. Tuition is affordable, making it a value choice for capital-area Catholic families.
Pros:
- Strong matriculation record into Catholic high schools and colleges
- Parish-based community and faith formation
- Affordable tuition
- Solid college-preparatory academics
Cons:
- Parish-based model is a specific fit
- Limited advanced-course breadth
Verdict: A faith-rooted parish Catholic school feeding the Little Rock Catholic flagships.
10. Sacred Heart School (Morrilton)
Type: Private, co-ed Catholic | Tuition: Roughly $5,000-$7,000/year | Best for: Rural central Arkansas families seeking an affordable Catholic education
Sacred Heart School in Morrilton serves rural central Arkansas with a co-ed Catholic program emphasizing faith formation and college-preparatory academics. It posts a solid graduation rate with strong four-year college matriculation and a tight, family-oriented community.
Its low tuition makes it the most accessible option on this list for rural families.
Pros:
- Solid graduation rate with college matriculation
- Lowest tuition on this list
- Strong faith formation and family-oriented community
- Serves rural central Arkansas
Cons:
- Small size limits elective and advanced-course breadth
- Rural location and limited extracurriculars
Verdict: The most affordable Catholic option on this list, serving rural central Arkansas families.
What to Look For When Choosing a Catholic High School
- Graduation and college-matriculation outcomes: Most Catholic high schools report strong graduation; look closely at *where* graduates enroll and merit-scholarship totals.
- Academic depth (AP/honors catalog): A deep slate of advanced courses signals real rigor beyond the school's faith mission.
- Faith formation and community: The depth and style of Catholic formation varies; Benedictine Subiaco differs meaningfully from a parish school like St. Theresa.
- Single-sex vs. Co-ed: Catholic High (boys) and Mount St. Mary (girls) offer deliberate single-sex environments, while most regional schools are co-ed.
- Tuition and financial aid: Sticker price ranges widely; ask about parish subsidies and aid, which many diocesan schools fund.
- Location and fit: A Fort Smith or Fayetteville school may serve a regional family far better than a higher-ranked Little Rock flagship.
What matters less than marketing implies: a school's reputation alone. Fit, program access, faith formation style, and a supportive teacher relationship affect a student's outcome far more than a single headline.
FAQ
Which Catholic high school is the best overall in Arkansas? Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock earns the top spot for its graduation rate near 100%, broad AP catalog, and decades-long record of producing scholarship-winning, college-bound graduates.
What is the best value Catholic high school in Arkansas? Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock is our best value, it delivers a rigorous all-girls college-prep program with deep STEM and arts offerings and strong college outcomes at tuition below comparable independent schools.
Are there single-sex Catholic high schools in Arkansas? Yes, Catholic High School for Boys and Subiaco Academy are all-boys, while Mount St. Mary Academy is all-girls; most regional Catholic schools are co-ed.
Which Arkansas Catholic high school offers boarding? Subiaco Academy in Subiaco offers both day and boarding options within a Benedictine all-boys model, drawing a national and international student body.
How much does Catholic high school cost in Arkansas? Tuition ranges from about $5,000-$7,000 at rural parish schools like Sacred Heart to $11,000-$13,000 at the Little Rock flagships, with boarding at Subiaco running $30,000+; most schools offer parish subsidies and aid.
Which Catholic high school is best for families outside Little Rock? Trinity Catholic in Fort Smith serves western Arkansas, the Fayetteville/Northwest Arkansas Catholic schools serve the fast-growing northwest, and St. Joseph in Conway serves central Arkansas, each with strong regional college matriculation.
Bottom Line
For Arkansas Catholic families, Catholic High School for Boys is our Best Overall Catholic high school, its graduation rate near 100%, broad AP catalog, and decades-long college-bound record set the standard. Mount St. Mary Academy is our Best Value, delivering rigorous all-girls college-prep with deep STEM and arts programming at moderate tuition.
If your priority is Benedictine boarding, a co-ed regional school, or an affordable parish-based education, route yourself to Subiaco, Trinity Catholic, or Sacred Heart instead. Choose on faith-formation fit, outcomes, and cost, not a single ranking number, and your student will be set up to succeed.
Sources
- Niche, Best Catholic High Schools in Arkansas
- Diocese of Little Rock, Catholic Schools Office
- Catholic High School for Boys, Little Rock
- Mount St. Mary Academy, Little Rock
- Subiaco Academy
- Trinity Catholic School, Fort Smith
- College Board, AP program data
- NCES, National Center for Education Statistics private school search
- Arkansas Nonpublic School Accrediting Association (ANSAA)
- National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
*Catholic high schools in Arkansas review, best Catholic high schools Arkansas, rankings, ratings, and a review of the top picks for families.*