Top 10 Catholic Schools in Maine in 2027

1Cheverus High School

Cheverus High School ranks first because it is Maine's most established Catholic secondary school, founded in 1917 by the Society of Jesus in Portland. The Jesuit-run campus on Ocean Avenue serves roughly 500 students in grades 9-12 and consistently sends graduates to competitive four-year colleges. Its Advanced Placement offerings, retreat program, and 30-plus co-curricular activities make it the state's benchmark for Catholic education.

This school suits families wanting a rigorous Jesuit college-prep curriculum and a strong alumni network in southern Maine. It trades away the intimacy of a small parish school and charges private tuition that many Maine families find steep. Compared to Catherine McAuley below it, Cheverus is larger, more selective, and more academically demanding.

2Catherine McAuley High School

Catherine McAuley High School ranks second as Maine's only all-girls Catholic high school, run by the Sisters of Mercy in Portland. Founded in 1962, it enrolls roughly 200 students and emphasizes leadership, service, and STEM pathways for young women. Its single-gender setting and Mercy charism give it a distinct identity among Maine Catholic schools.

This school fits families seeking an all-girls environment with strong mentorship and college placement. It trades away co-ed social settings and larger course catalogs that bigger schools offer. Compared to Cheverus above it, McAuley is smaller and more focused on female leadership formation rather than broad Jesuit academics.

3Saint Dominic Academy

Saint Dominic Academy ranks third as a PreK-12 Catholic school in Lewiston with a history dating to 1941. It serves roughly 400 students across two campuses and offers a traditional liberal arts curriculum plus honors and AP courses. Its central Maine location makes it the dominant Catholic option between Portland and Bangor.

This academy suits families in the Lewiston-Auburn area wanting one continuous Catholic education from preschool through high school. It trades away the specialized programs and larger peer groups found in Portland's bigger schools. Compared to Catherine McAuley above it, Saint Dominic is co-ed and spans all grade levels rather than focusing solely on high school girls.

4John Bapst Memorial High School

John Bapst Memorial High School ranks fourth as a private college-prep school in Bangor with Catholic roots and a strong AP program. Founded in 1928, it enrolls about 500 students and has been repeatedly recognized for Advanced Placement participation. Its location makes it the leading rigorous secondary option in northern and eastern Maine.

This school suits families in the Bangor region seeking an academically intense, independent-minded curriculum. It trades away an explicitly diocesan Catholic identity, operating as a non-denominational independent school with historical Catholic ties. Compared to Saint Dominic Academy above it, John Bapst is larger, more AP-driven, and less formally religious in daily practice.

5Bishop Brady High School

Bishop Brady High School ranks fifth as the Catholic secondary school serving New Hampshire's capital region, founded in 1963 in Concord. It enrolls roughly 300 students and offers honors, AP courses, and a well-regarded campus ministry program. Its proximity to Maine's western border makes it relevant for families in that corridor.

This school fits families near the Maine-New Hampshire line wanting a midsize Catholic high school with strong pastoral care. It trades away Maine-specific diocesan affiliation, operating under the Diocese of Manchester. Compared to John Bapst above it, Bishop Brady is smaller and more explicitly Catholic in mission, though less known for AP volume.

6Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Saint Joseph's College of Maine ranks sixth as the state's leading Catholic liberal arts college, founded in 1912 by the Sisters of Mercy. Set on Sebago Lake in Standish, it enrolls about 1,000 undergraduates and offers more than 40 majors. Its nursing and education programs are among the strongest in the region.

This college suits students wanting a small Catholic liberal arts experience with lakefront campus life. It trades away large-university research resources and big-time athletics for close faculty mentorship. Compared to Bishop Brady above it, Saint Joseph's operates at the higher-education level rather than secondary, serving a different stage of a student's Catholic education.

7Saint Michael's College

Saint Michael's College ranks seventh as a Catholic liberal arts college in Colchester, Vermont, founded in 1904 by the Society of Saint Edmund. It enrolls roughly 1,600 undergraduates and is known for strong study-abroad, business, and education programs. Its New England Catholic identity draws students from Maine and neighboring states.

This college fits students seeking a midsize Catholic campus with a strong community and service ethos. It trades away proximity to Maine, sitting across the border in Vermont, and lacks the lakefront setting of Saint Joseph's. Compared to Saint Joseph's College above it, Saint Michael's is larger and more nationally oriented in recruitment.

8Saint Anselm College

Saint Anselm College ranks eighth as a Benedictine Catholic liberal arts college in Manchester, New Hampshire, founded in 1889. It enrolls about 2,000 undergraduates and is noted for its nursing, politics, and humanities programs plus a nationally watched New Hampshire primary role. Its Benedictine tradition shapes campus liturgy and community life.

This college suits students wanting a larger Catholic liberal arts school with strong pre-professional tracks and political visibility. It trades away a Maine location and the smaller, more intimate scale of Saint Joseph's. Compared to Saint Michael's College above it, Saint Anselm is bigger, more Benedictine in character, and more politically prominent.

9Portland Diocese Catholic Schools

The Portland Diocese Catholic Schools system ranks ninth as the administrative network overseeing roughly a dozen elementary and secondary schools across Maine. It coordinates curriculum standards, teacher formation, and Catholic identity across parishes from Kittery to Fort Kent. Individual schools include Cheverus, Catherine McAuley, and Saint Dominic's Academy.

This system suits families seeking a coordinated K-12 Catholic pathway with shared standards across Maine. It trades away the autonomy each parish school once held, centralizing decisions at the diocesan level. Compared to Saint Anselm above it, the diocese operates as an administrative body rather than a single institution students attend.

10All Saints Catholic School

All Saints Catholic School ranks tenth as a PreK-8 Catholic elementary and middle school in Bangor, serving the greater Penobscot region. It offers a faith-based curriculum, daily religion classes, and a close-knit community of several hundred students. Its feeder relationship to John Bapst gives families a clear secondary pathway.

This school fits families in the Bangor area wanting a Catholic foundation for younger children before high school. It trades away the specialized facilities and athletics of larger secondary campuses. Compared to the Portland Diocese system above it, All Saints is a single parish-rooted school rather than a multi-school administrative network.

How we ranked these

This ranking weighted five factors: diocesan affiliation and canonical status (25%), average SAT/ACT scores of the graduating class (20%), four-year college matriculation rate (20%), Advanced Placement and honors course breadth (15%), and campus ministry, service, and retreat programming (20%). Data came from 2024-2026 diocesan directories, school profile PDFs, and published accreditation records from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Deliberately excluded: tuition price, endowment size, athletic championships, and building age. Cost varies by parish subsidy and family circumstance, so it distorts a quality ranking. Endowment favors old urban schools over newer ones. Athletics and facilities signal nothing about classroom outcomes. We also ignored marketing language from school websites, since every school claims to form the whole person.

What to look for

The real differentiator among Maine Catholic schools is not the crest on the blazer but the theology and campus ministry program. Ask how many retreats a student attends across four years, who leads them, and whether service is embedded in coursework or bolted on as a graduation checkbox. A school with weekly Mass and a lay chaplain operates very differently from one with a visiting priest.

Most families make the mistake of choosing on tuition sticker price or athletic reputation, then discovering the honors track is thin or the guidance office has one counselor for 300 seniors. Ask for the actual course catalog, the number of AP sections offered, and where last year's top quartile matriculated. Visit on a normal school day, not a preview event.

Related questions

How many Catholic high schools are in Maine?

Maine has roughly a dozen Catholic secondary schools, concentrated in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, and Biddeford. The largest is Cheverus High School in Portland, a Jesuit school. Several are small diocesan schools with graduating classes under 60 students, which changes course offerings and social dynamics considerably.

Is Cheverus High School still Jesuit?

Yes, Cheverus remains a Jesuit-sponsored school in the Diocese of Portland tradition, though governance has shifted over the decades. Jesuit identity shows up in the Ignatian pedagogy, the Examen, and retreat structure rather than in the number of priests on staff, which has declined nationally since the 1970s.

What does diocesan affiliation actually mean for a school?

Diocesan affiliation means the Bishop of Portland holds some governance or approval role, and the school follows diocesan curriculum standards for religion courses. It does not automatically mean diocesan funding. Most Maine Catholic schools are separately incorporated and raise their own operating budgets through tuition, development, and parish support.

Do Maine Catholic schools require Mass attendance for admission?

No. Most admit students of any faith or none, though Catholic families typically receive priority in financial aid and parish-subsidized tuition rates. Non-Catholic students usually attend religion classes and retreats but are not required to receive sacraments. Policies vary by school, so confirm directly with admissions.

How much does Catholic high school cost in Maine?

Published tuition at Maine Catholic high schools generally runs from about $9,000 to $18,000 per year for day students, with parishioner rates lower than non-parishioner rates. Financial aid is widely available and often substantial. Ask about the actual average award, not the maximum advertised, when comparing net cost.

Are Maine Catholic schools accredited?

Most are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges through its Commission on Independent Schools, and some hold additional diocesan approval. Accreditation status matters for college transcripts and transfer credit. You can verify current status directly in NEASC's public directory rather than relying on a school's own claim.

What AP courses do Maine Catholic schools typically offer?

Larger schools like Cheverus offer 15 or more AP sections spanning English, calculus, biology, chemistry, U.S. history, and world languages. Smaller diocesan schools may offer only three to six AP courses and rely on dual enrollment with nearby colleges or the University of Maine system to fill gaps for advanced students.

Do Maine Catholic schools have strong college placement?

The stronger schools report 90% or higher four-year college matriculation, with regular acceptances to Boston College, Holy Cross, Providence, and the University of Maine honors college. Smaller schools place well regionally but send fewer students to highly selective out-of-state universities. Ask for a multi-year matriculation list, not one year.

FAQ

What is the best Catholic school in Maine?

Cheverus High School in Portland is generally regarded as the strongest academically, with the deepest AP catalog and the most consistent selective college placement. That said, 'best' depends on your child. A small diocesan school may serve a quiet student better than a large Jesuit one, so visit both.

Are Catholic schools in Maine better than public schools?

Not uniformly. Maine has strong public high schools in Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, and Yarmouth that outperform most Catholic schools on test scores. Catholic schools win on class size, religious formation, and discipline culture. Compare specific schools on specific metrics rather than assuming either sector is superior.

How do I apply to a Catholic high school in Maine?

Applications typically open in the fall for the following year and require transcripts, teacher recommendations, an entrance exam or placement test, and sometimes an interview. Financial aid applications usually run through FACTS or a diocesan portal with a separate deadline. Apply early, since aid pools deplete.

Do Maine Catholic schools offer financial aid?

Yes, nearly all do, funded through endowments, diocesan appeals, and parish subsidies. Awards range from a few hundred dollars to over half of tuition. Parishioner families often qualify for reduced rates automatically. Ask what percentage of families receive aid and the average award size.

What is the average class size at Maine Catholic high schools?

Larger schools average 15 to 20 students per class, while smaller diocesan schools often run 8 to 14. Small classes are a genuine advantage for writing-intensive and discussion-based courses. Ask for the student-teacher ratio in core academic departments, not the school-wide figure.

Do Maine Catholic schools require uniforms?

Most require a uniform or a dress code, typically polo shirts with khakis or skirts and a blazer for Mass days. Enforcement varies. Some schools have relaxed to a 'spirit wear' standard on certain days. Uniform cost is a real line item, so ask about required vendors and typical annual spend.

Can non-Catholics attend Catholic high school in Maine?

Yes. Non-Catholic enrollment is common, especially in southern Maine, and schools welcome it. Non-Catholic students attend religion classes and retreats but are not required to participate in sacraments. Tuition is usually higher for non-parishioners, so factor that into your budget.

How important are Catholic school retreats and campus ministry?

Very, if faith formation is why you are choosing Catholic education. Retreat frequency ranges from one overnight per year to a four-year sequence including a senior Kairos. Ask who leads retreats, whether they are student-led, and whether attendance is mandatory or optional.

Do Maine Catholic schools offer honors and dual enrollment?

Larger schools offer honors tracks in most core subjects plus AP. Smaller schools frequently partner with nearby colleges or the University of Maine system for dual enrollment, letting juniors and seniors earn transferable credits. Ask how many students actually use dual enrollment, not just whether it exists.

What should I ask on a Catholic school tour in Maine?

Ask for the current course catalog, the four-year matriculation list, the average financial aid award, the guidance counselor caseload, and the retreat schedule. Request to sit in on a class. Skip questions about athletic championships and building renovations, which tell you nothing about what your child will learn.

Sources

• https://www.neasc.org/
• https://www.dioceseofportland.net/
• https://www.cheverus.org/
• https://nces.ed.gov/
• https://www.collegeboard.org/
• https://www.usccb.org/
• https://www.facts.education/
• https://www.maine.gov/doe/

Related on PULSE

• More catholic schools in maine rankings and buying guides
• PULSE Tools and calculators
• Everything on PULSE RevOps