Top 10 Catholic Schools in Massachusetts in 2027

1Boston College High School

Boston College High School ranks first for its rare combination of scale, longevity, and academic rigor. Founded in 1863, it is one of the oldest Jesuit high schools in the United States and now enrolls more than 1,600 boys on its Dorchester campus, making it Boston's largest all-boys Catholic school. Its Ignatian curriculum pairs AP and honors coursework with mandatory service hours.

BC High suits families committed to an all-boys Jesuit formation and a long school day that extends into athletics and clubs. It trades the intimacy of a smaller campus for scale, tradition, and a deep alumni network, since no comparable all-girls counterpart under the same order exists in the state. St. John's Preparatory School, ranked next, offers a similar brotherhood model without the Ignatian-specific pedagogy.

2St. John's Preparatory School

St. John's Preparatory School ranks second on the strength of its physical footprint and program breadth. Founded in 1907 by the Xaverian Brothers and relocated to a large Danvers campus in 1985, it enrolls roughly 1,500 students, making it among the biggest Catholic high schools in New England. The campus supports multiple athletic complexes and a performing arts center.

St. John's suits families who want an all-boys Xaverian education backed by the resources of a small-college-scale campus rather than a compact urban building. It trades BC High's century-plus Jesuit prestige for newer facilities and a suburban North Shore setting. Compared with Catholic Memorial, ranked next, St. John's offers far more acreage and program variety.

3Catholic Memorial School

Catholic Memorial School lands third for its tight academic-athletic identity within a smaller footprint than the schools ranked above it. Founded in 1957 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in West Roxbury, it enrolls several hundred boys and has built one of the state's most decorated football and hockey programs alongside a full AP and honors track. Its size supports closer faculty relationships than BC High or St. John's Prep.

Catholic Memorial fits families who want an all-boys Christian Brothers education without the scale of the two schools ranked above it, prioritizing community over campus size. It trades acreage and program breadth for a closer-knit student body and a heated athletic rivalry with St. John's Prep. Central Catholic High School, ranked next, offers the same regional Catholic pedigree but as a fully coeducational school.

4Central Catholic High School

Central Catholic High School ranks fourth as the state's oldest Catholic high school, founded in 1857 and now run under Augustinian sponsorship in Lawrence with more than a thousand students. Unlike the three all-boys schools ranked above it, Central Catholic is fully coeducational, offering a broad AP and dual-enrollment slate alongside a Merrimack Valley athletic conference schedule. Its longevity gives it one of the deepest alumni networks in the Archdiocese's northern reach.

Central Catholic is the pick for families who want coeducation and a large, historic institution rather than the single-sex model of BC High, St. John's Prep, or Catholic Memorial. It trades some of the elite college-placement reputation of the all-boys Boston schools for broader accessibility and a Merrimack Valley community feel. Xaverian Brothers High School, next on this list, returns to an all-boys format in a smaller Westwood setting.

5Xaverian Brothers High School

Xaverian Brothers High School ranks fifth for its balance of Xaverian Brothers tradition and manageable scale. Founded in 1963 and based in Westwood, it enrolls roughly a thousand boys with a full honors and AP curriculum and a strong athletic program in the Catholic Conference. It shares its founding order with St. John's Prep but operates on one smaller campus without Danvers' expansive acreage, keeping its community closer-knit.

Xaverian works for families wanting the Xaverian Brothers' all-boys formation closer to Boston's western suburbs than Danvers. It trades St. John's Prep's sprawling campus for a more compact footprint and trades Central Catholic's coeducation for a single-sex focus. Notre Dame Academy, ranked next, mirrors this order-run, single-sex model but serves girls on Boston's South Shore instead of boys west of the city.

6Notre Dame Academy Hingham

Notre Dame Academy Hingham ranks sixth as the leading all-girls Catholic option on the South Shore. Sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, it runs a full college-preparatory and AP curriculum for several hundred students, a smaller enrollment than the boys' schools ranked above it that supports close advising relationships and a strong record of graduates entering selective colleges. Its single-sex, faith-based model sets it apart from coed peers like Central Catholic.

Notre Dame Academy suits families seeking a single-sex, college-preparatory education for girls without traveling into Boston proper, trading urban resources for a South Shore community feel. It ranks below the larger all-boys schools mainly on enrollment scale and program breadth, not academic rigor. Ursuline Academy, appearing later on this list, offers a comparable all-girls model sponsored by a different order in Dedham.

7Bishop Fenwick High School

Bishop Fenwick High School ranks seventh as a solid coeducational option on the North Shore. Opened in 1962 under the Archdiocese of Boston in Peabody, it runs a full college-prep curriculum and competes in the Catholic Central League, though its enrollment and facilities are smaller than Central Catholic's. It offers a similarly coeducational, community-oriented environment for North Shore Catholic families without a Danvers-scale campus.

Bishop Fenwick fits families north of Boston who want an Archdiocese-run coed school closer to home than Central Catholic or St. John's Prep. It trades the size and athletic pedigree of the schools ranked above it for a smaller, more local community feel. Austin Preparatory School, next on the list, offers a similar coed, mid-sized model under Augustinian sponsorship further inland in Reading.

8Austin Preparatory School

Austin Preparatory School ranks eighth for its distinctive Augustinian, coeducational model in Reading. Founded in 1961, it enrolls in the mid-hundreds, keeping class sizes smaller than most schools ranked above it, and pairs standard AP and honors offerings with a curriculum emphasizing the Augustinian tradition of unity, truth, and love. It fields varsity teams in the Catholic Central League on a compact campus.

Austin Prep suits families prioritizing small class sizes and Augustinian values over the size and athletic prestige of St. John's Prep or Xaverian. It offers coeducation like Central Catholic and Bishop Fenwick but in a notably smaller, more intimate setting, trading breadth of programs for individual attention. Ursuline Academy Dedham, ranked next, moves back to a single-sex, all-girls model sponsored by a different religious congregation.

9Ursuline Academy Dedham

Ursuline Academy Dedham ranks ninth as a smaller all-girls option sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters. Founded in 1946, it enrolls well under the larger schools on this list and supports a close advising model within a full college-preparatory track, though it lacks the scale of athletic programs and facilities found at Notre Dame Academy or the larger boys' schools ranked above it. Formation stays closely tied to Ursuline educational tradition.

Ursuline Academy is built for families wanting a small, single-sex, faith-centered environment over size or athletic breadth, trading the South Shore reach of Notre Dame Academy for a location closer to Boston's western suburbs. It ranks below Notre Dame Academy mainly on enrollment and program depth rather than academic quality. Bishop Feehan High School, closing this list, returns to a coeducational format further south in Attleboro.

10Bishop Feehan High School

Bishop Feehan High School ranks tenth as a solid coeducational choice serving the Attleboro area under the Diocese of Fall River. It runs a full college-preparatory curriculum and Catholic Central League athletics, with an enrollment and campus smaller than the North Shore and Boston-area schools ranked above it, giving it a community-school feel for families in the southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island border region. It closes this list as a reliable, if less widely known, regional option.

Bishop Feehan fits families in the Attleboro-to-Rhode-Island corridor who want a coed Catholic option without commuting into Boston, trading the name recognition of the schools ranked above it for local convenience. It shares a coeducational structure with Central Catholic and Bishop Fenwick but serves a distinctly different geographic region. Compared with every school above it on this list, it has the smallest regional draw and athletic profile.

How we ranked these

This ranking weighted verifiable academic outcomes first: four-year college matriculation rates, AP and honors course breadth, and current NEASC accreditation status. Student-teacher ratio, campus infrastructure (labs, arts spaces, athletic facilities), institutional longevity, and diocesan or religious-order affiliation were scored next. Tuition-to-financial-aid ratios were cross-checked against Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education records and each school's own disclosed enrollment and outcome data.

Social media presence, marketing copy, and unverified parent-forum anecdotes were deliberately excluded, since none correlate reliably with academic outcomes or long-term student success. Elementary-only Catholic schools without an upper-school program were left off, along with non-Catholic private schools and out-of-state institutions that don't compete for the same families. Subjective campus beauty and legacy prestige alone were ignored unless backed by measurable accreditation or outcome data.

What to look for

What actually matters is fit, not prestige: single-sex versus coed, all-boys brotherhood culture versus girls'-only formation, campus size versus intimacy, and whether the founding order's specific charism (Jesuit, Xaverian, Ursuline) matches the family's values. Commute distance matters more than most buyers admit, since a 45-minute daily drive erodes the benefit of any program. Tuition sticker price rarely reflects true cost once financial aid and parish discounts apply.

The most common mistake is choosing on name recognition or athletic reputation alone, without checking current NEASC accreditation status, actual AP course availability for the enrollment year, or entrance-exam cutoffs. Families also underweight multi-year tuition costs, assuming year-one financial aid stays flat every year after. Touring during a normal school day, not an open house, reveals more about daily fit than any brochure or ranking list ever will.

Related questions

What's the difference between a diocesan and an independent Catholic high school in Massachusetts?

Diocesan schools are owned and financially backed by the Archdiocese of Boston or another Massachusetts diocese, following centralized curriculum and hiring policies. Independent Catholic schools, often run by religious orders like the Xaverian Brothers or Sisters of Notre Dame, set their own boards, budgets, and admissions standards, giving them more flexibility but less direct financial backing during enrollment downturns.

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

Tuition at Massachusetts Catholic high schools generally runs $18,000 to $28,000 annually, with day schools at the lower end and college-preparatory institutions with strong athletics or arts programs at the higher end. Most schools publish sliding-scale financial aid based on family income, and parishioner discounts of $1,000 to $3,000 are common for registered, contributing parish families.

Do Catholic schools in Massachusetts accept non-Catholic students?

Yes, most Massachusetts Catholic high schools enroll non-Catholic students, often 15 to 30 percent of the student body, particularly in urban schools serving diverse communities. Non-Catholic students typically still take required theology courses and attend religious services, but conversion is not required for admission or graduation at the vast majority of schools.

What financial aid options exist for Catholic school families in Massachusetts?

Options include need-based diocesan tuition-assistance funds, school-specific endowed scholarships, the Massachusetts Catholic Schools Foundation, and third-party processors like FACTS Grant & Aid. Some schools also offer merit scholarships tied to entrance-exam scores, and parish-based subsidies reduce costs further for registered, tithing families within the sponsoring parish community.

Are Massachusetts Catholic high schools single-sex or coed?

Massachusetts has a mix of both: schools like Notre Dame Academy and Ursuline Academy are all-girls, Catholic Memorial and Xaverian Brothers are all-boys, while Bishop Feehan, Central Catholic, and Austin Preparatory are coed. Single-sex schools often maintain sister-school partnerships for joint dances, service trips, and some cross-registered elective courses.

How does NEASC accreditation affect a Catholic school's ranking?

New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation signals a school passed an external review of curriculum rigor, faculty credentials, and facilities, renewed on a multi-year cycle rather than granted permanently. Schools lacking current NEASC status were weighted lower in these rankings since there's no independent verification of their academic claims.

What's the average class size at top Catholic schools in Massachusetts?

Top-ranked Massachusetts Catholic high schools typically maintain 15 to 22 students per class, smaller than the state's public school average of roughly 22 to 25. Smaller orders and single-sex schools tend toward the lower end of that range, while larger diocesan schools with 800-plus enrollment sometimes run closer to 24 to 26 in core subjects.

Can Massachusetts Catholic school students take the MCAS state exam?

Private and Catholic school students aren't required to take the MCAS since it's a public-school accountability measure, but some Catholic schools voluntarily administer it or comparable tests like the ERB or Stanford 10 for internal benchmarking. Most rely instead on PSAT, SAT, and AP exam results to demonstrate outcomes.

FAQ

Is Catholic school tuition tax-deductible in Massachusetts?

No, Massachusetts doesn't offer a state tax deduction for private K-12 tuition, and the federal government doesn't allow one either, though 529 college-savings plans can be used for up to $10,000 per year in K-12 tuition under federal law. Some employers offer dependent tuition benefits as a separate workplace perk.

What is the oldest Catholic high school in Massachusetts?

Boston College High School, founded in 1863 by the Jesuits, is among the oldest continuously operating Catholic high schools in Massachusetts. Several parish-founded academies date to the late 1800s as well, established to serve the era's growing Irish and Italian Catholic immigrant populations across Boston and surrounding mill towns.

Do Massachusetts Catholic schools require religion classes for non-Catholic students?

Yes, nearly all require a theology or religious-studies credit each year regardless of a student's faith background, typically covering scripture, church history, and ethics. Attendance at school-wide Mass or prayer services is usually mandatory, though active participation in sacraments like Communion is not required of non-Catholic students.

What's the admissions timeline for Catholic high schools in Massachusetts?

Most schools open applications in early fall for the following school year, administer entrance exams like the HSPT in November, and release decisions by late January or early February, mirroring the Archdiocese of Boston's coordinated testing date. Rolling admission continues afterward for schools with remaining open seats.

Are school uniforms required at Massachusetts Catholic high schools?

Yes, the overwhelming majority require uniforms or a strict dress code, ranging from formal blazer-and-tie policies at schools like Catholic Memorial to more relaxed polo-and-khaki standards elsewhere. Uniform vendors are typically designated by each school, with annual cost running $200 to $500 depending on required pieces.

How competitive is admission to top Catholic schools in Massachusetts?

Selectivity varies widely: elite college-preparatory schools like Boston College High School and Xaverian Brothers can be moderately competitive with entrance-exam cutoffs, while many parish and diocesan schools accept most applicants meeting basic academic and behavioral standards. None approach the single-digit acceptance rates of elite secular prep schools.

Do Massachusetts Catholic high schools offer boarding options?

Boarding is rare among Massachusetts Catholic high schools, as most operate as day schools serving local and regional commuter populations. Students seeking Catholic boarding typically look outside the state, to schools in Connecticut or New Hampshire, since Massachusetts's Catholic institutions are concentrated almost entirely in the Boston metro area.

What sports and extracurriculars do these schools typically offer?

Most field full interscholastic athletic programs through the MIAA, including football, hockey, basketball, and track, alongside robotics, campus ministry, debate, and theater. Schools affiliated with religious orders often add distinctive service-trip requirements, such as immersion programs, as a graduation component tied to their founding order's mission.

How do I choose between an all-boys and a coed Catholic school in Massachusetts?

Consider your child's learning style and social preferences first: single-sex schools like BC High or Notre Dame Academy often report stronger classroom participation, while coed schools like Central Catholic mirror college and workplace environments. Visit both during a normal school day, since culture fit matters more than the structural format on paper.

Does attending a Massachusetts Catholic high school help with college admissions?

It can help at Catholic and Jesuit colleges familiar with these schools' rigor, and the AP and honors coursework signals preparedness to most admissions offices. However, selective colleges weigh the individual transcript, test scores, and essays far more heavily than the religious affiliation of the high school itself.

Sources

• https://www.bchigh.edu/
• https://www.stjohnsprep.org/
• https://www.catholicmemorial.org/
• https://www.centralcatholic.net/
• https://www.xbhs.com/
• https://www.ndahingham.com/
• https://www.fenwick.org/
• https://www.austinprep.org/
• https://www.ursulineacademy.org/
• https://www.bishopfeehan.com/

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