Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.
Aerial view of Allentown Central Catholic High School
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

Catholic high school

Allentown Central Catholic High School

  • LocationAllentown, PA
  • Type and sizeDiocesan school · Grades 9–12 · 627 students
Official website

Allentown Central Catholic High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory, co-educational school in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The school publishes a campus ministry page with daily Masses twice weekly before school, school-wide Masses twice monthly, three school-wide confession times a year, and monthly adoration for all students. A priest serves as chaplain and campus ministry director, and students must complete a published minimum of 50 service hours over four years.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Allentown Central Catholic High School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 mi0.5 mi1 miSacred Heart Catholic Church: 0.1 mi1Our Lady of Mercy Syriac Catholic Church: 0.5 mi2Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church: 0.5 mi3Saint Stephen of Hungary: 0.6 mi4Saint John the Baptist Slovak Church: 0.7 mi5Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church: 0.9 mi6Office of the Chaplain and Campus Ministry: 0.0 miAllentown Central Catholic High School (campus)N0.5 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Sacred Heart Catholic Church — 0.1 mi · 336 North 4th Street, Allentown
  2. Our Lady of Mercy Syriac Catholic Church — 0.5 mi
  3. Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church — 0.5 mi · 501 Ridge Avenue, Allentown
  4. Saint Stephen of Hungary — 0.6 mi · 510 Union Street, Allentown
  5. Saint John the Baptist Slovak Church — 0.7 mi · 924 North Front Street, Allentown
  6. Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church — 0.9 mi · 1053 Fullerton Avenue, Allentown

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Faith scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

CSacramental life: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Sacramental life

67 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearMonthly (The page says school-wide Masses are held twice monthly; the closest rubric level is recorded.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | ACCHSacchs.info/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Students at ACCHS are blessed with the opportunity to attend daily Masses twice weekly before school in addition to our school-wide Masses twice monthly.”
      Daily Masses are offered twice weekly before school, and school-wide Masses are held twice monthly.
  • No: the school does not offer this, so it earns no points.
    Daily Mass available to students on campusNo (The page says daily Masses are offered twice weekly before school, not every school day.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | ACCHSacchs.info/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Students at ACCHS are blessed with the opportunity to attend daily Masses twice weekly before school in addition to our school-wide Masses twice monthly.”
      Daily Masses are offered twice weekly before school, and school-wide Masses are held twice monthly.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Confession offered to students during the school yearSeasonally (Advent, Lent) or a few times a year (School-wide confessions are held three times a year; the chaplain also hears confessions by appointment.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | ACCHSacchs.info/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Schoolwide Confessions are held three times a year and the Chaplain is available for Confessions by appointment.”
      School-wide confession is held three times a year.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredRegularly (monthly or more) (The page says all students attend adoration monthly.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | ACCHSacchs.info/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “All students attend Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament monthly.”
      Students attend adoration monthly.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolYes
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | ACCHSacchs.info/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Father Nikolai Romero Brelinsky Chaplain, Director of Campus Ministry nbrelinsky@acchs.info 610-437-4601 ext. 199”
      A priest, Father Nikolai Romero Brelinsky, is the school's chaplain and director of campus ministry.
N/ATheology and curriculum: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Theology and curriculum

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Years of theology or religion requiredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Theology courses follow the USCCB Curriculum FrameworkNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in the program of studies or mission)Yes (Stated in the school's mission and beliefs page.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Mission & Beliefs | ACCHSacchs.info/mission-beliefs · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “That the Catholic school must integrate faith into the entire life of the student, inclusive of every culture, background, and creed while making the truth of Catholicism known.”
      The school's stated beliefs call for faith to be integrated into the entire life of the student.
ACampus culture: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Campus culture

90 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    RetreatsA retreat for every grade (The page says students must make two retreats a year, fulfilled by the yearly Forty Hours and their class retreats. Retreats for each class year are implied by 'their class retreats'.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | ACCHSacchs.info/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Students are required to make two retreats a year, fulfilled by attending our yearly Forty Hours and their class retreats.”
      Students must make two retreats a year, including their class retreats.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Campus ministry staffTwo or more (Two staff members are listed on the campus ministry page: the chaplain and director, and the coordinator of service.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | ACCHSacchs.info/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Father Nikolai Romero Brelinsky Chaplain, Director of Campus Ministry nbrelinsky@acchs.info 610-437-4601 ext. 199”
      A priest, Father Nikolai Romero Brelinsky, is the school's chaplain and director of campus ministry.
      “Mr. Patrick Markham Coordinator of Service and The Central City Project pmarkham@acchs.info 610-437-4601, ext. 140”
      Patrick Markham is coordinator of service and the Central City Project in campus ministry.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsOne (Only one student group is described as focused on faith: the Philosophy Club, which studies the intersection of faith and reason in the Roman Catholic tradition.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Student Life | ACCHSacchs.info/student-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The group focuses on the intersection between faith and reason in the Roman Catholic tradition.”
      The Philosophy Club focuses on faith and reason in the Roman Catholic tradition.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayYes (School Masses and daily prayers are part of the school's published prayer life.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Viking Prayer Chain | ACCHSacchs.info/viking-prayer-chain · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “All petitions submitted will be included in our daily prayers, especially in our school Masses.”
      Petitions are included in the school's daily prayers and school Masses.
AService and Catholic social teaching: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Service and Catholic social teaching

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Required service hours40 or more hours over four years (Published minimums are 5 hours (freshman), 10 (sophomore), 15 (junior) and 20 (senior), totaling 50 hours over four years.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Community Service | ACCHSacchs.info/community-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Minimum Number of Community Service Hours: Freshman – 5 hours Sophomore – 10 hours Junior – 15 hours Senior – 20 hours”
      The school requires a minimum of 50 community service hours over four years.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. Student Life | ACCHSacchs.info/student-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Pro-Life Club promotes the sanctity of life. Activities include providing awareness of the Pro-Life cause”
      The school has a Pro-Life Club that promotes the sanctity of life and takes an annual March for Life trip.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. Central City Project | ACCHSacchs.info/central-city-project · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Through engagement in various aspects of Social Outreach with the local residents”
      The Central City Project includes social outreach with local residents as one of its four areas.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • A priest serves as chaplain and director of campus ministry, and the school publishes a monthly adoration requirement for all students.
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | ACCHSacchs.info/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “All students attend Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament monthly.”
      Students attend adoration monthly.
      “Father Nikolai Romero Brelinsky Chaplain, Director of Campus Ministry nbrelinsky@acchs.info 610-437-4601 ext. 199”
      A priest, Father Nikolai Romero Brelinsky, is the school's chaplain and director of campus ministry.
  • Students must complete a published minimum of 50 service hours over four years.
    Sources (1)
    1. Community Service | ACCHSacchs.info/community-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Minimum Number of Community Service Hours: Freshman – 5 hours Sophomore – 10 hours Junior – 15 hours Senior – 20 hours”
      The school requires a minimum of 50 community service hours over four years.
  • The school has a Pro-Life Club that takes part in the March for Life, and a Central City Project for social outreach.
    Sources (2)
    1. Student Life | ACCHSacchs.info/student-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Pro-Life Club promotes the sanctity of life. Activities include providing awareness of the Pro-Life cause”
      The school has a Pro-Life Club that promotes the sanctity of life and takes an annual March for Life trip.
    2. Central City Project | ACCHSacchs.info/central-city-project · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Through engagement in various aspects of Social Outreach with the local residents”
      The Central City Project includes social outreach with local residents as one of its four areas.

Concerns

  • Mass is offered twice weekly before school for daily Mass and twice monthly for school-wide Masses; no published schedule gives days or times.
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | ACCHSacchs.info/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Students at ACCHS are blessed with the opportunity to attend daily Masses twice weekly before school in addition to our school-wide Masses twice monthly.”
      Daily Masses are offered twice weekly before school, and school-wide Masses are held twice monthly.
  • Confession is held three times a year, which is fewer than the monthly rhythm used for the highest rating.
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | ACCHSacchs.info/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Schoolwide Confessions are held three times a year and the Chaplain is available for Confessions by appointment.”
      School-wide confession is held three times a year.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Office of the Chaplain and Campus Ministry

  • Address: 301 N Fourth Street, Allentown, PA 18102-3098
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: chapel

View on map ↗

Source: acchs.info, verified Oct. 12, 2026, acchs.info, verified Oct. 12, 2026, acchs.info, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

6 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 6 location not published

Faith formation 1

  • Philosophy Club
    Meets every other week
    Teacher-guided, student-led forum reading classical philosophy, focused on faith and reason in the Roman Catholic tradition.
    acchs.info

Clubs and groups 1

  • Pro-Life Club
    The highlight of the year is the March for Life in Washington, DC.
    Promotes the sanctity of life, raises awareness of the pro-life cause, fundraises for a local shelter, and works with individuals with disabilities.
    acchs.info

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • Viking Prayer Chain
    A spiritual initiative where students, faculty, staff, alumni and families submit prayer petitions that are included in daily prayers and school Masses.
    acchs.info

Service 3

  • Central City Project
    The school's service commitment to the City of Allentown, with projects in arts, mentoring, social outreach and campus improvement.
    acchs.info
  • Day-Maurin Service Society
    Recognizes students who complete three times the minimum service hours for their class year, one third of them through the Central City Project.
    acchs.info
  • American Red Cross Club
    School-based service group that supports Red Cross service projects in the Lehigh Valley.
    acchs.info

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Campus ministry

Sources (2)
  1. Campus Ministry | ACCHSacchs.info/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Students at ACCHS are blessed with the opportunity to attend daily Masses twice weekly before school in addition to our school-wide Masses twice monthly.”
    Daily Masses are offered twice weekly before school, and school-wide Masses are held twice monthly.
    “Father Nikolai Romero Brelinsky Chaplain, Director of Campus Ministry nbrelinsky@acchs.info 610-437-4601 ext. 199”
    A priest, Father Nikolai Romero Brelinsky, is the school's chaplain and director of campus ministry.
    “Students at ACCHS are blessed with the opportunity to attend daily Masses twice weekly before school in addition to our school-wide Masses twice monthly.”
    Daily Masses are offered twice weekly before school, and school-wide Masses are held twice monthly.
    “The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in our beautiful Chapel, and students are always welcome to make a visit to spend some time in prayer or quiet reflection.”
    The school chapel is open to students for prayer.
  2. Program of Studies | ACCHSacchs.info/studies-program · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “301 N Fourth Street, Allentown, PA 18102-3098 | Phone: 610-437-4601 | Fax: 610-437-6760”
    The school's address is 301 N Fourth Street, Allentown, PA 18102-3098.

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Academic Excellence

BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
79 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduates going to four-year colleges 75% of scoreThis measure counts for 75% of the Academic Excellence score.94%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.12.9 to 1

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed. Federal data on private high schools is limited to these two measures.

Source: NCES Private School Survey (2023–24 school year)

School facts

TypeDiocesan school
DioceseDiocese of Allentown, PA
Grades9–12
Students (all grades)627
Students in grades 9–12627
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio12.9 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges94%
SettingCity

Source: NCES Private School Survey 23-24 public-use file (school year 2023–24). The college-going rate and student–teacher ratio feed Academic Excellence; nothing here changes the faith grades.

Local Church

Diocese of Allentown

The Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, Bishop of Allentown

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: allentowndiocese.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Allentown Central Catholic High School a Catholic high school?
Yes. Allentown Central Catholic High School is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Allentown.
What is Allentown Central Catholic High School’s Compass Score?
84 out of 100 (grade A). It combines faith (75%) and academics (25%), each rated from official sources.
Is Allentown Central Catholic High School Compass Recommended?
Yes. Allentown Central Catholic High School meets the Compass Recommended standard for Catholic identity and academics.

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