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

Catholic high school

Aquinas Academy

  • LocationBear, DE
  • Type and sizeIndependent Catholic school · Grades K–12 · 75 students
Official website

Aquinas Academy is an independent, private Catholic school in Bear, Delaware, serving grades PK through 12 with a liberal arts curriculum. Its Spiritual Life page describes twice-monthly Masses with confession available, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages and retreats, and its staff page lists two priests as school chaplains.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Aquinas Academy, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 miAquinas Academy Spiritual Life: 0.0 miAquinas Academy (campus)N0.1 mi
CampusCatholic centerOpen a street map ›

No Catholic churches are mapped in OpenStreetMap within 3 miles. The map may be incomplete; check the local diocese’s parish directory.

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.

BSacramental life: 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.

Sacramental life

80 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 (Twice a month, which is more often than monthly but less often than weekly; recorded at monthly.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual Life | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The school provides many grace filled opportunities including twice monthly Masses with available confession, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages, and retreats.”
      The school offers twice-monthly Masses with confession available, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages and retreats.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Daily Mass available to students on campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Confession offered to students during the school yearMonthly or more often (Confession is listed as available with the twice-monthly Masses.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual Life | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The school provides many grace filled opportunities including twice monthly Masses with available confession, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages, and retreats.”
      The school offers twice-monthly Masses with confession available, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages and retreats.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredOccasionally (A Eucharistic Adoration chapel is listed with no adoration schedule.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual Life | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The school provides many grace filled opportunities including twice monthly Masses with available confession, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages, and retreats.”
      The school offers twice-monthly Masses with confession available, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages and retreats.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolYes (Two priests, Father Charles Dillingham and Father Joseph McQuaide, are listed on the staff page as school chaplains.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Staff | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/staff · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Father Charles Dillingham School chaplain”
      Father Charles Dillingham is listed as school chaplain.
      “Father Joseph McQuaide School chaplain”
      Father Joseph McQuaide is listed as school chaplain.
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 (The school states that all subjects are studied under the light of faith.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Spiritual Life | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “All subjects at Aquinas are studied under the light of faith”
      The school states that all subjects are studied under the light of faith.
    2. Philosophy | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/philosophy · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “It is the deliberate intention of the Academy to teach the faith not as an independent course within the school day”
      The school states that faith is taught through all subjects, not as a separate course only.
BCampus culture: 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.

Campus culture

71 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    RetreatsRetreats for some grades (Retreats are listed as an opportunity.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual Life | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The school provides many grace filled opportunities including twice monthly Masses with available confession, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages, and retreats.”
      The school offers twice-monthly Masses with confession available, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages and retreats.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Campus ministry staffTwo or more (The staff page lists a Head of Ministry (a deacon) and two school chaplains (priests).)
    Sources (1)
    1. Staff | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/staff · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Father Charles Dillingham School chaplain”
      Father Charles Dillingham is listed as school chaplain.
      “Father Joseph McQuaide School chaplain”
      Father Joseph McQuaide is listed as school chaplain.
      “Deacon Charlie Schauber Head of Ministry”
      Deacon Charlie Schauber is listed as Head of Ministry.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsOne (The Rosary Club is the only faith-based student group listed.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Student Life | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/student-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The Rosary Club is a voluntary group open to all grade levels.”
      The school lists a voluntary Rosary Club open to all grade levels.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayNot enough information: not found in official sources.
N/AService and Catholic social teaching: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Service and Catholic social teaching

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.
    Required service hoursNot 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.
    Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesNot 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.
    Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes (The school's Special Olympics Mentoring program has students in grades 5 to 12 volunteer with Special Olympians.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Athletics | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/athletics-1 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Aquinas offers students participation in its Special Olympics' Mentoring program.”
      The school offers a Special Olympics mentoring program for students.
      “Volunteers in grades 5-12 participate in sporting events with Special Olympians.”
      Students in grades 5 to 12 volunteer at sporting events with Special Olympians.

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

Strengths

  • The school lists two priests as school chaplains and a Head of Ministry on its staff page.
    Sources (1)
    1. Staff | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/staff · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Father Charles Dillingham School chaplain”
      Father Charles Dillingham is listed as school chaplain.
      “Father Joseph McQuaide School chaplain”
      Father Joseph McQuaide is listed as school chaplain.
      “Deacon Charlie Schauber Head of Ministry”
      Deacon Charlie Schauber is listed as Head of Ministry.
  • The school states that all subjects are studied under the light of faith.
    Sources (2)
    1. Spiritual Life | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “All subjects at Aquinas are studied under the light of faith”
      The school states that all subjects are studied under the light of faith.
    2. Philosophy | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/philosophy · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “It is the deliberate intention of the Academy to teach the faith not as an independent course within the school day”
      The school states that faith is taught through all subjects, not as a separate course only.
  • Confession is listed as available with the twice-monthly Masses.
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual Life | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The school provides many grace filled opportunities including twice monthly Masses with available confession, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages, and retreats.”
      The school offers twice-monthly Masses with confession available, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages and retreats.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Aquinas Academy Spiritual Life

  • Address: 2370 Red Lion Road, Bear, DE 19701
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: Eucharistic Adoration chapel

View on map ↗

Source: aquinasacademy.net, verified Oct. 13, 2026, aquinasacademy.net, verified Oct. 13, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

6 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 1 off campus, 5 location not published

Service 1

Clubs and groups 1

  • Rosary Club
    Weekly, during recess
    A voluntary group open to all grade levels that prays the Rosary together, meeting weekly during recess.
    aquinasacademy.net

Liturgy and prayer 2

  • Masses with confession (twice monthly)
    Twice monthly
    The school provides Masses twice a month with confession available.
    aquinasacademy.net
  • Eucharistic Adoration chapel
    The school lists a Eucharistic Adoration chapel.
    aquinasacademy.net

Retreats 2

  • Retreats
    Retreats are listed among the school's spiritual opportunities.
    aquinasacademy.net
  • Pilgrimages
    Pilgrimages are listed among the school's spiritual opportunities.
    aquinasacademy.net

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 (3)
  1. Spiritual Life | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “The school provides many grace filled opportunities including twice monthly Masses with available confession, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages, and retreats.”
    The school offers twice-monthly Masses with confession available, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages and retreats.
    “The school provides many grace filled opportunities including twice monthly Masses with available confession, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages, and retreats.”
    The school offers twice-monthly Masses with confession available, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, pilgrimages and retreats.
  2. Staff | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/staff · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “Deacon Charlie Schauber Head of Ministry”
    Deacon Charlie Schauber is listed as Head of Ministry.
  3. Contact | Aquinas Academyaquinasacademy.net/contact · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “2370 Red Lion Road”
    The school's street address is 2370 Red Lion Road, Bear, DE 19701.

Reach out

Contact details for School office (Main office (phone)) and the campus ministry are available to signed-in users.

Sign in Create a free account

We keep campus ministers’ emails behind sign-in to protect them from spam.

My rating and notes

Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.

Academic Excellence

FAcademic Excellence: Minimal (grade F): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
23 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.50%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.8.9 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

TypeIndependent Catholic school
DioceseCatholic Diocese of Wilmington, DE
GradesK–12
Students (all grades)75
Students in grades 9–1227
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio8.9 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges50%
SettingSuburb

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

Catholic Diocese of Wilmington

The Most Reverend William E. Koenig, Bishop of Wilmington

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Aquinas Academy a Catholic high school?
Yes. Aquinas Academy is a Catholic high school in the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.

Reviews

Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.

No reviews yet.

Sign in to write a review.

More in Delaware · Delaware rankings