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

Catholic high school

Aquinas Middle High School

  • LocationDavid City, NE
  • Type and sizeParish school · Grades 6–12 · 214 students
Official website

Aquinas Catholic Middle and High School in David City, Nebraska, is part of the Diocese of Lincoln and serves grades 6 to 12. The school's campus ministry lists a weekly Mass during school, daily prayer, and monthly Sunday evening events with adoration. Religion is a required course in each high school year, and the course descriptions include apologetics and a unit on Christian social justice.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Aquinas Middle High School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.5 mi1 mi2 miSaint Marys Catholic Church: 1.2 mi1Campus Ministry, Aquinas Catholic Middle High School: 0.1 miAquinas Middle High School (campus)N0.5 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Marys Catholic Church — 1.2 mi

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.

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

85 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearWeekly (The campus ministry page lists a weekly Mass during school.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Service | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/activities/faith-service · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Weekly: Mass during school”
      A Mass is held weekly during school.
  • 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.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Confession offered to students during the school yearNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredRegularly (monthly or more) (Monthly Sunday evening events with fellowship and adoration are listed on the campus ministry page.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Service | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/activities/faith-service · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Monthly: Aquinas FIRE, monthly Sunday evening events with fellowship and adoration”
      Monthly Sunday evening events include adoration.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolVisiting or shared priest (A weekly Mass is held. The staff page lists priests as religion teachers and staff, which is not a chaplain role.)
    Sources (2)
    1. About Us | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/about-us · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Priests on Staff”
      The school has priests on its staff.
    2. Faith & Service | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/activities/faith-service · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Daily: Daily prayer, religion class taught by a priest or deacon”
      Daily prayer and a religion class taught by a priest or deacon are listed for high school students.
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.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Years of theology or religion requiredFour years (Religion 9, 10, 11 and 12 are each required courses worth 10 credits (the Religion 11 course is split into two semesters of 5 credits). That is four full-year equivalents, one in each high school grade.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Course Description Manual 2026-2027, Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Course-Description-Manual-4-10-26.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Religion 9 Grade: 9 Course Credits: 10 Required”
      Religion 9 is a required 10-credit course in grade 9.
      “Religion 10 Grade: 10 Course Credits: 10 Required”
      Religion 10 is a required 10-credit course in grade 10.
      “Religion 11 Catholic Moral Life (Semester 1)”
      Religion 11 includes a required semester course on Catholic moral life.
      “Religion 12 Grade: 12 Course Credits: 10 Required”
      Religion 12 is a required 10-credit course in grade 12.
  • 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.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredYes (Religion 11 Catholic Questions and Answers is a required apologetics course, and Religion 11 Catholic Moral Life is a required course on the moral life.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Course Description Manual 2026-2027, Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Course-Description-Manual-4-10-26.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “This course provides students with a review of the principles of Catholic dogma as well as practice in apologetics”
      Religion 11 (semester 2) is a required apologetics course.
      “This course teaches students what it means to live a good Catholic moral life”
      A required course teaches the Catholic moral life.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in the program of studies or mission)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
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 campus ministry page lists a yearly Spiritual Class Retreat for high school classes, and a Spiritual Senior Class Retreat each semester. The TEC retreat is for second-semester sophomores, juniors and seniors.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Faith & Service | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/activities/faith-service · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Yearly: Spiritual Class Retreat, service program, Mission Trip to Christ in the City in Denver”
      Each year there is a spiritual class retreat, a service program and a mission trip to Denver.
      “Semester: Spiritual Direction opportunities and Spiritual Senior Class Retreat”
      Spiritual direction is offered and a spiritual senior class retreat is held each semester.
    2. Discipleship Program | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/discipleship-program · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “For 2nd Semester Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors”
      The Teens Encounter Christ retreat is for second-semester sophomores, juniors and seniors.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Campus ministry staffOne (The campus ministry page names a Campus Ministry Director.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Discipleship Program | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/discipleship-program · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Contact Melissa Yindrick (Campus Ministry Director) at 402-367-3175”
      Melissa Yindrick is the Campus Ministry Director, reachable at 402-367-3175.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsTwo or more (Two faith-based student groups are listed: SOUL Club (Serving Others Under Love) and Teens for Life Group.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Student Life | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Service Groups: SOUL Club (Serving Others Under Love), Teens for Life Group, and Student Council”
      The SOUL Club and Teens for Life Group are listed as service groups.
    2. Discipleship Program | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/discipleship-program · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Pro-life service opportunities”
      Pro-life service opportunities are part of the Discipleship Program.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayYes (Daily prayer and a religion class each day are listed, along with a weekly Mass during school.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Service | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/activities/faith-service · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Daily: Daily prayer, religion class taught by a priest or deacon”
      Daily prayer and a religion class taught by a priest or deacon are listed for high school students.
      “Weekly: Mass during school”
      A Mass is held weekly during school.
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

85 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Required service hoursFewer than 40 hours (The Discipleship Plan asks for approximately 15 hours of participation each year across four areas: personal formation, service to school, service to parish and service to community. Service hours are not separated out, and the total is under 40 service hours; it is recorded as some.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Discipleship Program | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/discipleship-program · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “approximately fifteen (15) hours of participation throughout the school year”
      The Discipleship Plan asks for about 15 hours of participation each year.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesYes (Religion 12 includes the Scriptural and traditional foundations of Christian social justice.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Course Description Manual 2026-2027, Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Course-Description-Manual-4-10-26.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “investigate the Scriptural and traditional foundations of Christian Social Justice”
      Religion 12 studies the foundations of Christian social justice.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Yes (The Teens for Life Group is listed as a student group, and pro-life service opportunities are part of the Discipleship Program.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Discipleship Program | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/discipleship-program · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Pro-life service opportunities”
      Pro-life service opportunities are part of the Discipleship Program.
    2. Student Life | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Service Groups: SOUL Club (Serving Others Under Love), Teens for Life Group, and Student Council”
      The SOUL Club and Teens for Life Group are listed as service groups.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes (Service includes a yearly mission trip to Christ in the City in Denver and a food pantry or meal ministry.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Faith & Service | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/activities/faith-service · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Yearly: Spiritual Class Retreat, service program, Mission Trip to Christ in the City in Denver”
      Each year there is a spiritual class retreat, a service program and a mission trip to Denver.
    2. Discipleship Program | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/discipleship-program · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Food pantry or meal ministry”
      A food pantry or meal ministry is a listed service option.

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

Strengths

  • Religion is a required course in every high school year, from Religion 9 through Religion 12.
    Sources (1)
    1. Course Description Manual 2026-2027, Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Course-Description-Manual-4-10-26.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Religion 9 Grade: 9 Course Credits: 10 Required”
      Religion 9 is a required 10-credit course in grade 9.
      “Religion 10 Grade: 10 Course Credits: 10 Required”
      Religion 10 is a required 10-credit course in grade 10.
      “Religion 12 Grade: 12 Course Credits: 10 Required”
      Religion 12 is a required 10-credit course in grade 12.
  • A weekly Mass during school, daily prayer, and monthly Sunday evening events with adoration are listed.
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Service | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/activities/faith-service · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Daily: Daily prayer, religion class taught by a priest or deacon”
      Daily prayer and a religion class taught by a priest or deacon are listed for high school students.
      “Weekly: Mass during school”
      A Mass is held weekly during school.
      “Monthly: Aquinas FIRE, monthly Sunday evening events with fellowship and adoration”
      Monthly Sunday evening events include adoration.
  • Required religion courses include apologetics and a unit on Christian social justice.
    Sources (1)
    1. Course Description Manual 2026-2027, Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Course-Description-Manual-4-10-26.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “This course provides students with a review of the principles of Catholic dogma as well as practice in apologetics”
      Religion 11 (semester 2) is a required apologetics course.
      “investigate the Scriptural and traditional foundations of Christian Social Justice”
      Religion 12 studies the foundations of Christian social justice.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Campus Ministry, Aquinas Catholic Middle High School

  • Address: 3420 MN Road, David City, NE 68632
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: chapel

View on map ↗

Source: aquinas-catholic.com, verified Oct. 13, 2026, aquinas-catholic.com, verified Oct. 13, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

9 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 1 off campus, 8 location not published

Service 3

  • Mission Trip to Christ in the City in DenverOff campus
    Yearly
    A yearly mission trip to Denver.
    aquinas-catholic.com
  • SOUL Club (Serving Others Under Love)
    A student service group listed under service groups.
    aquinas-catholic.com
  • Food pantry or meal ministry
    A service option in the Discipleship Program, including a meal ministry in Columbus at Simon House.
    aquinas-catholic.com

Faith formation 1

  • Aquinas FIRE
    Monthly, Sunday evenings
    Monthly Sunday evening events with fellowship and adoration for high school students.
    aquinas-catholic.com

Clubs and groups 1

Liturgy and prayer 1

Retreats 3

  • Spiritual class retreat
    Yearly
    A yearly spiritual retreat for high school classes.
    aquinas-catholic.com
  • Spiritual senior class retreat
    Each semester
    A spiritual retreat for the senior class.
    aquinas-catholic.com
  • Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) retreat
    Second semester, sophomores, juniors and seniors
    A Diocese of Lincoln retreat listed on the school's Discipleship Program page.
    aquinas-catholic.com

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 (4)
  1. Faith & Service | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/activities/faith-service · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “Daily: Daily prayer, religion class taught by a priest or deacon”
    Daily prayer and a religion class taught by a priest or deacon are listed for high school students.
  2. Discipleship Program | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/student-life/discipleship-program · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “Contact Melissa Yindrick (Campus Ministry Director) at 402-367-3175”
    Melissa Yindrick is the Campus Ministry Director, reachable at 402-367-3175.
  3. About Us | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/about-us · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “the addition of the iconic St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel in 1997”
    The school has a St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel on its campus.
  4. Contact Us | Aquinas Catholic Schoolsaquinas-catholic.com/contact-us · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “3420 MN Road Box 149 David City, NE 68632”
    The school's address is 3420 MN Road, David City, Nebraska.

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Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: 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.
59 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.81%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.10.4 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

TypeParish school
DioceseDiocese of Lincoln, NE
Grades6–12
Students (all grades)214
Students in grades 9–12115
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio10.4 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges81%
SettingRural

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 Lincoln

The Most Reverend James D. Conley, Bishop of Lincoln

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Cathedral: Cathedral of the Risen Christ

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Aquinas Middle High School a Catholic high school?
Yes. Aquinas Middle High School is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Lincoln.
What is Aquinas Middle High School’s Compass Score?
80 out of 100 (grade A). It combines faith (75%) and academics (25%), each rated from official sources.

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