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

Catholic high school

Holy Cross Academy

  • LocationOneida, NY
  • Type and sizeIndependent Catholic school · Grades 7–12 · 55 students
Official website

Holy Cross Academy in Oneida is an independent, co-educational junior-senior high school that describes itself as Catholic and says it was founded with the personal blessing of the Bishop of Syracuse. Its pages say the school gathers for Mass weekly, that morning prayer begins the day, and that students complete a community service requirement. Religion is taught in grades 9 through 12, and the school says a passing grade in religion is required for graduation.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Holy Cross Academy, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church: 0.9 mi1Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church: 1.4 mi2Saint Francis Roman Catholic Church: 2.6 mi3Holy Cross Academy (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church — 0.9 mi
  2. Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church — 1.4 mi
  3. Saint Francis Roman Catholic Church — 2.6 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

71 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 Students page says that weekly the school gathers for Mass.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Students | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/students · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Morning prayer sets a Christ-centered tone, and weekly, the school gathers for Mass.”
      Morning prayer is part of the school day, and the school gathers for Mass weekly.
  • 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.
  • 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 (The Students page says students have regular opportunities for Confession or frequency.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Students | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/students · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students also have regular opportunities for Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, deepening their spiritual lives.”
      Students have regular opportunities for Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, with no frequency stated.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredOccasionally (The Students page says students have regular opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration or frequency.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Students | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/students · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students also have regular opportunities for Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, deepening their spiritual lives.”
      Students have regular opportunities for Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, with no frequency stated.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolVisiting or shared priest (A weekly school Mass is confirmed. A priest is listed on the faculty as teaching choir and religion, with no chaplain role stated.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Students | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/students · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Morning prayer sets a Christ-centered tone, and weekly, the school gathers for Mass.”
      Morning prayer is part of the school day, and the school gathers for Mass weekly.
    2. About | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/about · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Fr James Koury”
      A priest is listed on the faculty and staff directory as teaching choir and religion.
ATheology and curriculum: 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.

Theology and curriculum

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • 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 one credit in the 2025 course descriptions (the 2025-26 edition, the newest published). The FAQ says students must participate in religion classes and that a passing grade in religion is required for graduation.)
    Sources (2)
    1. HCA High School Course Descriptions 2025holycrossacademycny.com/_files/ugd/0dea8e_da486e9217ed44b6887f7b63f7201c38.doc · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “This course examines the reasonableness of the Catholic faith and covers such topics as the existence of God, creation”
      Religion 9 is a one-credit course on the Catholic faith.
      “The impact of Catholicism on the life of the individual is studied, with an emphasis on the living out of the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount.”
      Religion 10 is a one-credit course on Catholicism and daily life.
      “The sense of vocation, the mystery of God, and the relationship of man to God make up the main content of this course.”
      Religion 11 is a one-credit course on vocation and the doctrines of the faith.
      “This course emphasizes the moral aspect of living as a Catholic.”
      Religion 12 is a one-credit course on moral living as a Catholic, including ethical questions.
    2. Students | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/students · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “A passing grade in religion is required for graduation.”
      A passing grade in religion is required for graduation.
  • 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 12 covers ethical questions about living as a Catholic, and Religion 9 examines the reasonableness of the Catholic faith.)
    Sources (1)
    1. HCA High School Course Descriptions 2025holycrossacademycny.com/_files/ugd/0dea8e_da486e9217ed44b6887f7b63f7201c38.doc · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “This course emphasizes the moral aspect of living as a Catholic.”
      Religion 12 is a one-credit course on moral living as a Catholic, including ethical questions.
  • 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
    Sources (1)
    1. Academics | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/academics · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Our curriculum integrates Catholic teachings across all subjects, fostering a deeper understanding of faith, morality, and the pursuit of truth.”
      The curriculum integrates Catholic teaching across all subjects.
N/ACampus culture: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Campus culture

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

  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    RetreatsRetreats for some grades (Retreats are mentioned as helping students live out their faith.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Students | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/students · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Beyond the classroom, service projects and retreats help students live out their faith.”
      The school offers retreats as part of student faith life.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Campus ministry staffNot 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.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayYes (Morning prayer is part of the school day, and the Academics page describes daily prayer and religious instruction.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Students | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/students · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Morning prayer sets a Christ-centered tone, and weekly, the school gathers for Mass.”
      Morning prayer is part of the school day, and the school gathers for Mass weekly.
    2. Academics | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/academics · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Our curriculum integrates Catholic teachings across all subjects, fostering a deeper understanding of faith, morality, and the pursuit of truth.”
      The curriculum integrates Catholic teaching across all subjects.
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.

  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Required service hoursFewer than 40 hours (A community service requirement is stated. Required service not counted in hours is recorded as some.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Students | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/students · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “students fulfill a community service requirement through various acts of service, including organizing food drives, visiting nursing homes, assisting mothers and babies in need, and supporting local charities”
      Students complete a community service requirement with food drives, nursing home visits, help for mothers and babies in need, and local charities.
  • 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 (Students' required service includes food drives, nursing home visits, help for mothers and babies in need, and support for local charities.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Students | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/students · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “students fulfill a community service requirement through various acts of service, including organizing food drives, visiting nursing homes, assisting mothers and babies in need, and supporting local charities”
      Students complete a community service requirement with food drives, nursing home visits, help for mothers and babies in need, and local charities.

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

Strengths

  • The school says it gathers for Mass weekly and that morning prayer begins each school day.
    Sources (1)
    1. Students | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/students · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Morning prayer sets a Christ-centered tone, and weekly, the school gathers for Mass.”
      Morning prayer is part of the school day, and the school gathers for Mass weekly.
  • Religion is taught in grades 9 through 12, and the school says a passing grade in religion is required for graduation.
    Sources (2)
    1. HCA High School Course Descriptions 2025holycrossacademycny.com/_files/ugd/0dea8e_da486e9217ed44b6887f7b63f7201c38.doc · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “This course examines the reasonableness of the Catholic faith and covers such topics as the existence of God, creation”
      Religion 9 is a one-credit course on the Catholic faith.
      “The impact of Catholicism on the life of the individual is studied, with an emphasis on the living out of the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount.”
      Religion 10 is a one-credit course on Catholicism and daily life.
      “The sense of vocation, the mystery of God, and the relationship of man to God make up the main content of this course.”
      Religion 11 is a one-credit course on vocation and the doctrines of the faith.
      “This course emphasizes the moral aspect of living as a Catholic.”
      Religion 12 is a one-credit course on moral living as a Catholic, including ethical questions.
    2. Students | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/students · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “A passing grade in religion is required for graduation.”
      A passing grade in religion is required for graduation.
  • The school states that its curriculum integrates Catholic teachings across all subjects.
    Sources (1)
    1. Academics | HCAholycrossacademycny.com/academics · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Our curriculum integrates Catholic teachings across all subjects, fostering a deeper understanding of faith, morality, and the pursuit of truth.”
      The curriculum integrates Catholic teaching across all subjects.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Catholic clubs and student life

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

Faith formation 2

Liturgy and prayer 1

Retreats 1

Service 1

  • Community service requirement
    Service projects include food drives, visits to nursing homes, help for mothers and babies in need, and support for local charities.
    holycrossacademycny.com

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

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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.
25 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.40%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.5.1 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
DioceseDiocese of Syracuse, NY
Grades7–12
Students (all grades)55
Students in grades 9–1231
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio5.1 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges40%
SettingTown

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 Syracuse

The Most Reverend Douglas J. Lucia, Bishop of Syracuse

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Holy Cross Academy a Catholic high school?
Yes. Holy Cross Academy is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Syracuse.

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