Is Holy Cross High School a Catholic high school?

Yes. Holy Cross High School is a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Louisville.

What is Holy Cross High School’s Compass Score?

78 out of 100 (grade A). It combines faith (75%) and academics (25%), each rated from official sources.

Catholic high school

Holy Cross High School

LocationLouisville, KY
Type and sizeDiocesan school · Grades 9–12 · 256 students

Holy Cross High School in Louisville, Kentucky, is a Catholic college preparatory school sponsored by the Archdiocese of Louisville. Its Catholic identity pages list about ten school Masses a year, a retreat for each grade from 9 to 12, a theology course in each high school year, and a 100-hour Christian service requirement for graduation. The staff directory lists a priest, Fr. Steven Reeves, as chaplain.

Catholic churches nearby

CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›

Saint Lawrence Catholic Church — 0.6 mi · 1925 Lewiston Drive, Louisville
Incarnation Catholic Church — 0.9 mi · 2229 Lower Hunters Trace, Louisville
Saint Paul Catholic Church — 1.1 mi · 6901 Dixie Highway, Louisville
Saint Helen Catholic Church — 2.3 mi · 4005 Dixie Highway, Shively
Saint Polycarp Catholic Church — 2.4 mi
Saint Denis Catholic Church — 2.5 mi · 4205 Cane Run Road, Louisville

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.

N/A

Sacramental life

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

Partly:
All-school or class Masses during the school yearMonthly (The Mass schedule lists about ten all-school or class Masses during the school year, with none listed in October or March; recorded as monthly.)
Sources (1)
1. Mass Schedule | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1537989 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “August 15th - Feast of the Assumption/Opening Mass September 13th - Feast of the Holy Cross November 1st - Feast of All Saints November 13th - Grandparent Mass December 8th - Immaculate Conception January 30th - CSW Mass February 14th - Ash Wednesday”
  The school publishes a schedule of school Masses across the school year.
Not enough information:
Daily Mass available to students on campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Not enough information:
Confession offered to students during the school yearNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Not enough information:
Eucharistic adoration offeredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Yes:
Priest chaplain serving the schoolYes (The staff directory lists Fr. Steven Reeves as chaplain. The Cougars for Christ page names a different chaplain, Fr. Bill Burks; the two pages disagree; both are priests.)
Sources (1)
1. Staff Directory | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Fr. Steven Reeves Chaplain”
  Fr. Steven Reeves is listed as chaplain in the staff directory.

Theology and curriculum

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

Yes:
Years of theology or religion requiredFour years (Theology is 4 credits, with a course in each of the four high school years; four full-year equivalents.)
Sources (2)
1. Graduation Requirements | Academics | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=285761&type=d&pREC_ID=1537905 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Theology | 4 credits”
  Theology is a 4-credit graduation requirement.
2. Theology Curriculum | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1538012 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Freshman Year: The Bible/Jesus”
  The freshman theology course covers the Bible and Jesus.
  “Sophomore Year: Paschal Mystery/Church History”
  The sophomore theology course covers the Paschal Mystery and Church history.
  “Junior Year: The Sacraments/Morality”
  The junior theology course covers the sacraments and morality.
  “Senior Year: Catholic Social Teaching”
  The senior theology course covers Catholic social teaching.
Yes:
Theology courses follow the USCCB Curriculum FrameworkYes (The theology course descriptions are stated to be derived from the USCCB Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework.)
Sources (1)
1. Theology Curriculum | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1538012 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Derived from United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age”
  The theology curriculum is derived from the USCCB high school framework.
Yes:
Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredYes (The junior-year Morality course teaches moral concepts; recorded as an ethics course.)
Sources (1)
1. Theology Curriculum | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1538012 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Students are to learn the moral concepts and precepts that govern the lives of Christ’s disciples.”
  The junior-year Morality course teaches moral concepts.
Not enough information:
Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in the program of studies or mission)Not enough information: not found in official sources.

Campus culture

87 of 100 points on what we could document.

Yes:
RetreatsA retreat for every grade (Each grade from 9 to 12 has a retreat; the junior and senior retreats are held on optional dates.)
Sources (1)
1. Retreats | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=655209 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Freshmen Y.E.S. (Youth Experiencing the Spirit) Days Theme: "I am Unique and Changing" Held at the Flaget Retreat Center- Approximately 25 students on each day Mandatory for all Freshmen”
  Freshmen have a mandatory retreat.
  “Sophomore Y.E.S. (Youth Experiencing the Spirit) Days Theme: "Christian Friendship" Held at the Flaget Retreat Center- Approximately 25 students on each day Mandatory for all Sophomores”
  Sophomores have a mandatory retreat.
  “Junior Retreat Theme: "I am Gift and Gifted" Held at the Flaget Retreat Center for 2 days and 1 night”
  Juniors have a retreat.
  “Senior Retreat Theme: Christian Awakening Held at the Flaget Retreat Center for 4 days and 3 nights”
  Seniors have a retreat.
Yes:
Campus ministry staffTwo or more (Retreat leadership names a campus minister and a chaplain (Fr. Steven Reeves).)
Sources (2)
1. Retreats | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=655209 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Retreat Leadership Team: Faculty members, Campus Minister, Chaplain and Holy Cross Graduates”
  Retreats are led by a campus minister and a chaplain.
2. Staff Directory | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Fr. Steven Reeves Chaplain”
  Fr. Steven Reeves is listed as chaplain in the staff directory.
Partly:
Faith-based student groups or clubsOne (Cougars for Christ is the faith-based student group listed.)
Sources (2)
1. Cougars for Christ | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1538007 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Cougars for Christ is a group of faithful and dedicated Junior and Senior Holy Cross students”
  Cougars for Christ is a faith-based student group.
2. Clubs | Student Life | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=285763&type=d&pREC_ID=1115526 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Cougars for Christ”
  Cougars for Christ is listed among the school's clubs.
Not enough information:
Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayNot enough information: not found in official sources.

Service and Catholic social teaching

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

Yes:
Required service hours40 or more hours over four years (100 hours of Christian service are required for graduation.)
Sources (2)
1. Christian Service Program | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1534654 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “All students will be required to complete 100 hours of Christian Service in order to qualify for graduation”
  All students must complete 100 hours of Christian service to graduate.
2. Graduation Requirements | Academics | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=285761&type=d&pREC_ID=1537905 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “All students must complete 100 hours of Christian Service including successful completion of Senior Service Project to qualify for graduation.”
  Graduation requires 100 hours of Christian service.
Yes:
Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesYes (The senior theology course is Catholic social teaching.)
Sources (1)
1. Theology Curriculum | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1538012 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Senior Year: Catholic Social Teaching”
  The senior theology course covers Catholic social teaching.
  “The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the Church’s social teaching.”
  The senior theology course introduces the Church's social teaching.
Yes:
Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Yes (The Cougars for Christ page lists the March for Life among its faith-based trips.)
Sources (1)
1. Cougars for Christ | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1538007 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Priority for NCYC, March for Life, other faith-based extracurricular trips, and school-facilitated retreats is given to C4C members.”
  The school's faith-based trips include the March for Life.
Yes:
Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes (Mission trips count toward the service requirement, and the school runs a Christian service program.)
Sources (2)
1. Christian Service Program | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1534654 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “If a student participates in a mission trip they must meet with the service coordinator to discuss applicable hours.”
  Mission trips count toward the required service hours.
2. Cougars for Christ | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1538007 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Priority for NCYC, March for Life, other faith-based extracurricular trips, and school-facilitated retreats is given to C4C members.”
  The school's faith-based trips include the March for Life.

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

Strengths

Theology is taught in all four high school years, and the course descriptions are stated to derive from the USCCB framework.
Sources (2)
1. Graduation Requirements | Academics | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=285761&type=d&pREC_ID=1537905 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Theology | 4 credits”
  Theology is a 4-credit graduation requirement.
2. Theology Curriculum | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1538012 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Freshman Year: The Bible/Jesus”
  The freshman theology course covers the Bible and Jesus.
  “Sophomore Year: Paschal Mystery/Church History”
  The sophomore theology course covers the Paschal Mystery and Church history.
  “Junior Year: The Sacraments/Morality”
  The junior theology course covers the sacraments and morality.
  “Senior Year: Catholic Social Teaching”
  The senior theology course covers Catholic social teaching.
  “Derived from United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age”
  The theology curriculum is derived from the USCCB high school framework.
Every grade from 9 to 12 has a retreat, and graduation requires 100 hours of Christian service.
Sources (2)
1. Retreats | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=655209 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Freshmen Y.E.S. (Youth Experiencing the Spirit) Days Theme: "I am Unique and Changing" Held at the Flaget Retreat Center- Approximately 25 students on each day Mandatory for all Freshmen”
  Freshmen have a mandatory retreat.
  “Sophomore Y.E.S. (Youth Experiencing the Spirit) Days Theme: "Christian Friendship" Held at the Flaget Retreat Center- Approximately 25 students on each day Mandatory for all Sophomores”
  Sophomores have a mandatory retreat.
  “Junior Retreat Theme: "I am Gift and Gifted" Held at the Flaget Retreat Center for 2 days and 1 night”
  Juniors have a retreat.
  “Senior Retreat Theme: Christian Awakening Held at the Flaget Retreat Center for 4 days and 3 nights”
  Seniors have a retreat.
2. Graduation Requirements | Academics | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=285761&type=d&pREC_ID=1537905 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “All students must complete 100 hours of Christian Service including successful completion of Senior Service Project to qualify for graduation.”
  Graduation requires 100 hours of Christian service.
A priest is listed as chaplain in the staff directory.
Sources (1)
1. Staff Directory | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Fr. Steven Reeves Chaplain”
  Fr. Steven Reeves is listed as chaplain in the staff directory.

Concerns

The Mass schedule lists school Masses; no daily Mass, and no published times.
Sources (1)
1. Mass Schedule | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1537989 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “August 15th - Feast of the Assumption/Opening Mass September 13th - Feast of the Holy Cross November 1st - Feast of All Saints November 13th - Grandparent Mass December 8th - Immaculate Conception January 30th - CSW Mass February 14th - Ash Wednesday”
  The school publishes a schedule of school Masses across the school year.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Holy Cross High School Catholic Identity programs

Address: 5144 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40216
Distance from campus: 0.1 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)

View on map ↗

Source: holycrosshs.com, verified Oct. 12, 2026, holycrosshs.com, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

6 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 2 off campus, 4 location not published

Retreats 2

Freshman and sophomore retreats (Y.E.S. Days)Off campus
Mandatory retreat days for freshmen and sophomores held at the Flaget Retreat Center.
holycrosshs.com, holycrosshs.com
Junior and senior retreatsOff campus
Junior retreat (2 days and 1 night) and senior retreat (4 days and 3 nights) held at the Flaget Retreat Center on optional dates.
holycrosshs.com, holycrosshs.com

Clubs and groups 1

Cougars for Christ
A student group for juniors and seniors that organizes school liturgical services, prayer and service, and leads a Morning Prayer and Reflection.
holycrosshs.com, holycrosshs.com

Other 1

NCYC
A faith-based extracurricular trip with priority given to Cougars for Christ members.
holycrosshs.com

Service 2

March for Life
A faith-based extracurricular trip with priority given to Cougars for Christ members.
holycrosshs.com
Christian Service Program
Required service hours for every grade, with a senior service project; mission trips count toward the hours.
holycrosshs.com, holycrosshs.com, holycrosshs.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

Catholic Identity programs (campus ministry)

Sources (3)

Retreats | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=655209 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
“Retreat Leadership Team: Faculty members, Campus Minister, Chaplain and Holy Cross Graduates”
Retreats are led by a campus minister and a chaplain.
Mass Schedule | Catholic Identity | Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1341741&type=d&pREC_ID=1537989 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
“August 15th - Feast of the Assumption/Opening Mass September 13th - Feast of the Holy Cross November 1st - Feast of All Saints November 13th - Grandparent Mass December 8th - Immaculate Conception January 30th - CSW Mass February 14th - Ash Wednesday”
The school publishes a schedule of school Masses across the school year.
Holy Cross High Schoolholycrosshs.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
“5144 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40216 Phone: (502) 447-4363”
The high school is at 5144 Dixie Highway, Louisville, with a main phone line.

Reach out

Contact details for High school main line (Main phone line) and 4 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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

My rating and notes

Academic Excellence

24 of 100

From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

Graduates going to four-year colleges 75% of score63%
Students per teacher 25% of score11.4 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

Type	Diocesan school
Diocese	Archdiocese of Louisville, KY
Grades	9–12
Students (all grades)	256
Students in grades 9–12	256
Coed or single-sex	Coed
Student–teacher ratio	11.4 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges	63%
Setting	City

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

Archdiocese of Louisville

The Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre, Archbishop of Louisville

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

NCES school ID 00514344
5144 Dixie Hwy, Louisville, KY 40216
(502) 447-4363
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Questions families ask

Is Holy Cross High School a Catholic high school?: Yes. Holy Cross High School is a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Louisville.
What is Holy Cross High School’s Compass Score?: 78 out of 100 (grade A). It combines faith (75%) and academics (25%), each rated from official sources.

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