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

Catholic high school

Mary Help of Christians Academy

  • LocationNorth Haledon, NJ
  • Type and sizeIndependent Catholic school · Grades 9–12 · 177 students

All-female

Official website

Mary Help of Christians Academy is a Catholic preparatory school for young women in grades 9 through 12 in North Haledon, New Jersey, in the Salesian tradition. Its campus ministry lists a student Peer Ministry program, a service policy of 20 hours a year, and four years of required theology. The Mass, confession and adoration schedules that were found cover the 2024-25 school year.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Mary Help of Christians Academy, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Paul's Roman Catholic Church: 1.0 mi1Saint Gerard Majella Roman Catholic Church: 1.3 mi2Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church: 1.8 mi3Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church: 1.9 mi4Saint Anthony's Roman Catholic Church: 2.0 mi5Schinski S: 2.0 mi6St. Joseph Chapel: 0.1 miMary Help of Christians Academy (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Paul's Roman Catholic Church — 1.0 mi
  2. Saint Gerard Majella Roman Catholic Church — 1.3 mi
  3. Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church — 1.8 mi
  4. Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church — 1.9 mi
  5. Saint Anthony's Roman Catholic Church — 2.0 mi
  6. Schinski S — 2.0 mi · 45 Urban Club Road, Wayne

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/ASacramental life: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Sacramental life

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.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearNot 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.
    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.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredNot 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.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolNot enough information: not found in official sources.
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 (The Curriculum Overview lists theology as 4 years and 20 credits. A full-year course is 5 credits; 20 credits is four full-year equivalents, one in each grade.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Curriculum | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415537&type=d&pREC_ID=907310 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Theology | 4 | 20.00”
      Theology is a four-year field of study worth 20 credits 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    RetreatsNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Campus ministry staffOne (One campus minister, Sister Amy Nguyen, is listed on the staff page.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Staff | Campus Ministry | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1493923&type=d&pREC_ID=staff · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Amy Nguyen Campus Minister, Theology Teacher”
      Sister Amy Nguyen is listed as Campus Minister on the campus ministry staff page.
    2. Campus Ministry | Mary Help Of Christians Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1493923&type=d&pREC_ID=907789 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “As Campus Minister, I am available as a resource for each student as she struggles with questions of faith, morality, vocation, and meaning.”
      The campus minister is available to students with questions of faith.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsOne (The Peer Ministry program is the one faith-based student program listed with a current application. The club list is described as covering past years and is not counted.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Peer Ministry Program | Campus Ministry | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1493923&type=d&pREC_ID=2638436 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Apply for 2025-2026 Peer Ministry Core Team”
      The Peer Ministry program takes applications for a core team for 2025-2026.
    2. Campus Ministry | Mary Help Of Christians Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1493923&type=d&pREC_ID=907789 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “On our campus, all students have the chance to help animate the Masses and participate in leading spiritual experiences for their peers, as they are comfortable.”
      Students can help animate Masses and lead spiritual experiences for peers.
  • 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.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Required service hours40 or more hours over four years (The service policy requires 20 hours per academic year. Four years at that rate is 80 hours, which is more than 40.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Service | Campus Ministry | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1493923&type=d&pREC_ID=1442078 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “all students are expected to serve a minimum of five hours per quarter, for a total of twenty hours per academic year”
      All students are required to serve 20 hours per academic year.
    2. Curriculum | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415537&type=d&pREC_ID=907310 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “In addition, community service hours and attendance requirements must also be met.”
      Community service hours are a graduation requirement.
  • 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.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Not enough information: not found in official sources.

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

Strengths

  • Students can help animate Masses and lead spiritual experiences for their peers through the Peer Ministry program.
    Sources (2)
    1. Campus Ministry | Mary Help Of Christians Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1493923&type=d&pREC_ID=907789 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “On our campus, all students have the chance to help animate the Masses and participate in leading spiritual experiences for their peers, as they are comfortable.”
      Students can help animate Masses and lead spiritual experiences for peers.
    2. Peer Ministry Program | Campus Ministry | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1493923&type=d&pREC_ID=2638436 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Apply for 2025-2026 Peer Ministry Core Team”
      The Peer Ministry program takes applications for a core team for 2025-2026.
  • Students are required to serve 20 hours per academic year, which comes to 80 hours over four years.
    Sources (2)
    1. Service | Campus Ministry | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1493923&type=d&pREC_ID=1442078 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “all students are expected to serve a minimum of five hours per quarter, for a total of twenty hours per academic year”
      All students are required to serve 20 hours per academic year.
    2. Curriculum | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415537&type=d&pREC_ID=907310 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “In addition, community service hours and attendance requirements must also be met.”
      Community service hours are a graduation requirement.
  • Theology is a four-year requirement worth 20 credits.
    Sources (1)
    1. Curriculum | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415537&type=d&pREC_ID=907310 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Theology | 4 | 20.00”
      Theology is a four-year field of study worth 20 credits for graduation.
  • A campus minister is listed on the campus ministry staff page.
    Sources (1)
    1. Staff | Campus Ministry | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1493923&type=d&pREC_ID=staff · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Amy Nguyen Campus Minister, Theology Teacher”
      Sister Amy Nguyen is listed as Campus Minister on the campus ministry staff page.

Concerns

  • The listed campus minister is a sister.
    Sources (1)
    1. Staff | Campus Ministry | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1493923&type=d&pREC_ID=staff · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Amy Nguyen Campus Minister, Theology Teacher”
      Sister Amy Nguyen is listed as Campus Minister on the campus ministry staff page.
  • The club list is described as covering past years.
    Sources (1)
    1. Club Offerings | Academics | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415537&type=d&pREC_ID=2386349 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Below are the clubs that have been offered at MHC Academy in the past several years.”
      The club list describes clubs offered in the past several years, not necessarily the current year.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

St. Joseph Chapel

  • Address: 659 Belmont Avenue, North Haledon, NJ 07508
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: chapel

View on map ↗

Source: maryhelp.org, verified Oct. 13, 2026, patdioschools.org, verified Oct. 13, 2026, maryhelp.org, verified Oct. 13, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

4 groups and regular activities · 1 on campus, 1 off campus, 2 location not published

Service 1

  • Community service hoursOff campus
    5 hours per quarter, 20 hours per academic year
    Students are expected to serve at established off-campus nonprofit organizations, and the campus minister may approve some school-event service. Hours are logged in an online service database.
    maryhelp.org, maryhelp.org

Social life 1

  • Lenten Pasta DinnerOn campus
    February, during Lent
    An annual meatless dinner: a gathering in the Chapel at 5:30pm, then dinner in the Cafeteria.
    maryhelp.org

Clubs and groups 1

  • Peer Ministry Program
    Student peer ministers help animate Masses and lead spiritual experiences for classmates. The program has a core team and a training retreat.
    maryhelp.org, maryhelp.org

Retreats 1

  • Salesian Leadership Retreats
    October and March
    Juniors join students from eight other Salesian schools for leadership and spirituality retreats.
    maryhelp.org

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. Vision, Mission, and Values | Campus Ministry | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1493923&type=d&pREC_ID=2638431 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “Eucharistic Presence in St. Joseph’s Chapel and among the MHCA students, faculty, and staff”
    Campus ministry lists Eucharistic presence in St. Joseph Chapel among its values.
    “Mary Help of Christians' Campus Ministry exists as a movement that BUILDS a CULTURE of FAITH, FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP, and FORMATION.”
    Campus ministry describes itself as a movement that builds a culture of faith, family, friendship and formation.
    “Eucharistic Presence in St. Joseph’s Chapel and among the MHCA students, faculty, and staff”
    Campus ministry lists Eucharistic presence in St. Joseph Chapel among its values.
  2. Passaic County | Diocese of Paterson Catholic Schools Officepatdioschools.org/passaic-county · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “659 Belmont Avenue North Haledon, NJ 07508”
    The diocese's school listing gives the school's address as 659 Belmont Avenue, North Haledon, NJ 07508.
  3. Lenten Pasta Dinner February 20th | MHC Academymaryhelp.org/apps/news/article/2167519 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “We will meet in the Chapel at 5:30pm with dinner to follow in the Cafeteria.”
    The annual Lenten Pasta Dinner gathers in the Chapel, then dinner in the Cafeteria.

Reach out

Contact details for Campus Ministry Office (Campus ministry office (the listed campus minister is Sr. Amy Nguyen)) and the campus ministry are available to signed-in users.

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Academic Excellence

AAcademic Excellence: 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.
100 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.100%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.7.4 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

TypeIndependent Catholic school
DioceseDiocese of Paterson, NJ
Grades9–12
Students (all grades)177
Students in grades 9–12177
Coed or single-sexAll-female
Student–teacher ratio7.4 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges100%
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

Diocese of Paterson

The Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney, Bishop of Paterson

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Mary Help of Christians Academy a Catholic high school?
Yes. Mary Help of Christians Academy is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Paterson.

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