Is Mount Saint Joseph High School a Catholic high school?

Yes. Mount Saint Joseph High School is a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

What is Mount Saint Joseph High School’s Compass Score?

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

Is Mount Saint Joseph High School Compass Recommended?

Yes. Mount Saint Joseph High School meets the Compass Recommended standard for Catholic identity and academics.

Catholic high school

Mount Saint Joseph High School

LocationBaltimore, MD
Type and sizeIndependent Catholic school · Grades 9–12 · 798 students

All-male

Official website Recommended badge

Mount Saint Joseph High School is a Catholic college-preparatory school for young men in Baltimore, sponsored by the Xaverian Brothers. Theology is listed in all four years, and the school lists retreats for every grade, a March for Life trip, and service requirements of 40 hours for juniors and 20 for seniors. Public pages list school-wide Masses and prayer services; no weekly Mass, confession, or adoration schedule.

Catholic churches nearby

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

Sacred Heart Mission — 0.5 mi
Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church — 1.0 mi · 4414 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore
Saint Bernardine Catholic Church — 1.0 mi · 3812 Edmondson Avenue, Baltimore
Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church — 1.0 mi · 4414 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore
Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church — 1.2 mi · 711 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville
Saint Agnes Catholic Church — 1.8 mi · 5422 Old Frederick Road, Baltimore

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 yearA few times a year (School-wide Masses are listed (Opening School Mass, All Saints' and All Souls' Day, Feast of Saint Francis Xavier, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Closing Year Mass), about five a year shown.)
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Liturgiesmsjnet.edu/faith-and-service/liturgies · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “The Campus Ministry Department organizes school-wide liturgical celebrations and prayer services throughout the year, including holy days of obligation and other feast days, like the feast of Saint Francis Xavier.”
  Campus Ministry organizes school-wide Masses and prayer services.
  “Liturgical Celebrations Opening School Mass All Saints' Day/All Souls' Day Mass Feast of Saint Francis Xavier Mass Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass Ash Wednesday Prayer Service Closing Year Mass”
  Five school Masses and one prayer service are listed for the year; no dates or times are shown.
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.
Partly:
Priest chaplain serving the schoolVisiting or shared priest (School Masses are celebrated; recorded as a visiting or shared priest (parttime).)
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Liturgiesmsjnet.edu/faith-and-service/liturgies · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Liturgical Celebrations Opening School Mass All Saints' Day/All Souls' Day Mass Feast of Saint Francis Xavier Mass Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass Ash Wednesday Prayer Service Closing Year Mass”
  Five school Masses and one prayer service are listed for the year; no dates or times are shown.

Theology and curriculum

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

Yes:
Years of theology or religion requiredFour years (Theology is listed for all four high school years and the graduation requirement is 4 credits of theology. Counted as four full-year equivalents; theology is taken in every grade.)
Sources (2)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Theologymsjnet.edu/academics/departments/theology · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Course Offerings Freshman Year Fundamentals of the Catholic Church Xaverian Spirituality Faith Development Sophomore Year Old Testament Morality Junior Year New Testament Church History Senior Year Catholic Social Teaching Honors Theology Spirituality & Service”
  Theology courses are listed for each of the four high school years, including Morality and Catholic Social Teaching.
2. Mount Saint Joseph | Academic Overviewmsjnet.edu/academics/academic-overview · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Credits | Subject | 4 | Theology | 4 | English | 2 | World Language”
  Graduation requires 4 credits of theology.
Not enough information:
Theology courses follow the USCCB Curriculum FrameworkNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Yes:
Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredYes (Morality is listed as a sophomore theology course, counted as the ethics course.)
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Theologymsjnet.edu/academics/departments/theology · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Course Offerings Freshman Year Fundamentals of the Catholic Church Xaverian Spirituality Faith Development Sophomore Year Old Testament Morality Junior Year New Testament Church History Senior Year Catholic Social Teaching Honors Theology Spirituality & Service”
  Theology courses are listed for each of the four high school years, including Morality and Catholic Social Teaching.
Yes:
Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in the program of studies or mission)Yes (The mission states education in Gospel values and Catholic social teaching, and the English department statement ties literature study to Catholic values.)
Sources (2)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Mission & Philosophymsjnet.edu/about/mission--philosophy · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “We believe in educating students in Gospel values and the social teaching of the Catholic Church so that they are capable of making informed judgments about the issues which confront them, particularly those of justice and peace.”
  The mission commits the school to education in Gospel values and Catholic social teaching.
2. Mount Saint Joseph | Literature Philosophymsjnet.edu/academics/departments/english/literature-philosophy · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “How does this work lead to discussions regarding Catholic beliefs and values, especially those regarding the dignity of the human person, morality, and social justice?”
  The English department ties literature study to Catholic values.

Campus culture

87 of 100 points on what we could document.

Yes:
RetreatsA retreat for every grade (Retreats are listed for freshmen, sophomores and juniors, and an optional senior retreat is also offered.)
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Retreatsmsjnet.edu/faith-and-service/retreats · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “The freshman retreat is a day for students to reflect on the Xaverian charism which animates the school.”
  A freshman retreat day is offered.
  “The sophomore retreat is a one-day, on-campus retreat for students to explore human dignity.”
  A sophomore on-campus retreat is offered.
  “Juniors participate in a three-day retreat at the Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House in Sparks, Maryland.”
  Juniors take a three-day retreat.
  “Senior retreat is an optional weekend retreat held in the spring at the Bishop Claggett Center in Buckeystown, Maryland.”
  A senior retreat is offered and is optional.
Partly:
Campus ministry staffOne (The Director of Campus Ministry is named. Other campus ministry moderators are named on student group pages.)
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Liturgiesmsjnet.edu/faith-and-service/liturgies · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “For more information on faith and service at Mount Saint Joseph, please contact the Director of Campus Ministry, Mr. Clay Bonham, at cbonham@msjnet.edu.”
  Mr. Clay Bonham is the Director of Campus Ministry.
Yes:
Faith-based student groups or clubsTwo or more (Rise Up (student-led prayer group) and XBSS (student faith leadership) are listed.)
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Student Lifemsjnet.edu/students/student-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Rise Up (Student-Led Prayer Group) Open to all students, students gather together in the mornings for prayer, reflections, and conversation.”
  A student-led morning prayer group is open to all students.
  “XBSS is an organization of student leaders who work to serve, guide, and enhance the faith community of MSJ in the spirit of the Xaverian Brothers.”
  The XBSS student leadership group supports the school's faith community.
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 (Juniors must complete 40 hours and seniors 20 hours, for 60 required hours over the high school years, plus a freshman service day.)
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Servicemsjnet.edu/faith-and-service/service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “All freshmen complete a day of service at Our Daily Bread. Juniors have a minimum requirement of 40 hours of service for the year, and seniors have a minimum requirement of 20 hours.”
  Freshmen complete a service day; juniors must complete 40 hours and seniors 20 hours.
Yes:
Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesYes (Catholic Social Teaching is a senior theology course.)
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Theologymsjnet.edu/academics/departments/theology · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Course Offerings Freshman Year Fundamentals of the Catholic Church Xaverian Spirituality Faith Development Sophomore Year Old Testament Morality Junior Year New Testament Church History Senior Year Catholic Social Teaching Honors Theology Spirituality & Service”
  Theology courses are listed for each of the four high school years, including Morality and Catholic Social Teaching.
Yes:
Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Yes (A March for Life trip to Washington, D.C. and Respect Life programming are listed.)
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Theologymsjnet.edu/academics/departments/theology · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Campus Ministry Highlights Respect Life Week and Archdiocesan Respect Life Mass Founders Week - a celebration of the Xaverian Brothers and their ministry Food and clothes drives Hunger Fast Retreat March for Life in Washington, D.C. Recitation of the Rosary Take the Journey Seminary Program No Bystanders to Injustice Club”
  Campus ministry highlights include Respect Life, a March for Life trip, a justice club and other programs.
Yes:
Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes
Sources (2)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Theologymsjnet.edu/academics/departments/theology · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Campus Ministry Highlights Respect Life Week and Archdiocesan Respect Life Mass Founders Week - a celebration of the Xaverian Brothers and their ministry Food and clothes drives Hunger Fast Retreat March for Life in Washington, D.C. Recitation of the Rosary Take the Journey Seminary Program No Bystanders to Injustice Club”
  Campus ministry highlights include Respect Life, a March for Life trip, a justice club and other programs.
2. Mount Saint Joseph | Student Lifemsjnet.edu/students/student-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “The Ryken Service club aims to increase Mount Saint Joseph's service footprint inside and outside of the MSJ community.”
  A student service club is listed.

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

Strengths

Theology is listed in all four years, and the graduation requirement is 4 credits of theology.
Sources (2)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Theologymsjnet.edu/academics/departments/theology · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Course Offerings Freshman Year Fundamentals of the Catholic Church Xaverian Spirituality Faith Development Sophomore Year Old Testament Morality Junior Year New Testament Church History Senior Year Catholic Social Teaching Honors Theology Spirituality & Service”
  Theology courses are listed for each of the four high school years, including Morality and Catholic Social Teaching.
2. Mount Saint Joseph | Academic Overviewmsjnet.edu/academics/academic-overview · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Credits | Subject | 4 | Theology | 4 | English | 2 | World Language”
  Graduation requires 4 credits of theology.
Junior and senior service requirements total 60 hours, and retreats are listed for every grade.
Sources (2)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Servicemsjnet.edu/faith-and-service/service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “All freshmen complete a day of service at Our Daily Bread. Juniors have a minimum requirement of 40 hours of service for the year, and seniors have a minimum requirement of 20 hours.”
  Freshmen complete a service day; juniors must complete 40 hours and seniors 20 hours.
2. Mount Saint Joseph | Retreatsmsjnet.edu/faith-and-service/retreats · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “The freshman retreat is a day for students to reflect on the Xaverian charism which animates the school.”
  A freshman retreat day is offered.
  “The sophomore retreat is a one-day, on-campus retreat for students to explore human dignity.”
  A sophomore on-campus retreat is offered.
  “Juniors participate in a three-day retreat at the Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House in Sparks, Maryland.”
  Juniors take a three-day retreat.
Pro-life and justice programming is listed, including a March for Life trip and a justice club.
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Theologymsjnet.edu/academics/departments/theology · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Campus Ministry Highlights Respect Life Week and Archdiocesan Respect Life Mass Founders Week - a celebration of the Xaverian Brothers and their ministry Food and clothes drives Hunger Fast Retreat March for Life in Washington, D.C. Recitation of the Rosary Take the Journey Seminary Program No Bystanders to Injustice Club”
  Campus ministry highlights include Respect Life, a March for Life trip, a justice club and other programs.

Concerns

School Masses are listed about five times a year.
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Liturgiesmsjnet.edu/faith-and-service/liturgies · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Liturgical Celebrations Opening School Mass All Saints' Day/All Souls' Day Mass Feast of Saint Francis Xavier Mass Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass Ash Wednesday Prayer Service Closing Year Mass”
  Five school Masses and one prayer service are listed for the year; no dates or times are shown.
The campus ministry contact is a lay director.
Sources (1)
1. Mount Saint Joseph | Liturgiesmsjnet.edu/faith-and-service/liturgies · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “For more information on faith and service at Mount Saint Joseph, please contact the Director of Campus Ministry, Mr. Clay Bonham, at cbonham@msjnet.edu.”
  Mr. Clay Bonham is the Director of Campus Ministry.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Campus Ministry, Mount Saint Joseph High School

Address: 4403 Frederick Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229
Location: On campus

View on map ↗

Source: msjnet.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026, msjnet.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

16 groups and regular activities · 2 on campus, 4 off campus, 10 location not published

Retreats 5

Junior retreatOff campus
Three days
Three-day retreat at the Monsignor O'Dwyer Retreat House in Sparks, Maryland.
msjnet.edu
Senior retreatOff campus
Spring weekend (optional)
Optional weekend retreat at the Bishop Claggett Center in Buckeystown, Maryland.
msjnet.edu
Sophomore retreatOn campus
One day
One-day retreat on human dignity.
msjnet.edu
Freshman retreat
A day for students to reflect on the Xaverian charism.
msjnet.edu
Hunger Fast Retreat
Listed among campus ministry highlights.
msjnet.edu

Service 4

Freshman Day of ServiceOff campus
All freshmen complete a day of service at Our Daily Bread.
msjnet.edu
March for Life in Washington, D.C.Off campus
Campus ministry highlight.
msjnet.edu
No Bystanders to Injustice Club
Listed among campus ministry highlights.
msjnet.edu
Ryken Service Club
Aims to increase the school's service inside and outside the community.
msjnet.edu

Faith formation 4

Spirituality and Service classOn campus
Senior class where students complete more service hours and reflect on them.
msjnet.edu
Rise Up (Student-Led Prayer Group)
Mornings
Open to all students for prayer, reflection and conversation.
msjnet.edu
Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools (XBSS) Student Team
Student leaders who serve, guide and enhance the school's faith community in the spirit of the Xaverian Brothers.
msjnet.edu
Recitation of the Rosary
Listed among campus ministry highlights.
msjnet.edu

Liturgy and prayer 3

Music ministry at school Masses and prayer services
Open to student vocalists and instrumentalists; students also serve as liturgical ministers at school liturgies.
msjnet.edu, msjnet.edu
Opening School Mass, All Saints' and All Souls' Day Mass, Feast of Saint Francis Xavier Mass, Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass, Closing Year Mass
School-wide Masses. Ash Wednesday prayer service also listed.
msjnet.edu
Respect Life Week and Archdiocesan Respect Life Mass
Listed among campus ministry highlights.
msjnet.edu

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

Campus ministry

Campus Ministry

Sources (2)

Mount Saint Joseph | Liturgiesmsjnet.edu/faith-and-service/liturgies · verified Oct. 12, 2026
“The Campus Ministry Department organizes school-wide liturgical celebrations and prayer services throughout the year, including holy days of obligation and other feast days, like the feast of Saint Francis Xavier.”
Campus Ministry organizes school-wide Masses and prayer services.
“4403 Frederick Avenue Baltimore, MD 21229 Phone: 410-644-3300”
The school's address and main phone number.
“The Campus Ministry Department organizes school-wide liturgical celebrations and prayer services throughout the year, including holy days of obligation and other feast days, like the feast of Saint Francis Xavier.”
Campus Ministry organizes school-wide Masses and prayer services.
Mount Saint Joseph | Theologymsjnet.edu/academics/departments/theology · verified Oct. 12, 2026
“The objective of the Theology Department is to foster faith through prayer, service, retreats, and classroom study rooted in the values of the Xaverian charism: humility, trust, zeal, compassion, and simplicity.”
The Theology Department states its aim to foster faith.

Reach out

Contact details for Clay Bonham (Director of Campus Ministry) 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

86 of 100

From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

Graduates going to four-year colleges 75% of score95%
Students per teacher 25% of score10.2 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	Independent Catholic school
Diocese	Archdiocese of Baltimore, MD
Grades	9–12
Students (all grades)	798
Students in grades 9–12	798
Coed or single-sex	All-male
Student–teacher ratio	10.2 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges	95%
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 Baltimore

The Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Cathedral: Cathedral of Mary Our Queen

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

About this school’s data

NCES school ID 00578411
4403 Frederick Ave, Baltimore, MD 21229
(410) 644-3300
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Questions families ask

Is Mount Saint Joseph High School a Catholic high school?: Yes. Mount Saint Joseph High School is a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
What is Mount Saint Joseph High School’s Compass Score?: 93 out of 100 (grade A). It combines faith (75%) and academics (25%), each rated from official sources.
Is Mount Saint Joseph High School Compass Recommended?: Yes. Mount Saint Joseph High School meets the Compass Recommended standard for Catholic identity and academics.

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