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St. Francis High School: GTACS I
Photo: User:Rose, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Catholic high school

St. Francis High School

  • LocationTraverse City, MI
  • Type and sizeDiocesan school · Grades 9–12 · 337 students
Official website

St. Francis High School in Traverse City, Michigan, serves grades 9-12 as part of Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools. The school describes a weekly all-school Mass, with an optional daily chapel Mass, Adoration and Reconciliation available through the week. An immersion mission experience is a graduation requirement, and juniors take part in the March for Life.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of St. Francis High School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Francis Catholic Church: 0.2 mi1Immaculate Conception Catholic Church: 0.9 mi2Carmelite Monastery: 2.4 mi3St. Francis High School (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Francis Catholic Church — 0.2 mi · 1015 South Union Street, Traverse City
  2. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church — 0.9 mi · 720 Second Street, Traverse City
  3. Carmelite Monastery — 2.4 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.

ASacramental life: 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.

Sacramental life

90 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 school's page describes a weekly all-school Mass, and the GTACS Mass page says students attend Mass with their classmates on a regular weekly basis.)
    Sources (2)
    1. St Francis High School | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/st-francis-high-school · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Weekly all-school Mass is the anchor, with optional daily chapel Mass, Adoration, Rosary, and Reconciliation available throughout the week.”
      The school describes a weekly all-school Mass and optional daily chapel Mass, Adoration and Reconciliation through the week.
    2. Mass | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith/mass · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Along with weekend Mass with their families at their respective parishes, students also attend Mass with their classmates on a regular weekly basis.”
      Students attend Mass with their classmates on a regular weekly basis.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily Mass available to students on campusYes (The school's page describes an optional daily chapel Mass available throughout the week.)
    Sources (2)
    1. St Francis High School | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/st-francis-high-school · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Weekly all-school Mass is the anchor, with optional daily chapel Mass, Adoration, Rosary, and Reconciliation available throughout the week.”
      The school describes a weekly all-school Mass and optional daily chapel Mass, Adoration and Reconciliation through the week.
    2. Mass | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith/mass · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Chapel masses are also scheduled during the week, as well as Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation.”
      Chapel Masses are scheduled during the week, with Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Confession offered to students during the school yearMonthly or more often (Reconciliation is described as available throughout the week.)
    Sources (2)
    1. St Francis High School | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/st-francis-high-school · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Weekly all-school Mass is the anchor, with optional daily chapel Mass, Adoration, Rosary, and Reconciliation available throughout the week.”
      The school describes a weekly all-school Mass and optional daily chapel Mass, Adoration and Reconciliation through the week.
    2. Mass | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith/mass · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Chapel masses are also scheduled during the week, as well as Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation.”
      Chapel Masses are scheduled during the week, with Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredRegularly (monthly or more) (Eucharistic Adoration is described as available throughout the week.)
    Sources (2)
    1. St Francis High School | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/st-francis-high-school · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Weekly all-school Mass is the anchor, with optional daily chapel Mass, Adoration, Rosary, and Reconciliation available throughout the week.”
      The school describes a weekly all-school Mass and optional daily chapel Mass, Adoration and Reconciliation through the week.
    2. Mass | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith/mass · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Chapel masses are also scheduled during the week, as well as Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation.”
      Chapel Masses are scheduled during the week, with Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolVisiting or shared priest (Mass and Reconciliation are offered. The staff listing names teachers only, and the GTACS Mass page says chaplains are available for the Anointing of the Sick when needed.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Mass | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith/mass · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Chaplains are available for the Annointing of the Sick when needed.”
      Chaplains are available for the Anointing of the Sick when needed; no chaplain is named.
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.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Years of theology or religion requiredNot 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.
    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 (The staff listing shows a teacher of Philosophy and a teacher of Scripture and Apologetics.)
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Francis High School Staff | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/about/st-francis-staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sister Julia Marie Philosophy, Religion, Physics”
      A teacher at St. Francis High School teaches Philosophy and Religion.
      “Ms. Isabel Thibodeaux Scripture, Apologetics”
      A teacher at St. Francis High School teaches Scripture and Apologetics.
  • 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 (The GTACS faith page says the schools integrate Gospel values and Church teachings into the curriculum.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Integration of Gospel values and Church teachings into our curriculum”
      The schools integrate Gospel values and Church teachings into the curriculum.
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.
  • 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 (The GTACS home page says students live their faith through daily prayer, the Sacraments and Christ-centered relationships, and the school describes daily chapel Mass and Adoration available through the week.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Students don't just learn about their faith. They live it through daily prayer, the Sacraments, and Christ-centered relationships.”
      Students live their faith through daily prayer, the Sacraments and Christ-centered relationships.
BService and Catholic social teaching: 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.

Service and Catholic social teaching

80 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 (An immersion mission experience is a graduation requirement; no page states a number of required service hours.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith/service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “An immersion mission experience is now a graduation requirement for our high school students; they can choose from a menu of local and national service trips.”
      An immersion mission experience is a high school 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.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Yes (The school's page describes the junior year March for Life as one of its service and mission trips.)
    Sources (1)
    1. St Francis High School | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/st-francis-high-school · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Service and mission trips, including the junior year March for Life, put faith into action.”
      Service and mission trips include the junior year March for Life.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes (Service programs include Senior Service Days, the GladMeals community meal founded by St. Francis students, and collections for the Pregnancy Care Center, along with mission trips.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith/service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “On Senior Service Days, St. Francis seniors go out into the community to serve at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Goodwill, Father Fred Foundation and other local humanitarian organizations.”
      Seniors serve local humanitarian organizations on Senior Service Days.
      “This noon-time gathering is funded through donations and staffed by volunteer groups each weekend.”
      GladMeals is a weekend community meal staffed by volunteer groups.
      “Throughout the year, you’ll find our students collecting baby items for the Pregnancy Care Center and SingleMomm.org, serving at funerals, helping with parish events, mentoring elementary kids and more.”
      Students collect baby items for the Pregnancy Care Center and serve in several other ways through the year.

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

Strengths

  • A weekly all-school Mass and optional daily chapel Mass are described, with Adoration and Reconciliation available through the week.
    Sources (2)
    1. St Francis High School | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/st-francis-high-school · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Weekly all-school Mass is the anchor, with optional daily chapel Mass, Adoration, Rosary, and Reconciliation available throughout the week.”
      The school describes a weekly all-school Mass and optional daily chapel Mass, Adoration and Reconciliation through the week.
    2. Mass | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith/mass · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Along with weekend Mass with their families at their respective parishes, students also attend Mass with their classmates on a regular weekly basis.”
      Students attend Mass with their classmates on a regular weekly basis.
  • An immersion mission experience is a graduation requirement, and the March for Life is offered to juniors.
    Sources (2)
    1. Service | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith/service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “An immersion mission experience is now a graduation requirement for our high school students; they can choose from a menu of local and national service trips.”
      An immersion mission experience is a high school graduation requirement.
    2. St Francis High School | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/st-francis-high-school · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Service and mission trips, including the junior year March for Life, put faith into action.”
      Service and mission trips include the junior year March for Life.
  • Service programs include Senior Service Days, GladMeals and a Pregnancy Care Center drive.
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith/service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “On Senior Service Days, St. Francis seniors go out into the community to serve at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Goodwill, Father Fred Foundation and other local humanitarian organizations.”
      Seniors serve local humanitarian organizations on Senior Service Days.
      “This noon-time gathering is funded through donations and staffed by volunteer groups each weekend.”
      GladMeals is a weekend community meal staffed by volunteer groups.
      “Throughout the year, you’ll find our students collecting baby items for the Pregnancy Care Center and SingleMomm.org, serving at funerals, helping with parish events, mentoring elementary kids and more.”
      Students collect baby items for the Pregnancy Care Center and serve in several other ways through the year.

Concerns

  • No current official page states how many years of theology or religion are required.
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Francis High School Staff | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/about/st-francis-staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sister Julia Marie Philosophy, Religion, Physics”
      A teacher at St. Francis High School teaches Philosophy and Religion.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

School chapel and Faith program, St. Francis High School

  • Address: 123 E. Eleventh Street, Traverse City, MI 49684
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: School chapel

Source: dioceseofgaylord.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, gtacs.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

6 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 3 off campus, 3 location not published

Service 5

  • Senior Service DaysOff campus
    Senior year
    Seniors serve at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Goodwill, Father Fred Foundation and other local humanitarian organizations.
    gtacs.org
  • Immersion mission experiencesOff campus
    A graduation requirement; students choose from a menu of local and national service trips.
    gtacs.org
  • March for LifeOff campus
    Junior year
    A service and mission trip for juniors.
    gtacs.org
  • GladMeals
    Weekends, at noon
    A community meal founded by St. Francis High School students in 2003, funded by donations and staffed by volunteer groups each weekend.
    gtacs.org
  • Baby-item drive for the Pregnancy Care Center
    Throughout the year
    Students collect baby items for the Pregnancy Care Center and SingleMomm.org.
    gtacs.org

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary and Reconciliation
    Available throughout the week
    Optional prayer and sacramental opportunities described.
    gtacs.org, gtacs.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 (4)
  1. Faith | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Integration of Gospel values and Church teachings into our curriculum”
    The schools integrate Gospel values and Church teachings into the curriculum.
  2. Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Students don't just learn about their faith. They live it through daily prayer, the Sacraments, and Christ-centered relationships.”
    Students live their faith through daily prayer, the Sacraments and Christ-centered relationships.
  3. St. Francis High School | Diocese of Gaylorddioceseofgaylord.org/school/st-francis-high-school · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “123 E. Eleventh Street Traverse City, MI 49684”
    The school's address is 123 E. Eleventh Street, Traverse City, MI 49684.
  4. Mass | Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schoolsgtacs.org/faith/mass · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Chapel masses are also scheduled during the week, as well as Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation.”
    Chapel Masses are scheduled during the week, with Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation.

Reach out

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Academic Excellence

DAcademic Excellence: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
45 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.76%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.13.0 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

TypeDiocesan school
DioceseDiocese of Gaylord, MI
Grades9–12
Students (all grades)337
Students in grades 9–12337
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio13.0 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges76%
SettingCity

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 Gaylord

The Most Reverend Jeffrey J. Walsh, Bishop of Gaylord

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Cathedral: St. Mary Cathedral

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is St. Francis High School a Catholic high school?
Yes. St. Francis High School is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Gaylord.

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