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

Catholic high school

St. Mary Catholic School

  • LocationDell Rapids, SD
  • Type and sizeDiocesan school · Grades PK–12 · 222 students
Official website

St. Mary Catholic School in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, serves students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, and its high school covers grades 9 to 12. The school's 2026-27 handbook says the school attends Mass each Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, and a priest is named as school chaplain. Students begin each school day in prayer, and adoration is offered in the school's Cor Mariae Chapel on weeks it is not held in the church. Four credits in religion are required, one for each year in attendance.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 1

  • Wednesday8:40 AMSt. Mary's Catholic Church (the handbook says the weekly school Mass is held there) · Weekly during the school year.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 13, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. Faith Opportunities | St. Mary Catholic Schoolsstmarysdellrapids.org/faith-opportunities · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “students gather as a school family for Mass every Wednesday at 8:40 am”
    Students gather as a school family for Mass every Wednesday at 8:40 a.m.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of St. Mary Catholic School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 miSt. Mary Catholic Church: 0.0 mi1St. Mary Catholic School (campus)N0.1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. St. Mary Catholic Church — 0.0 mi · 608 East 8th Street, Dell Rapids

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

91 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 Mass is weekly on Wednesdays, and all students in grades PK-12 attend as a class.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Parent-Student Handbook 2026-2027irp.cdn-website.com/98dd7442/files/uploaded/Parent+Student+Handbook+26-27+Approved+Copy+%281%29.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Weekly Mass is celebrated on Wednesdays at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.”
      Weekly Mass is celebrated on Wednesdays at St. Mary's Catholic Church.
      “All students in grades PK-12 are required to attend the scheduled Mass as a class.”
      All students in grades PK-12 are required to attend the weekly Mass as a class.
  • 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 handbook says confession will be scheduled throughout the year.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Parent-Student Handbook 2026-2027irp.cdn-website.com/98dd7442/files/uploaded/Parent+Student+Handbook+26-27+Approved+Copy+%281%29.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Confession and other religious activities will also be scheduled throughout the year.”
      The school schedules confession throughout the year. The frequency is not stated.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredRegularly (monthly or more) (Adoration is offered in the Cor Mariae Chapel on the weeks it is not offered in the church. The chapel is on campus.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith Opportunities | St. Mary Catholic Schoolsstmarysdellrapids.org/faith-opportunities · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The St. Carlo Acutis Prayer Guild was formed to offer Adoration in the Cor Mariae Chapel on the weeks it is not offered in the church.”
      A prayer guild offers adoration in the school's Cor Mariae Chapel on the weeks it is not held in the church.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolYes (Fr. Brian Eckrich is listed as school chaplain. He is also a parochial vicar.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Staff | St. Mary Catholic Schoolsstmarysdellrapids.org/staff-and-faculty · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Fr. Brian Eckrich School Chaplain”
      Fr. Brian Eckrich is the school chaplain.
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 handbook requires four credits in religion, one credit for each year in attendance; one credit in each of four years.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Parent-Student Handbook 2026-2027irp.cdn-website.com/98dd7442/files/uploaded/Parent+Student+Handbook+26-27+Approved+Copy+%281%29.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Four credits in Religion c. One credit for each year in attendance”
      Graduation requires four credits in religion, one for each year in attendance.
  • 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 priest is named as school chaplain.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Staff | St. Mary Catholic Schoolsstmarysdellrapids.org/staff-and-faculty · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Fr. Brian Eckrich School Chaplain”
      Fr. Brian Eckrich is the school chaplain.
  • 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 school says students begin each school day in prayer and pray throughout the day.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith Opportunities | St. Mary Catholic Schoolsstmarysdellrapids.org/faith-opportunities · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students begin their day in prayer, pray before meals and throughout the day”
      Students begin each school day in prayer and pray throughout the day.
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 (Grades 9 to 12 must complete at least 20 hours of Christian Service each year. Four years at 20 hours is 80 hours, which is 40 or more.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Parent-Student Handbook 2026-2027irp.cdn-website.com/98dd7442/files/uploaded/Parent+Student+Handbook+26-27+Approved+Copy+%281%29.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “students in grades 9-12 are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of Christian Service each year”
      Students in grades 9 to 12 must complete at least 20 hours of Christian Service each year of high school.
    2. High School | St. Mary Catholic Schoolsstmarysdellrapids.org/high-school · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “High School students are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service each year to graduate.”
      High school students must complete 20 hours of community service each year to graduate.
  • 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

  • The school attends Mass as a school family every Wednesday, and the handbook requires all students in grades PK-12 to attend as a class.
    Sources (2)
    1. Faith Opportunities | St. Mary Catholic Schoolsstmarysdellrapids.org/faith-opportunities · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “students gather as a school family for Mass every Wednesday at 8:40 am”
      Students gather as a school family for Mass every Wednesday at 8:40 a.m.
    2. Parent-Student Handbook 2026-2027irp.cdn-website.com/98dd7442/files/uploaded/Parent+Student+Handbook+26-27+Approved+Copy+%281%29.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “All students in grades PK-12 are required to attend the scheduled Mass as a class.”
      All students in grades PK-12 are required to attend the weekly Mass as a class.
  • Four credits in religion are required, one for each year in attendance.
    Sources (1)
    1. Parent-Student Handbook 2026-2027irp.cdn-website.com/98dd7442/files/uploaded/Parent+Student+Handbook+26-27+Approved+Copy+%281%29.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Four credits in Religion c. One credit for each year in attendance”
      Graduation requires four credits in religion, one for each year in attendance.
  • A priest is named as school chaplain, and students begin each school day in prayer.
    Sources (2)
    1. Staff | St. Mary Catholic Schoolsstmarysdellrapids.org/staff-and-faculty · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Fr. Brian Eckrich School Chaplain”
      Fr. Brian Eckrich is the school chaplain.
    2. Faith Opportunities | St. Mary Catholic Schoolsstmarysdellrapids.org/faith-opportunities · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students begin their day in prayer, pray before meals and throughout the day”
      Students begin each school day in prayer and pray throughout the day.
  • Adoration is offered in the school's Cor Mariae Chapel on the weeks it is not held in the church.
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith Opportunities | St. Mary Catholic Schoolsstmarysdellrapids.org/faith-opportunities · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The St. Carlo Acutis Prayer Guild was formed to offer Adoration in the Cor Mariae Chapel on the weeks it is not offered in the church.”
      A prayer guild offers adoration in the school's Cor Mariae Chapel on the weeks it is not held in the church.

Concerns

  • The handbook says confession will be scheduled.
    Sources (1)
    1. Parent-Student Handbook 2026-2027irp.cdn-website.com/98dd7442/files/uploaded/Parent+Student+Handbook+26-27+Approved+Copy+%281%29.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Confession and other religious activities will also be scheduled throughout the year.”
      The school schedules confession throughout the year. The frequency is not stated.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Cor Mariae Chapel (school chapel)

  • Address: 812 N. State Ave., Dell Rapids, SD 57022
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: chapel

Source: stmarysdellrapids.org, verified Oct. 13, 2026, irp.cdn-website.com, verified Oct. 13, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

5 groups and regular activities · 3 on campus, 0 off campus, 2 location not published

Faith formation 2

  • Daily prayerOn campus
    Each school day
    Students begin the school day in prayer, pray before meals, and come together as a school community for prayer.
    stmarysdellrapids.org
  • Sacramental preparation
    Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation is done in the classroom. Confirmation preparation takes place on Wednesday nights starting in the fall.
    stmarysdellrapids.org

Liturgy and prayer 2

  • Student-led rosaryOn campus
    Thursdays at 8 a.m.
    A student-led rosary prayed in the Cor Mariae Chapel. Students and families are welcome.
    stmarysdellrapids.org
  • Adoration in the Cor Mariae ChapelOn campus
    On the weeks it is not held in the church
    Run by the St. Carlo Acutis Prayer Guild, using volunteers who completed safe-environment training. The school says this adoration is not open to the public.
    stmarysdellrapids.org

Service 1

  • Christian Service
    Students in grades 9 to 12 must complete at least 20 hours of Christian Service each year. Service must benefit the Church or the school. Students who complete 40 hours each year receive an Outstanding Volunteer award.
    irp.cdn-website.com, stmarysdellrapids.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 (2)
  1. Faith Opportunities | St. Mary Catholic Schoolsstmarysdellrapids.org/faith-opportunities · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “at the heart of our school is our Cor Mariae Chapel”
    The Cor Mariae Chapel is in the school.
    “The St. Carlo Acutis Prayer Guild was formed to offer Adoration in the Cor Mariae Chapel on the weeks it is not offered in the church.”
    A prayer guild offers adoration in the school's Cor Mariae Chapel on the weeks it is not held in the church.
    “at the heart of our school is our Cor Mariae Chapel”
    The Cor Mariae Chapel is in the school.
  2. Parent-Student Handbook 2026-2027irp.cdn-website.com/98dd7442/files/uploaded/Parent+Student+Handbook+26-27+Approved+Copy+%281%29.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “812 N. STATE AVE. DELL RAPIDS, SD 57022”
    The school is at 812 N. State Ave., Dell Rapids, SD 57022.

Reach out

Contact details for Fr. Brian Eckrich (School Chaplain (reach through the school office)) and 2 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
69 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.90%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.14.0 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 Sioux Falls, SD
GradesPK–12
Students (all grades)222
Students in grades 9–1273
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio14.0 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges90%
SettingRural

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 Sioux Falls

The Most Reverend Donald E. DeGrood, Bishop of Sioux Falls

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is St. Mary Catholic School a Catholic high school?
Yes. St. Mary Catholic School is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Sioux Falls.
Where is Mass celebrated at St. Mary Catholic School?
Mass is listed at St. Mary's Catholic Church (the handbook says the weekly school Mass is held there). Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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