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

Catholic high school

St. Mary's Catholic School

  • LocationNatchitoches, LA
  • Type and sizeDiocesan school · Grades PK–12 · 290 students
Official website

St. Mary's Catholic School in Natchitoches is a ministry of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and serves students from pre-K through grade 12. The 2026-27 handbook requires all students to attend an all-school Mass each week in the gym, and students pray as a student body each day. Religion courses are scheduled in each high school grade, and a Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Pro-Life club is listed.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of St. Mary's Catholic School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.5 mi1 mi2 miSaint Anthony Catholic Church: 0.9 mi1Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception: 1.0 mi2Holy Cross Catholic Church: 1.6 mi3Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (the parish that operates the school): 1.0 miSt. Mary's Catholic School (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Anthony Catholic Church — 0.9 mi · 911 5th Street, Natchitoches
  2. Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception — 1.0 mi · 145 Church Street, Natchitoches
  3. Holy Cross Catholic Church — 1.6 mi · 109 2nd Street, Natchitoches

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.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearWeekly (The 2026-27 handbook says all students attend all-school Mass weekly in the gym. The fall 2026 high school schedule includes an all-school Mass period from 9:00 to 10:00 on the school's Mass day.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Official 2026-2027 SMS 6th-12th Handbooksmstigers.org/s/Official-2026-2027-SMS-6th-12th-Handbook.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “All students will be attending all-school Mass on a weekly basis, which is held in the gym.”
      All students attend an all-school Mass weekly, held in the gym.
    2. 2026-2027 Fall High School Schedule - All-School Masssmstigers.org/s/2026-2027-Fall-High-School-Schedule-All-School-Mass.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “2026-2027 Fall High School Schedule - All-School Mass”
      The school publishes a high school schedule for all-school Mass days, with a Mass period from 9:00 to 10:00.
  • 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.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolVisiting or shared priest (The school's administration page names Father Irion St. Romain as pastor and chancellor, and Mass is held weekly. No page names a priest as the school's chaplain. Recorded as a shared priest.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Administration & Staff, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsmstigers.org/administration · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Chancellor - Father Irion St. Romain”
      Father Irion St. Romain is named as chancellor, and as pastor on the same page.
ATheology and curriculum: 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.

Theology and curriculum

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Years of theology or religion requiredFour years (The 2026-27 high school schedule lists a religion course in each of grades 9 through 12 (Religion I, II, III and IV). Full-year equivalents: four.)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-2027 Fall High School Schedulesmstigers.org/s/2026-2027-Fall-High-School-Schedule.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “RELIGION I (A)”
      Religion I is scheduled for grade 9 in the 2026-27 high school schedule.
      “RELIGION IV DE ELECTIVE”
      Religion IV is scheduled for grade 12 in the 2026-27 high school schedule.
  • 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.
  • 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 mission says the school forms the whole child to know, love, and live the faith. The Religion Department description blends religious studies with the dynamics of human development.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Official 2026-2027 SMS 6th-12th Handbooksmstigers.org/s/Official-2026-2027-SMS-6th-12th-Handbook.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “forming the whole child to know, love, and live the faith.”
      The school's mission is to form the whole child to know, love, and live the faith.
      “The Religion Department strives to blend religious studies and the dynamics of human development,”
      The Religion Department blends religious studies with human development.
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.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    RetreatsA retreat for every grade (The handbook says attendance at school grade-level retreats is mandatory. This follows the grade-level wording.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Official 2026-2027 SMS 6th-12th Handbooksmstigers.org/s/Official-2026-2027-SMS-6th-12th-Handbook.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Attendance at school grade-level retreats is mandatory.”
      Attendance at school grade-level retreats is mandatory.
  • 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 handbook says students pray as a student body at the beginning of each day and at the beginning of each class, activity, and event.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Official 2026-2027 SMS 6th-12th Handbooksmstigers.org/s/Official-2026-2027-SMS-6th-12th-Handbook.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students participate in prayer as a student body at the beginning of each day”
      Students pray as a student body at the beginning of each 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.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Required service hoursNot 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.
    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 clubs page lists the FCA/Pro-Life club and a March for Life shirt order form.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Clubs & Organizations, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsmstigers.org/clubs-and-organizations · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Fellowship of Christian Athletes FCA/Pro-Life (GRADES 7 - 12)”
      The school lists a Fellowship of Christian Athletes FCA/Pro-Life club for grades 7 through 12.
      “March for Life Shirt Order Form”
      The school's clubs page links a March for Life shirt order form.
  • 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

  • All students attend an all-school Mass each week in the gym.
    Sources (1)
    1. Official 2026-2027 SMS 6th-12th Handbooksmstigers.org/s/Official-2026-2027-SMS-6th-12th-Handbook.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “All students will be attending all-school Mass on a weekly basis, which is held in the gym.”
      All students attend an all-school Mass weekly, held in the gym.
  • Students pray as a student body at the beginning of each day.
    Sources (1)
    1. Official 2026-2027 SMS 6th-12th Handbooksmstigers.org/s/Official-2026-2027-SMS-6th-12th-Handbook.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students participate in prayer as a student body at the beginning of each day”
      Students pray as a student body at the beginning of each day.
  • A religion course is scheduled in each high school grade, from Religion I in grade 9 to Religion IV in grade 12.
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-2027 Fall High School Schedulesmstigers.org/s/2026-2027-Fall-High-School-Schedule.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “RELIGION I (A)”
      Religion I is scheduled for grade 9 in the 2026-27 high school schedule.
      “RELIGION IV DE ELECTIVE”
      Religion IV is scheduled for grade 12 in the 2026-27 high school schedule.

Concerns

  • The pastor is named on the administration page.
    Sources (1)
    1. Administration & Staff, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsmstigers.org/administration · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Chancellor - Father Irion St. Romain”
      Father Irion St. Romain is named as chancellor, and as pastor on the same page.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (the parish that operates the school)

  • Address: 145 Church Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457
  • Distance from campus: 1.0 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)

View on map ↗

Source: smstigers.org, verified Oct. 13, 2026, smstigers.org, verified Oct. 13, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

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

Faith formation 1

  • Student prayerOn campus
    Beginning of each day, class, activity and event
    Prayer as a student body at the beginning of each day and of each class, activity and event.
    smstigers.org

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • All-school MassOn campus
    Weekly
    All students attend all-school Mass weekly, held in the school gym.
    smstigers.org

Clubs and groups 1

  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes FCA/Pro-Life
    Grades 7 through 12
    A club for grades 7 through 12 that combines the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Pro-Life. Its mission is to present Jesus Christ to coaches and athletes.
    smstigers.org, smstigers.org

Retreats 1

  • Grade-level retreats
    Attendance at school grade-level retreats is mandatory.
    smstigers.org

Service 1

  • March for Life
    A March for Life shirt order form is linked from the school's clubs page.
    smstigers.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. History, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsmstigers.org/history · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “a ministry of The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, has been forming young people in Natchitoches”
    The school is a ministry of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
    “a ministry of The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, has been forming young people in Natchitoches”
    The school is a ministry of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
  2. Contact Us, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsmstigers.org/contact-us · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “145 Church Street”
    The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is at 145 Church Street, Natchitoches.

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Academic Excellence

BAcademic Excellence: 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.
76 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.10.4 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

TypeDiocesan school
DioceseDiocese of Alexandria, LA
GradesPK–12
Students (all grades)290
Students in grades 9–12122
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio10.4 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 Alexandria

The Most Reverend Robert W. Marshall, Jr., Bishop of Alexandria

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Cathedral: St. Francis Xavier Cathedral

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is St. Mary's Catholic School a Catholic high school?
Yes. St. Mary's Catholic School is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Alexandria.

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