Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.
Aerial view of St. Mary's Catholic School K-12
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

Catholic high school

St. Mary's Catholic School K-12

  • LocationSleepy Eye, MN
  • Type and sizeParish school · Grades PK–12 · 257 students
Official website

St. Mary's Catholic School in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, serves students from preschool through grade 12. Its high school requires four credits of theology to graduate, and it lists weekly Mass and opportunities for Eucharistic adoration. Required service hours and a yearly retreat are part of the theology courses.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of St. Mary's Catholic School K-12, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 mi0.5 miSaint Mary's Catholic Church: 0.1 mi1Family Jubilee Shrine: 0.7 mi2Shrine: 0.7 mi3St. Mary's Catholic School K-12 (campus)N0.25 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Mary's Catholic Church — 0.1 mi · 636 1st Avenue North, Sleepy Eye
  2. Family Jubilee Shrine — 0.7 mi · 27762 County Road 27, Sleepy Eye
  3. Shrine — 0.7 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.

BSacramental life: 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.

Sacramental life

71 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 high school page lists weekly Mass for students.)
    Sources (1)
    1. High School - St Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/high-school · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students deepen their relationship with Christ through four years of theology, weekly mass, opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, and faith-filled classroom discussions.”
      The high school offers weekly Mass and opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, with four years of theology.
  • 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 2025-26 registration handbook says all grades prepare for and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 Registration Handbook, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StMarys2025-2026-Registration-Book.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “along with preparing for and celebrating Holy Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Adoration, Stations of the Cross/Benediction”
      All grades prepare for and celebrate Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Adoration.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredOccasionally (The high school page mentions opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration.)
    Sources (1)
    1. High School - St Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/high-school · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students deepen their relationship with Christ through four years of theology, weekly mass, opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, and faith-filled classroom discussions.”
      The high school offers weekly Mass and opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, with four years of theology.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolVisiting or shared priest (Weekly Mass is listed and a priest is on staff as Associate Pastor / Theology; no page names a priest as chaplain.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faculty & Staff Directory - St Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/staff · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Father Nathan Hansen Associate Pastor / Theology 507-794-4171”
      A priest is on staff as Associate Pastor / Theology, and the pastor and superintendent is also a priest.
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 (Four credits of theology are required to graduate. Theology is a one-credit full-year course; this is four years. The 2025-26 handbook is the newest edition found.)
    Sources (2)
    1. High School - St Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/high-school · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Theology – 4 Credits”
      The high school graduation requirements list four credits of theology.
    2. 2025-2026 Registration Handbook, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StMarys2025-2026-Registration-Book.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students must take 4 credits of Theology to graduate.”
      Four credits of theology are required to graduate.
      “The USCCB Curriculum Framework is used as the outline and Standards for High School Theology classes.”
      The theology courses follow the USCCB curriculum framework.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Theology courses follow the USCCB Curriculum FrameworkYes (The 2025-26 handbook says the USCCB Curriculum Framework is used as the outline and standard for high school theology classes.)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 Registration Handbook, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StMarys2025-2026-Registration-Book.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The USCCB Curriculum Framework is used as the outline and Standards for High School Theology classes.”
      The theology courses follow the USCCB curriculum framework.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredYes (A junior-year first-semester apologetics course, Why Believe?, is described in the 2025-26 handbook.)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 Registration Handbook, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StMarys2025-2026-Registration-Book.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The first semester is an apologetic curriculum called Why Believe?”
      A junior-year theology course is an apologetics course.
  • 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 school's own mission page says faith is woven into the very fabric of the school.)
    Sources (1)
    1. About St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/about-us · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Faith is woven into the very fabric of our school.”
      The school's mission states that faith is integrated into the whole school.
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 2025-26 handbook describes a day-long or longer retreat each year as part of all theology courses (grades 9-12).)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 Registration Handbook, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StMarys2025-2026-Registration-Book.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students will be able to participate in a day-long (or longer) retreat each year.”
      A day-long or longer retreat is offered each year as part of the theology courses.
  • 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 school's own about page says it worships through liturgy, daily prayer, the sacraments and seasonal celebrations.)
    Sources (1)
    1. About St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/about-us · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “We worship through Liturgy, daily prayer, the Sacraments and seasonal celebrations.”
      The school says it worships through liturgy, daily prayer and the sacraments.
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 (Per the 2025-26 handbook: grade 9 has 5 hours of service per quarter (20 hours a year), and grades 10-12 have 10 hours per quarter (40 hours a year). That is 140 hours over four years. Theology credit is released only after the year's service is complete.)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 Registration Handbook, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StMarys2025-2026-Registration-Book.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “As part of all Theology courses, 10 hours of service will be completed each quarter (10-12), and 5 hours of service will be completed each quarter (7-9).”
      Theology courses include required service: 10 hours each quarter in grades 10-12 and 5 hours each quarter in grades 7-9.
      “No credit will be released for Theology until service for the year is complete.”
      Theology credit depends on completing the year's service hours.
  • 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.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes (The school runs its own service programs, including the Box of Joy gift drive for children abroad. Its about page says social justice needs are addressed through service opportunities. These are school programs, not immersions or justice clubs.)
    Sources (2)
    1. About St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/about-us · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Through service opportunities, social justice needs are addressed not only in our school and community, but in the world as well.”
      The school says social justice needs are addressed through its service opportunities.
    2. Service - St Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/activities/service · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The Box of Joy collection of Christmas gifts for children around the world”
      The school runs the Box of Joy gift collection for children around the world.

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

Strengths

  • Four credits of theology are required to graduate, and required service hours are part of the theology courses.
    Sources (2)
    1. High School - St Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/high-school · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Theology – 4 Credits”
      The high school graduation requirements list four credits of theology.
    2. 2025-2026 Registration Handbook, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StMarys2025-2026-Registration-Book.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students must take 4 credits of Theology to graduate.”
      Four credits of theology are required to graduate.
      “As part of all Theology courses, 10 hours of service will be completed each quarter (10-12), and 5 hours of service will be completed each quarter (7-9).”
      Theology courses include required service: 10 hours each quarter in grades 10-12 and 5 hours each quarter in grades 7-9.
  • Weekly Mass and opportunities for Eucharistic adoration are listed for high school students.
    Sources (1)
    1. High School - St Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/high-school · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students deepen their relationship with Christ through four years of theology, weekly mass, opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, and faith-filled classroom discussions.”
      The high school offers weekly Mass and opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, with four years of theology.
  • The theology courses follow the USCCB curriculum framework and include an apologetics course.
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 Registration Handbook, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StMarys2025-2026-Registration-Book.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The USCCB Curriculum Framework is used as the outline and Standards for High School Theology classes.”
      The theology courses follow the USCCB curriculum framework.
      “The first semester is an apologetic curriculum called Why Believe?”
      A junior-year theology course is an apologetics course.
  • A day-long or longer retreat is offered each year as part of the theology courses.
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 Registration Handbook, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StMarys2025-2026-Registration-Book.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students will be able to participate in a day-long (or longer) retreat each year.”
      A day-long or longer retreat is offered each year as part of the theology courses.

Concerns

  • Confession and adoration are part of the curriculum.
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 Registration Handbook, St. Mary's Catholic Schoolsesmschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StMarys2025-2026-Registration-Book.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “along with preparing for and celebrating Holy Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Adoration, Stations of the Cross/Benediction”
      All grades prepare for and celebrate Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Adoration.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Catholic clubs and student life

7 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 7 location not published

Liturgy and prayer 2

  • Student-led weekly Mass
    Weekly
    Students plan and celebrate the weekly Mass.
    sesmschool.com
  • Schola Cantorum
    Choir that sings at school Masses and other liturgies.
    sesmschool.com

Retreats 1

  • Day-long retreat
    Each year
    A day-long or longer retreat offered each year as part of the theology courses.
    sesmschool.com

Service 4

  • Box of Joy
    School collection of Christmas gifts for children around the world.
    sesmschool.com
  • Sleepy Eye Food Shelf collection
    Students collect for the Sleepy Eye Food Shelf through trick-or-treating.
    sesmschool.com
  • Visits with grandfriends at Divine Providence
    Students spend time with residents at Divine Providence, building caring relationships with the elderly.
    sesmschool.com
  • American Red Cross blood drives
    The school hosts blood drives for the American Red Cross.
    sesmschool.com

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

Reach out

Contact details for Father Nathan Hansen (Associate Pastor / Theology) and 3 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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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.
52 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.75%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.8.8 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

TypeParish school
DioceseDiocese of New Ulm, MN
GradesPK–12
Students (all grades)257
Students in grades 9–1287
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio8.8 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges75%
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 New Ulm

The Most Reverend Chad W. Zielinski, Bishop of New Ulm

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is St. Mary's Catholic School K-12 a Catholic high school?
Yes. St. Mary's Catholic School K-12 is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of New Ulm.

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