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

Catholic high school

St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School

  • LocationSaint Louis, MO
  • Type and sizeIndependent Catholic school · Grades 9–12 · 203 students

All-male

Official website

St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School in St. Louis is a Catholic, Marianist school for young men in grades 9 to 12. The 2026-27 handbook describes a Mass once a month for the whole school, a daily morning prayer, and a 20-hour yearly service requirement. The school requires four years of Religion, and a yearly retreat for each grade, including a senior Kairos retreat. No chaplain priest or adoration times appear on the readable pages.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 1

  • Wednesday8:15 AMSchool gym · Once a month on Wednesday mornings (handbook), on the dates in the school calendar, which lists All School Mass at 8:15 AM to 9:15 AM.

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. Calendar | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/our-school/calendar · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “All School Mass 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM”
    The school calendar lists All School Mass at 8:15 AM to 9:15 AM.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.5 mi1 mi2 miSaint Cecilia Catholic Church: 0.5 mi1Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church: 0.6 mi2Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church: 0.7 mi3Saint Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church: 0.7 mi4Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church: 0.8 mi5Saints Mary and Joseph Catholic Chapel: 1.2 mi6Campus Ministry, St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School: 0.1 miSt. Mary's South Side Catholic High School (campus)N0.5 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Cecilia Catholic Church — 0.5 mi
  2. Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church — 0.6 mi · 3900 Meramec Street, Saint Louis
  3. Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church — 0.7 mi · 3140 Meramec Street, Saint Louis
  4. Saint Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church — 0.7 mi · 3949 Wilmington Avenue, Saint Louis
  5. Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church — 0.8 mi
  6. Saints Mary and Joseph Catholic Chapel — 1.2 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.

CSacramental life: 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.

Sacramental life

60 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearMonthly (The handbook says the school celebrates Mass once per month on Wednesday mornings, and attendance is required for all students.)
    Sources (2)
    1. 2026-2027 Parent-Student Handbook (All-School Mass)stmaryshs.com/fs/resource-manager/view/cf748659-094f-41fc-b169-9d9351d4baca · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “As a Catholic, Marianist community, we celebrate Mass once per month on Wednesday mornings.”
      The school celebrates a Mass for the whole school once per month, on Wednesday mornings.
    2. Marianist Spirit | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/marianist-spirit · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Each month we worship together as a school at Liturgy.”
      The school worships together as a whole each month at a liturgy.
  • 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 (Penance services are listed among the school's liturgies.)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-2027 Parent-Student Handbook (Spiritual Life)stmaryshs.com/fs/resource-manager/view/cf748659-094f-41fc-b169-9d9351d4baca · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “All school and class liturgies, penance services, community service, and prayer groups add to the faith life of our school.”
      Penance services are part of the school's spiritual life. No frequency is stated.
  • 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 (A monthly school Mass is published; this is recorded as a visiting or shared priest.)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-2027 Parent-Student Handbook (All-School Mass)stmaryshs.com/fs/resource-manager/view/cf748659-094f-41fc-b169-9d9351d4baca · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “As a Catholic, Marianist community, we celebrate Mass once per month on Wednesday mornings.”
      The school celebrates a Mass for the whole school once per month, on Wednesday mornings.
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 graduation table requires 4 units of Religion. The curriculum lists Religion I to IV as one-year courses in grades 9 to 12; this is four full-year equivalents. Theology is taken in every grade.)
    Sources (2)
    1. 2026-2027 Parent-Student Handbook (Graduation Requirements)stmaryshs.com/fs/resource-manager/view/cf748659-094f-41fc-b169-9d9351d4baca · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Religion ​ ​ 4 Units of Credit”
      Religion is a graduation requirement of 4 units of credit.
    2. Curriculum | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/academics/curriculum · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Religion IV (REL450) Year Course Grade 12”
      Religion IV is a one-year course in grade 12. Religion I to III are one-year courses in grades 9 to 11.
  • 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 program of studies says the Art and Music and Practical Arts departments teach in the light of Christian principles.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Curriculum | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/academics/curriculum · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Art and Music, as a way of life, are a sharing in the creativity of God”
      The Art and Music program states a Christian purpose in the course guide.
      “develop, in light of Christian principles and ethics, an understanding and the skills of basic practices”
      The Practical Arts courses are taught in light of Christian principles and ethics.
ACampus culture: 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.

Campus culture

90 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    RetreatsA retreat for every grade (Retreats are mandatory for each grade: a day for freshmen, a day for sophomores, an extended day for juniors and Kairos for seniors.)
    Sources (2)
    1. 2026-2027 Parent-Student Handbook (Spiritual Life)stmaryshs.com/fs/resource-manager/view/cf748659-094f-41fc-b169-9d9351d4baca · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “students participate in yearly retreat days as well as an overnight retreat senior year.”
      Students take part in retreat days every year.
    2. Retreats | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/marianist-spirit/retreats · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The retreat is mandatory for all freshmen and is one day off-campus.”
      Freshmen have a mandatory retreat.
      “The retreat is mandatory for all sophomores.”
      Sophomores have a mandatory retreat.
      “The retreat is mandatory for all juniors and is one extended day off-campus.”
      Juniors have a mandatory retreat.
      “Seniors are required to attend one of the dates.”
      Seniors have a required Kairos retreat.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Campus ministry staffOne (One campus ministry staff member is named in the staff directory.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faculty & Staff Directory | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/our-school/faculty-staff-directory · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “MRS. MARY FREY Titles: Campus Ministry”
      Mary Frey is listed with the title Campus Ministry.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsTwo or more (The clubs page lists FOCUS Youth Leadership and the Marianist Living in Faith Experience (LIFE) Community. The page describes these as clubs active in recent years, not a current-year list.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Clubs & Activities | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/student-life/clubs-activities · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “FOCUS Youth Leadership Marianist Living in Faith Experience (LIFE) Community”
      The clubs page lists FOCUS Youth Leadership and the Marianist LIFE Community as clubs.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayYes (The school prays together each morning and says the Three O'Clock Prayer at the close of every school day.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Marianist Spirit | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/marianist-spirit · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “As a school, we pray together each morning to start out the day.”
      The school prays together each morning.
AService and Catholic social teaching: 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.

Service and Catholic social teaching

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Required service hours40 or more hours over four years (Students must give 20 hours of service each year. Over four years this is 80 hours, through the Dragon FIRE Service Program, which is a graduation requirement.)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-2027 Parent-Student Handbook (Service Hours)stmaryshs.com/fs/resource-manager/view/cf748659-094f-41fc-b169-9d9351d4baca · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students are required to give 20 hours of service to the school and the larger community each year through the Dragon FIRE Service Program.”
      Students must give 20 hours of service each year.
      “10 hours must be completed at a nonprofit organization in the greater St. Louis area.”
      Ten of the 20 required hours each year must be at a nonprofit organization in the St. Louis area.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesYes (Religion IV, a required course, includes the teaching of the Catholic Church in social justice.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Curriculum | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/academics/curriculum · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “This course has two important areas of study. The first is the teaching of the Catholic Church in Social Justice.”
      Religion IV includes the teaching of the Catholic Church in social justice.
  • 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

  • A Mass for the whole school is celebrated once a month, and attendance is required.
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-2027 Parent-Student Handbook (All-School Mass)stmaryshs.com/fs/resource-manager/view/cf748659-094f-41fc-b169-9d9351d4baca · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “As a Catholic, Marianist community, we celebrate Mass once per month on Wednesday mornings.”
      The school celebrates a Mass for the whole school once per month, on Wednesday mornings.
  • Students take retreats every year, with a mandatory retreat for each grade from 9 to 12.
    Sources (2)
    1. 2026-2027 Parent-Student Handbook (Spiritual Life)stmaryshs.com/fs/resource-manager/view/cf748659-094f-41fc-b169-9d9351d4baca · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “students participate in yearly retreat days as well as an overnight retreat senior year.”
      Students take part in retreat days every year.
    2. Retreats | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/marianist-spirit/retreats · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The retreat is mandatory for all freshmen and is one day off-campus.”
      Freshmen have a mandatory retreat.
      “The retreat is mandatory for all sophomores.”
      Sophomores have a mandatory retreat.
      “The retreat is mandatory for all juniors and is one extended day off-campus.”
      Juniors have a mandatory retreat.
      “Seniors are required to attend one of the dates.”
      Seniors have a required Kairos retreat.
  • Religion is a four-year graduation requirement, and Religion IV includes the teaching of the Catholic Church in social justice.
    Sources (2)
    1. 2026-2027 Parent-Student Handbook (Graduation Requirements)stmaryshs.com/fs/resource-manager/view/cf748659-094f-41fc-b169-9d9351d4baca · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Religion ​ ​ 4 Units of Credit”
      Religion is a graduation requirement of 4 units of credit.
    2. Curriculum | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/academics/curriculum · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “This course has two important areas of study. The first is the teaching of the Catholic Church in Social Justice.”
      Religion IV includes the teaching of the Catholic Church in social justice.
  • The school requires 20 hours of service each year, which totals 80 hours over four years.
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-2027 Parent-Student Handbook (Service Hours)stmaryshs.com/fs/resource-manager/view/cf748659-094f-41fc-b169-9d9351d4baca · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Students are required to give 20 hours of service to the school and the larger community each year through the Dragon FIRE Service Program.”
      Students must give 20 hours of service each year.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Campus Ministry, St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School

  • Address: 4701 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63111
  • Location: On campus

View on map ↗

Source: stmaryshs.com, verified Oct. 13, 2026, stmaryshs.com, verified Oct. 13, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

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

Faith formation 1

  • Daily morning prayer and Three O'Clock PrayerOn campus
    Each school morning and at the close of every school day
    The school prays together each morning, and says the Marianist Three O'Clock Prayer at the close of each school day.
    stmaryshs.com

Liturgy and prayer 2

  • All-School MassOn campus
    Once a month, Wednesday mornings
    Held in the school gym. Attendance is required for all students.
    stmaryshs.com
  • Penance services
    Listed among the school's liturgies.
    stmaryshs.com

Clubs and groups 2

  • FOCUS Youth Leadership
    Listed as a club on the school's clubs page.
    stmaryshs.com
  • Marianist Living in Faith Experience (LIFE) Community
    Listed as a club on the school's clubs page. The handbook mentions LIFE leaders who lead the freshman retreat.
    stmaryshs.com

Retreats 1

Service 1

  • Dragon FIRE Service Program
    20 hours each year
    Students give 20 hours of service each year, 10 to the school community and 10 at a nonprofit organization in the St. Louis area.
    stmaryshs.com, stmaryshs.com

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 (3)
  1. Marianist Spirit | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/marianist-spirit · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “providing opportunities for spiritual growth in the Catholic Marianist tradition”
    Campus Ministry provides opportunities for spiritual growth in the Catholic Marianist tradition.
    “providing opportunities for spiritual growth in the Catholic Marianist tradition”
    Campus Ministry provides opportunities for spiritual growth in the Catholic Marianist tradition.
  2. Faculty & Staff Directory | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/our-school/faculty-staff-directory · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “MRS. MARY FREY Titles: Campus Ministry”
    Mary Frey is listed with the title Campus Ministry.
  3. Contact Us | St. Mary's South Side Catholic High Schoolstmaryshs.com/footer-link-1 · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “4701 South Grand Blvd. - St. Louis, MO 63111”
    The school is at 4701 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63111.

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Academic Excellence

FAcademic Excellence: Minimal (grade F): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
23 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.46%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.9.0 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

TypeIndependent Catholic school
DioceseArchdiocese of St. Louis, MO
Grades9–12
Students (all grades)203
Students in grades 9–12203
Coed or single-sexAll-male
Student–teacher ratio9.0 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges46%
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

Archdiocese of St. Louis

The Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, Archbishop of St. Louis

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School a Catholic high school?
Yes. St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School is a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
What is St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School’s Compass Score?
71 out of 100 (grade A). It combines faith (75%) and academics (25%), each rated from official sources.
Where is Mass celebrated at St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School?
Mass is listed at School gym. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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