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Aerial view of Ursuline Academy of Cincinnati
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

Catholic high school

Ursuline Academy of Cincinnati

  • LocationCincinnati, OH
  • Type and sizeIndependent Catholic school · Grades 9–12 · 483 students

All-female

Official website

Ursuline Academy is an independent, all-girls Catholic college preparatory high school at 5535 Pfeiffer Road in Cincinnati, founded by the Ursuline Sisters of Brown County in 1896. Students are required to attend Mass, and the school requires retreats in the first three years, with the senior Kairos retreat offered as an option. Morning prayer is held over the announcements, and students may join campus ministry teams. The school states that service hours are not required to graduate, and it lists a summer service trip program.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Ursuline Academy of Cincinnati, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miAll Saints Catholic Church: 2.2 mi1Saint Michael Church: 2.6 mi2Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church: 2.9 mi3The Community of the Good Shepherd: 3.0 mi4Good Shepherd Chapel: 3.0 mi5St. Angela's Chapel at Ursuline Academy: 0.2 miUrsuline Academy of Cincinnati (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. All Saints Catholic Church — 2.2 mi
  2. Saint Michael Church — 2.6 mi
  3. Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church — 2.9 mi
  4. The Community of the Good Shepherd — 3.0 mi · 8815 East Kemper Road, Montgomery
  5. Good Shepherd Chapel — 3.0 mi · 8815 East Kemper Road, Montgomery

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.

DSacramental life: 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.

Sacramental life

46 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 yearA few times a year (The pages say all students are required to attend Mass.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Ursuline Identity | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/faith-ursuline-identity · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “All Ursuline students are required to attend mass.”
      All students are required to attend Mass.
  • 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 sacrament of reconciliation is listed as part of the student faith experience.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Ursuline Identity | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/faith-ursuline-identity · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The student faith experience here features annual retreats, Mass, Bible Study, prayer services, the sacrament of reconciliation, and a compassionate religion department”
      The school's student faith experience includes retreats, Mass, Bible Study, prayer services and the sacrament of reconciliation.
  • 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 (Students are required to attend Mass.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Ursuline Identity | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/faith-ursuline-identity · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “All Ursuline students are required to attend mass.”
      All students are required to attend Mass.
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 (Christian Morality, a required course, is an ethics course; the religion department also lists electives including theology of the human person and world religions.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Ursuline Identity | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/faith-ursuline-identity · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “All students are required to take Christian Awareness, Scripture: Hebrew and Christian, Christian Morality, and Church Issues.”
      All students take four required religion courses, including Christian Morality.
  • 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 statement says the school incorporates charism through all aspects of an Ursuline Academy education.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Ursuline Identity | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/faith-ursuline-identity · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We continue to live out the mission of the Ursulines by incorporating charism through all aspects of an Ursuline Academy education.”
      The school incorporates the Ursuline charism through all aspects of its education.
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 (Students are required to attend retreats for the first three years (freshman, sophomore, junior). A senior Kairos retreat is offered and is optional.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Ursuline Identity | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/faith-ursuline-identity · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Students are required to attend retreats for the first three years”
      Students are required to attend retreats in their first three years.
      “Our senior retreat remains the hallmark Kairos retreat: a three-day, two-night retreat held at the Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford, Ohio.”
      The senior class has a Kairos retreat at the Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford, Ohio.
  • 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 (Students participate in morning prayer over the announcements, and campus ministry teams include liturgy planning and Bible Study.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Ursuline Identity | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/faith-ursuline-identity · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Students are encouraged to join campus ministry teams and participate in morning prayer over the announcements, liturgy planning, and Bible Study.”
      Students are encouraged to join campus ministry teams for morning prayer, liturgy planning and Bible Study.
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.

  • No: the school does not offer this, so it earns no points.
    Required service hoursNo requirement (The school states that students are not required to perform service hours to graduate.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Ursuline students are not required to perform service hours to graduate.”
      Service hours are not required 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.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes (Summer service trips in June serve in Cincinnati through St. Vincent DePaul or in the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Ursuline's Community Service Program sponsors summer service trips during the month of June”
      The Community Service Program sponsors summer service trips in June.
      “Our students volunteer in our community, participate in our seven student-led ongoing service projects”
      Students take part in seven student-led ongoing service projects.

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

Strengths

  • All students are required to attend Mass, and retreats are required in the first three years.
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Ursuline Identity | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/faith-ursuline-identity · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “All Ursuline students are required to attend mass.”
      All students are required to attend Mass.
      “Students are required to attend retreats for the first three years”
      Students are required to attend retreats in their first three years.
  • Four required religion courses are listed for all students, including Christian Morality.
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Ursuline Identity | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/faith-ursuline-identity · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “All students are required to take Christian Awareness, Scripture: Hebrew and Christian, Christian Morality, and Church Issues.”
      All students take four required religion courses, including Christian Morality.
  • Students may take part in summer service trips in June.
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Ursuline's Community Service Program sponsors summer service trips during the month of June”
      The Community Service Program sponsors summer service trips in June.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

St. Angela's Chapel at Ursuline Academy

  • Address: 5535 Pfeiffer Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: chapel

View on map ↗

Source: ursulineacademy.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, ursulineacademy.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

8 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 4 off campus, 4 location not published

Retreats 4

  • Kairos retreatOff campus
    Senior year (optional)
    A three-day, two-night senior retreat at the Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford, Ohio, led by a student team with faculty and staff supervision.
    ursulineacademy.org, ursulineacademy.org
  • Sophomore retreat (Heart)Off campus
    Sophomore year (required)
    An extended day retreat that begins at the school with a guided reflection, then continues at Camp Joy in Clarkesville, Ohio.
    ursulineacademy.org
  • Junior retreat (Spiritus)Off campus
    Junior year (required)
    A two-day, one-night Spiritus Retreat at the Bergamo Center for Lifelong Learning in Beavercreek, Ohio.
    ursulineacademy.org
  • Freshman retreat (Intellect)
    Freshman year (required)
    A school-day retreat about the intellect and legacy of the Ursuline sisters.
    ursulineacademy.org

Service 2

  • Summer service tripsOff campus
    June
    Week-long summer service trips in the Cincinnati area through St. Vincent de Paul, or to the Oglala Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
    ursulineacademy.org
  • Building Bridges
    Monthly
    A student club that collaborates on service projects each month.
    resources.finalsite.net

Clubs and groups 1

  • Spectrum
    A student club with a focus on LGBTQ+ topics, described in the club list as respecting the teachings of the Catholic Church.
    resources.finalsite.net

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • Campus ministry teams
    Teams for morning prayer over the announcements, liturgy planning and Bible Study; students also may train and serve as Eucharistic ministers.
    ursulineacademy.org, ursulineacademy.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 (3)
  1. Faith & Ursuline Identity | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/the-ursuline-experience/faith-ursuline-identity · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “The student faith experience here features annual retreats, Mass, Bible Study, prayer services, the sacrament of reconciliation, and a compassionate religion department”
    The school's student faith experience includes retreats, Mass, Bible Study, prayer services and the sacrament of reconciliation.
    “We continue to live out the mission of the Ursulines by incorporating charism through all aspects of an Ursuline Academy education.”
    The school incorporates the Ursuline charism through all aspects of its education.
  2. Modular Schedule | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/academics/modular-schedule · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Seeking a time of quiet reflection? The refuge of St. Angela’s Chapel awaits.”
    St. Angela's Chapel on campus is open for quiet reflection.
  3. Inquire | Ursuline Academyursulineacademy.org/inquire1 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “5535 PFEIFFER ROAD CINCINNATI OHIO 45242”
    The school's address is 5535 Pfeiffer Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242.

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Academic Excellence

AAcademic Excellence: 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.
86 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.96%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.11.2 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 Cincinnati, OH
Grades9–12
Students (all grades)483
Students in grades 9–12483
Coed or single-sexAll-female
Student–teacher ratio11.2 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges96%
SettingSuburb

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 Cincinnati

The Most Reverend Robert G. Casey, Archbishop of Cincinnati

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Ursuline Academy of Cincinnati a Catholic high school?
Yes. Ursuline Academy of Cincinnati is a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

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