Fast Facts
THE HEELAN HIGHLIGHTS
Schools in System: Bishop Heelan High School, Holy Cross School,
Mater Dei School, Sacred Heart School, Cathedral Dual Language Academy
History: Our Catholic schools united in 1998. Our first school opened in 1881.
High School: A recently-built high school is complete with the new O'Gorman Fieldhouse and our outdoor Crusader Courtyard.
PK-12 Enrollment: 1,616
Curriculum: Iowa Core Catholic Curriculum Model
High School Curriculum: College Prep with Advanced Placement Courses
Graduation Rate: 100%
2023 Graduates: 122 Graduates, 40% with honors
College Scholarships: Nearly $9 million offered in academic scholarships.
Service: 50% of seniors honored for serving others
Faith: Enrollment of Catholic and other faiths
Diversity: 34% Minorities
Alumni: 14,000-plus
2023-24 SUCCESSES
The Bishop Heelan football team made it all the way to the 2023 Class 3A championship game, winning 11 games. Four players earned All-State status.
The Crusaders girls cross country team qualified for the state meet in October and placed 10th in Class 3A.
Maliyah Hacker was one of four juniors statewide to be named as an Iowa Girls Coaches Association first-team All-State member.
The Fine Arts students sent 18 vocalists and two band members to the IHSMA All-State Festival in November. That broke a school record.
Five Crusaders helped the Sioux City co-op high school girls swim team make it to state.
In December, the Marching Crusaders will play at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Ga. The choir will travel to Italy next June.
Renae Callaghan earned the Sioux City Rotary Club Student of the Month in December.
The wrestling team sent three to the state wrestling meet in February in Des Moines.
The Diocesan CYO Band Festival was held for the first time in 5 years at Bishop Heelan. All BHCS middle school bands and the high school band participated as well as students from Algona Garrigan, Ft. Dodge St. Ed's, Carroll Kuemper, Gehlen Catholic, Storm Lake St. Mary's.
CDLA kindergarten and third graders are participating in a culture exchange program with students from Spain.
CDLA kindergarten received an Excellence in Education grant to purchase classroom library books and furniture.
Mater Dei Immaculate Conception students and teachers are utilizing the STEAM lab and participating in hands-on activities each day.
Mater Dei PTO has sponsored several activities which include a Christmas Festival, a “Kids Jam,” a Rollerama Party, organized a Trunk or Treat event, held a Chili Cook-off as well as other events that support our school.
Sacred Heart 5th grade received an Excellence in Education grant to purchase books for a classroom library.
Jolene Fitzpatrick, Holy Cross librarian, was awarded a $1,000 grant from Excellence in Education. The money will be used to complete several series at both Holy Cross libraries.
Alex Froehlich, Wendy Roder, and Lisa Froehlich from Holy Cross along with Jennifer Clay, Lori Padmore, Sarah Case and Jackie Dailey from Sacred Heart were accepted into the state LETRS program. They will be diving into the science of reading for the next 2 years.