School System Fast Facts
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:1,565
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
ACT: 22.2 for the 2020-21 School year. (22% of 2020 Seniors Scored 30 or higher on ACT)
Faith: Enrollment of Catholic and other faiths
Diversity: 25% Minorities
Alumni:14,000-plus
Our Schools Grade Levels:
Bishop Heelan High School, Grades 9-12
Holy Cross School, Grades PK-8
Mater Dei PK,TK-8
Sacred Heart School, PK-8
Cathedral Dual Language Academy PK-1
Preschools: 5, including a 3 year old Preschool
2023 Successes
• 92% going onto college, 72% to four year colleges and universities
• Forty-five students graduated with a 3.75 GPA or above and were enrolled in an honors course
• Sixty students received Silver Cord community service honors
• $9 million in scholarship awards offered to graduates
• Graduates attending domestic and international colleges and universities
• Seven students scored a 30 or higher on ACT
• BHCS had 12 seniors who earned the Iowa Seal of Biliteracy this year.
• Girls basketball and boys basketball return to state, make semifinals
• Four wrestlers qualified for the state meet. Ethan DeLeon '23 earned runner-up honors for the second straight season.
• Britton Patee '25 qualified for the state swim meet.
• The school's top show choir group, Harmonia Mundi, made it the finals in every competition they entered this year winning many awards. Delaney Andreasen '24 won three best solo awards.
• Holy Cross Quiz Bowl teams placed second and third at state.
• Eight BHCS students were recognized by Siouxland Catholic Radio at the 2nd Annual Juried Youth Art Festival.
• There were 19 high school student-athletes who competed at the state track and field meet. Sean Schaefer '24 placed 2nd in the long jump, while Jaron Bleeker '24 got 3rd in the high jump.
• The boys and girls soccer teams each made it to the state tournament. The Crusader boys made it to the semifinal round, while the girls won the second state championship in program history.
Accreditations and Memberships
• Diocese of Sioux City
• North Central Accreditation
• Iowa Department of Education
• National Catholic Education Association
• Iowa High School Athletic Association
• Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union
• Iowa High School Music Association
• Iowa High School Speech Association