Where
mind explores and the spirit soars
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
ADMISSION APPROACH
WelcomeBishop Dunne is a Catholic coeducational college prep school, for students in grades 6-12, educating and forming students from across the greater DFW area. We attract a culturally diverse community of exceptional learners, focused on the formation of leadership skills and the development of the whole person.
The Bishop Dunne community embraces the highest ideals of a true Catholic education: spiritual growth, servant leadership, cultural understanding, personal integrity, and social responsibility. We welcome students of all faiths who seek an education enhanced with a commitment to serve others. Bishop Dunne nurtures the whole student, body and soul.
Bishop Dunne is a place of learning where technology meets tradition. As one of the first schools in Dallas to move to one-to-one technology, we are constantly pushing the envelope to stay on the cutting edge of new developments in technology, software and superb talent, for families who embrace the values and mission of Bishop Dunne.
MISSION
Bishop Dunne Catholic School empowers each student to explore, inquire, lead, and serve through a college preparatory education in a joyful community of faith.
PHILOSOPHY
We have created a value-based college preparatory curriculum that combines individualized academics with technology-driven instruction, extracurricular opportunities, and social responsibility, driving students to achieve in an inclusive, state-of-the-art learning environment.
VISION
Inspiring future leaders to innovate and serve by delivering the best Catholic education to the students of North Texas.
CORE VALUES
• Spiritual growth and faith development
• Academic excellence in an innovative and creative environment
• Formation in a positive and nurturing environment
• Commitment to fellowship, social justice, and community service
• Appreciation of individual uniqueness and value
• Commitment to social and civic responsibilities and global leadership
• Service to a multicultural diverse student base.
7-YEAR ADVANTAGE
Bishop Dunne is the only Catholic School in the area to teach grades 6–12, giving its students a head start we call, The 7-Year Advantage.
We think there is no substitute for starting college preparation at an early age, and giving students continuity and familiarity conducive to learning. It’s more than a theory; over the years, we’ve witnessed the results firsthand.
The majority of the top 10% of students have been with us since 6th or 7th grade. Our long-term students have successfully landed a broad array of scholarships, grants, and college acceptance letters.
Our challenging core curriculum utilizes the latest eBooks and digital content in order to form our students into world leaders of the future. At Bishop Dunne, students find a place where they can open their minds to a vast realm of ideas, while focusing on an intensive, rigorous education in the fields that hold the greatest interest to them. Our talented faculty excels in presenting curriculum in innovative and engaging ways.
In selecting new students, the Admission committee places great importance on the applicant's potential and eagerness to learn, indicated by standardized test scores, teacher recommendations, and past performance in prior schools. Specifically, we seek well-rounded students of good character and superb talent, whose families embrace the values and mission of our school.
COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
Bishop Dunne's competitive dual credit program is partnered with Dallas College, which allows high school students to enroll in college and earn high school and college credit simultaneously. Most dual credit classes are taken on our campus and taught by our accredited faculty, at no additional cost to the family.
Bishop Dunne is the only Catholic high school to offer a Collegiate Institute, where students work in a cohort, taking dual credit classes throughout their high school career, earning an Associates of Science degree along with their high school diploma upon graduation.
TEACHING EXCELLENCE
Bishop Dunne is accredited by the TCCB ED (Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department). Our school regularly undergoes a rigorous accreditation process to ensure our quality of education, development and leadership continues with excellence. Bishop Dunne teachers were recipients of TCCB ED’s highest award, Teacher of the Year, in 2021 and 2022.
The trend of excellence continues with several teachers recognized by the Catholic Foundation and the Diocese of Dallas as Educators of the Year. More than 46% of our faculty have earned advanced degrees, which allows dual credit classes to be taught on campus by our innovative and inspiring teachers.
A strong relationship with our Heavenly Father is at the core of a Bishop Dunne education. Students are encouraged to deepen their relationship with the Lord and His Church through daily devotionals, weekly Mass, service opportunities, annual retreats, and special prayer services.
Students are also asked to take on roles as spiritual leaders and are invited to special opportunities for encountering Catholicism around the world through the Peer Ministry program, annual mission trips, as well as pilgrimages.
ACADEMICS
Bishop Dunne students will graduate with a Distinguished Diploma with a Multidisciplinary Endorsement, which includes four years of English, math, social studies, science, and theology. Additional courses are required in fine arts, language , technology, and physical education/athletics.
Students in grades 6 through 10 choose a minimum of eight courses each semester from the major areas of study, and students in grade 11 choose a minimum of seven. Seniors may elect a minimum of six courses in order to have time to research colleges and complete the college application process.
Detailed course information for middle school and high school is available at bdcs.org/academics.
ATHLETICS
Girls and boys in both middle school and high school have many options for sports. Our high school Falcons compete in the TAPPS league (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) and middle school Falcons compete in DPL (Dallas Parochial League) sports.
Over the past decade, our athletic facilities have been renovated, and include individual weight rooms for girls and boys. Bishop Dunne continues to improve its facilities to ensure a balance of competitive excellence and personal safety.
Currently, Bishop Dunne offers archery, athletic training, baseball, basketball, cheer, cross country, E-sports, Falconettes (dance team), flag football (grades 6/7), football, futsal, golf, soccer, softball, swim, tennis, track and field, volleyball and wrestling. See bdcs.org/athletics for the most current listing of sports offered for both middle school and high school.
FINE ARTS
Whether you are visual or vocal, enjoy being behind the camera or in front of an audience, Bishop Dunne has a fine arts program for you. Creativity comes in all flavors, from drawing, painting and ceramics to photography, film making,and game and graphic design.
For those with a musical flair or a love of the stage, you’ll find band in all flavors - marching, drumline, Jazz band, and strings orchestra. Theater performance and production is also offered.
Our admission process is wholistic, designed to enable our team to get to know each applicant, and to determine their fit for admission at Bishop Dunne. We are looking for students who are mission-driven, with a desire to excel in academics and an openness to learning and growth. Each applicant will complete an admission file, which will include student essays, teacher recommendations, previous report cards, admission testing, and an applicant interview.
Important dates, the application link, arranging a campus visit and more detailed information regarding our admission process may be found on our website bdcs.org/admission.
PERSONALIZED FAMILY TUITION
Bishop Dunne strives to be accessible to all families, regardless of income. Tuition is personalized for each family. To determine your student’s tuition cost, you must complete a FACTS application. FACTS is the system used to calculate a family’s ability to fund their child’s education. Many factors are included in determining your family’s contribution, including household income and household expenses.
Your Personalized Family Tuition is your student’s tuition and fees, less any tuition assistance and/or scholarships awarded to your student. You will receive your Personalized Family Tuition with your enrollment contract. For more information regarding our Personalized Family Tuition program, please visit bdcs.org/admission or contact a member of our Admission team by calling 214 339 6561.
RAVENNA REGISTRATION
Ravenna is the hub for all things Bishop Dunne! Once your registration is complete we will be able to keep you up to date on all Falcon events. The Ravenna registration link is found at bdcs.org/admission.
CAMPUS TOURS AND FALCON FOR A DAY
Tours of the Bishop Dunne campus run year-around. The best way to enjoy the student experience at Bishop Dunne is to be a Falcon for a Day. Shadow a student through a full- or half-day of classes and activities to see firsthand what a day in the life of a Bishop Dunne student is like. Enjoy meeting students, attending classes and eating lunch with future classmates.