About Holy Family Catholic High School
Holy Family Catholic High School is a co-educational college-prep high school in the Catholic Lasallian tradition committed to helping young men and women realize their academic and spiritual potential. We educate students in grades nine through twelve, offering a rigorous academic program complemented by robust and diverse extracurricular opportunities.
Our faculty and staff are committed to developing caring, respectful, and confident leaders who are critical thinkers prepared to bear the torch of Christian values in everything they strive to do now and in the future. During each student’s four-year journey, Holy Family provides a nurturing environment in which every student is respected, loved, and treated as family. Start your journey today!
Holy Family is unique.
The environment of Holy Family Catholic High School provides a unique high school experience. Holy Family maintains small class sizes to ensure optimal learning opportunities that allow every student to shine based on his or her own gifts. The curriculum offers proven college preparation and rich spiritual development.
We are a Catholic high school. At the core of the Holy Family Catholic High School experience are Catholic Christian beliefs, values, and traditions.
We prepare students for college and for life. Our academic focus is college preparedness. Students are lifted to their greatest potentials in a climate that supports lifelong learning.
We develop Christian leaders with global perspectives. Our intentional development of leadership skills paired with local, national, and global service opportunities, develops moral and ethical leaders with the skills and experience needed to make their families, workplaces and communities better places.
Knowledge is illuminated by Faith.
Holy Family Catholic High School students celebrate their faith through daily studentled Convocation and end of day prayer. Our school chaplain offers daily Mass in our Sacred Heart Chapel, weekly Reconciliation, and monthly All-School Mass. Together we live the Word of God through relationships and service to others inside and outside of our school community.
We uphold the Lasallian philosophy of education to know students by name and to challenge and nurture them according to their individual strengths and needs. We focus intentionally on a daily school culture—the Fire Way—that encourages students:
1. To grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally
2. To seek God
3. To act kindly and love one another
4. To do the right thing
5. To recognize and share their gifts
6. To become a part of the Holy Family Community
We ensure student success.
At Holy Family, all students are challenged and supported to reach their fullest academic potential. With a range of Honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual College Credit courses, we prepare each student for their next steps—whether that’s college, vocational training, or entering the workforce. Our licensed faculty and highly-skilled learning specialists ensure students receive the help they need to succeed and grow academically. Built-in daily, weekly, and quarterly student assistance time ensures no student falls through the cracks.
OUR FOUR-YEAR PLAN
“I think it really comes down to the support and the relationship-driven education that students receive at Holy Family – where students are known. It’s not just about the academics; it’s about developing the whole student. It’s about cultivating relationships with students that last long after they graduate.”
Mr. John Dols, Principal
As a college preparatory school, Holy Family Catholic High School takes great pride in its highly successful, personalized approach to guiding students and families through the college process. Our school counseling team works 1:1 with students and families to ensure that the journey is a comfortable one and that students learn as much about themselves as they do about potential colleges. Ninety-nine percent of our students attend college and feedback from alumni reveals high levels of preparation and confidence not only for post-secondary academic rigor, but also for the transition to college life.
Grade 9
Interest Inventory & College Discovery
Grade 9 students start on their path to college early in the year in partnership with the counseling department. Counselors schedule one-to-one sessions with each ninth-grade student to start developing a four-year plan.
Grade 11
Interest Engagement & College Discovery
Grade 11 students and parents work closely with our counselors to narrow potential college choices and ensure course selections meet the specific and sometimes unique demands of colleges. Counselors distribute a helpful college exploration guide to parents and students during College Information Night.
Grade 10 Portfolio & Resume Building
Grade 10 students connect their personal profile attributes and interests with potential college options and with the help of their school counselor add to their individualized portfolios and resumes for future applications.
Grade 12
College Selection & Scholarship Application
Our soon-to-be graduates are prepared for the application and selection process after building solid portfolios and resumes customized to their preferred school choices. Our school counselors work diligently to guide them through the college and scholarship application processes.
“We chose Holy Family because we wanted a smaller school where our kids were challenged while preparing for their futures. Holy Family exceeded our expectations by providing a great academic experience with a personal investment from faculty. Our children were extremely well prepared for challenging college courses. We are delighted with our selection of Holy Family.”
Greg and Kristan Waltz, parents of Natalie ‘16, Andrew ‘19
COLLEGE PREPARATION AND COLLEGE CREDIT
Dual and advanced college credit programs offer high school students the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school, providing several advantages. These programs allow students to challenge themselves academically, potentially reducing the time and cost of completing a college degree.
By experiencing college-level coursework early, students can gain a better understanding of college expectations, improving their readiness for higher education. Additionally, earning college credits in high school can create flexibility in future college schedules, allowing students to explore more electives or pursue internships.
DUAL COLLEGE CREDIT
Holy Family Catholic High School offers the Program for Advanced College Credit (PACC) through St. Mary’s University. The PACC program is a collaborative effort between St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and Holy Family Catholic High School. It allows motivated students to earn college credits while still attending high school.
Students enrolled in any of the following courses may participate in the PACC program:
• Advanced Placement Calculus AB
• Advanced Placement Calculus BC
• Advanced Placement Statistics
• Advanced Placement Chemistry
• Advanced Placement Government
• Advanced Placement English
• Latin 1
• Latin 2
• Latin 3 & 4
• Economics
• Modern Literature
• Honors American Literature
• College Writing
• Speech
HONORS AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
Students may select honors and Advanced Placement® courses across the curriculum including English, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, World Languages, and Computer Science.
AP & HONOR COURSES
Discover the world through May Term.
At Holy Family, we believe learning doesn’t stop when spring weather hits! Rather, we make learning engaging up until the very last school bell of the year through our innovative May Term program. Designed to provide unique and enriching learning experiences for Holy Family students, this distinctively non-traditional approach to the end of the school year harnesses the potential of the final weeks of classes. It promotes a school environment of excitement, engagement, and inquiry as students pursue studies in areas outside the scope of the four-quarter curriculum.
From practical life skills to career exploration and leadership development to international travel, May Term courses provide hands-on learning opportunities that provide the perfect exclamation point to the end of the school year. Students have the opportunity to apply for internships within our broad community network and all students who schedules allow can take part in one of our teacher-led global travel experiences.
“May Term allows teachers to share knowledge outside of their typical academic area. It helps us get to know even more students and energizes the entire school at a time of year when it would be easier to fade into summer. Learning should be fun and it shouldn’t stop before the year ends.”
Mr. Will Theobold, Social Studies teacher
Our business program seamlessly integrates courses from other departments, such as Economics & Personal Finance, Computer Applications, Innovation Lab, and World Languages, to provide a comprehensive knowledge base that hones business acumen and offers valuable real-world experiences.
Holy Family graduates attend the nation’s finest business schools and are prepared for college-level coursework with a deep understanding of business, a professional mindset, and self-motivation. They hit the ground running and quickly access a world of internships and leadership opportunities because they arrive ahead of the pack.
As a semester final, students enrolled in our Business & Marketing course compete in Holy Family Shark Tank. Teams are given feedback from industry and business professionals within Holy Family’s vast community network.
Students may also join Holy Family’s DECA chapter, an organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.
“When Holy Family names itself a college preparatory school, they are proclaiming an incomplete truth. Holy Family is a LIFE preparatory school, teaching us that college is just one step of the journey.”
Joseph Richelsen ‘21, The University of Notre Dame, Business Analytics
Learning goes beyond the classroom.
There is education in teamwork. There is education in experiencing the effort and personal commitment required to produce successful athletic outcomes. There is confidence-building in the arts, whether it is drama, music, or the visual arts. That is why arts and athletics programs are an integral part of our mission and the Holy Family student experience.
For most students, the day continues well past the last bell and into one of our 60+ extracurricular activities. We offer athletic programs, performance opportunities, competitive academic teams, and a variety of clubs.
CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
Art Club
Bible Study
Book Club
Boys Volleyball
Campus Ministry
Competitive Robotics
DECA
Environmental Club
Esports
Fencing
Fire for Life Club
Fishing Club
Honor Society
International Club
Jazz Band
Knowledge Bowl
Lasallian Youth
Literary Club
Liturgical Choir
Math League
Mock Trial
Model Assembly
Pep Band
Quiz Bowl
Student Ambassadors
Student Council
Theater
Voices of Fire
Vocal Ensemble
World Language Clubs
Writing Club
Yearbook/Newspaper
Youth in Government
Dont’ see one...start one!
ATHLETICS
Alpine Skiing (Boys and Girls)
Baseball (Boys)
Basketball (Boys and Girls)
Cheer Team
Cross Country Running (Boys and Girls)
Dance (Girls)
Football (Boys)
Golf (Boys and Girls)
Hockey (Boys and Girls)
Lacrosse (Boys and Girls)
Nordic Skiing (Boys and Girls)
Soccer (Boys and Girls)
Softball (Girls)
Swimming & Diving (Boys and Girls)
Tennis (Boys and Girls)
Track and Field (Boys and Girls)
Trap (Co-Ed)
Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
60+ ACTIVITIES
Students participating in at least one extracurricular
Students participating in multiple extracurricular activities at HFCHS
10 State Team Championships, 14 State Individual Championships, 2 trips to the World Robotics Championships, and more than 70 conference titles since 2000.
Since opening in 2000, Holy Family Catholic High School has educated and nurtured more than 2,400 young Christian leaders who were highly prepared for their next steps in life. The numbers demonstrate considerable academic strength among graduating seniors, most of whom pursued four-year degrees.
HFCHS Class of 2024
100% Graduation and College Acceptance Rate
95% Four-Year College
2% Two-Year College
3% Pre-College Athletic Opportunity
A complete list of colleges and universities our alumni are attending can be found at www.hfchs.org/follow-graduates
Outstanding Student-to-Counselor Ratio
Our counseling team works with students individually and in small groups. Our school counselor-to-student ratio is 1:133, compared to the Minnesota average of 1:533.*
HOLY FAMILY Counselor-to- Student
RATIO
*Source: Minnesota Department of Education
“Chasing my career ambition, sculpting my identity in undergrad, and struggling as an underdog in grad school sometimes pushed me to my limits. Throughout these challenges, I have persisted thanks to the strong values and work ethic I learned at Holy Family. My experiences at Holy Family have undoubtedly given me the courage to make mistakes and the resilience to keep trying new experiences.”
Shruti Iyer ‘10, University of Minnesota, Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, with a minor in Computer Science, Master of Science in Medical Device Innovation, currently employed as a Principal Innovation Architect at Oracle
2024 ACT SCORES
Holy Family Catholic High School students consistently outpace both Minnesota and National averages on the ACT, a critical component in college scholarship awards.
530 2024-25 total student enrollment
9 full-time International students
71
Number of colleges attended by the Class of 2024
Average College Scholarships Earned by HFCHS Graduating Classes
Holy Family Catholic High School graduating classes average more than $13.2 million in college merit scholarship offers each year.
The 117 HFCHS Class of 2024 graduates earned a total of
$16,230,000 in college scholarships and accepted $5.3 million.
“Preparing students for the future requires giving them the tools to be lifelong learners and the moral compasses to navigate a complex world.”
Dr. Melissa Livermore, Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs
12 to 1
Student-to-Staff ratio (average class size is 21) 18
Number of AP Courses offered 82% HFCHS teachers holding advanced degrees
2024 AP® Roster
AP Scholars1 - 19 AP Scholars with Honor2 - 12 AP Scholars with Distinction3 - 13
1 Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.
2 Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
3 Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.
Holy Family At a Glance
WHY
HOLY FAMILY?
Holy Family Catholic High School is committed to providing an exceptional educational experience for all. We encourage our students to grow as individuals in a welcoming and inspiring community.
Our comprehensive college preparatory curriculum and extensive extracurricular activities are designed to help each of our students cultivate their faith while achieving academic and personal excellence.
WHERE IS HOLY FAMILY?
We are located in the southwest Minneapolis suburb of Victoria, Minnesota, one mile south of Highway 5. Students residing in District 112 receive morning and afternoon bus transportation provided by Eastern Carver County School District.
Holy Family Catholic High School offers morning and afternoon bus routes determined by the residences of our students. We currently bus to and from Shakopee, Prior Lake/Savage, Edina, St. Louis Park, Minnetonka, Deephaven, Minnetrista, Waconia, and Eden Prairie as well as District 112.
Our families and students also commute together with neighborhood carpools arranged through friends, common clubs or teams, and the use of the family directory. Every student driver is guaranteed a parking spot.
WHO ATTENDS HOLY FAMILY?
We serve students in grades 9 through 12 who are particularly motivated by academic achievement, athletic opportunities, the arts, and spiritual growth.
Our students come from more than 35-40 middle schools from all over the Twin Cities, but primarily the west metro. We welcome students of all faiths.
ACCREDITATION AND MEMBERSHIPS
Cognia Accreditation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts rigorous, on-site reviews of a variety of educational institutions and systems to ensure that all learners realize their full potential.
National Catholic Educational Association is the largest, private professional education association in the world. They work with Catholic educators to support ongoing faith formation and the teaching mission of the Catholic Church.
Lumen Accreditation (in process) recognizes teaching practices, student engagement, school culture, and the full integration of Catholic teachings and values throughout the school community.
Minndependent connects and strengthens Minnesota’s private and independent schools through programming, partnerships and public policy so members can be student-centered and mission-driven.
National and Minnesota Associations of College Admission Counseling is an organization of nearly 16,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing post-secondary education.
HOW IS THE FOOD AT HOLY FAMILY?
Delicious and different every day! Similar to a college campus, Holy Family’s in-house food program, Fire Food Services, offers multiple locations and stations throughout the building to meet the variety of student preferences and needs. Our food is made fresh daily by our own executive chefs.
Here’s the menu of great-tasting food from Fire Food Services:
• The Bistro is a full-fledged coffee shop located near the academic wings, serving hot and coldpressed coffees, smoothies, protein shakes, and breakfast sandwiches. This cup of joe is half the price of a Starbucks drink and is open from 7:15 a.m. until the first-period bell. During lunch, the Bistro offices grab-and-go sandwiches and salads.
• The Nook, located in our commons area, serves build-your-own stations (burgers, loaded macaroni and cheese, pasta, burrito bowls, baked potatoes with all the toppings, waffle and pancakes with syrups, fruit toppings, and homemade whip cream).
• The Cafeteria serves a chef’s entree of the day, classic pizzas, sushi, sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, made-from-scratch soups, and a fully-loaded fresh salad and fruit bar.
• Salad Bar - Filled with healthy greens and high-quality veggies to build your own individualized salad topped with seeds, nuts, and your choice of dressings.
“With careful planning, smart use of fresh, tasty ingredients, and competitive sourcing, you can expect great food at fair prices. Our students enjoy nutritious and delicious food before they head off to classes, practices, or competitions. Great dining experiences help build community, and I am excited to cook for this special family.”
Chef Al Carlson,
Director of Fire Food Services
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
TUITION AND FEES (2025-2026)
Student Tuition
International Student Fee
Activity Fee
Total
Not included in tuition and fees:
$17,800
$1,395
$800
$19,995
• Family Stay stipend ($8,000 approximately)
• School uniform
• Daily lunches
• School supplies
• Health /Accident/ Property Insurance Coverage (required)
• State of Minnesota Immunization Charges if applicable (required)
• Minnesota State High School League Physical Exam Charges (required if participating in a sport)
ENROLLMENT PROCESS
The process for students not using a cooperating agency are as follows:
1. Complete the international student on-line application
The required enrollment application is completed on-line.
2. Application review
We will review your application and contact you for more information. A Skype interview will be scheduled to continue with the admission process.
3. Final steps
If your student is accepted into Holy Family Catholic High School, we will contact you to process the documentation and payments necessary for issuance of the I-20, and to select academic classes for the school year.
BEFORE ARRIVAL
International students may experience great anxiety before their arrival. A lot of things will be new in their lives: new school, host family, friends, sports, etc. Our International Student Office is here to minimize the impact that these changes may produce in these young adults’ lives. We will guide our international students through their adaptation process.
We are committed to providing the following information before arrival or soon after:
• Host Family Information
• Course Description Book
• Course Registration
• School Email (yourname@hfchs.org)
• Registration to our school’s Web-based Learning Management System (Schoology)
• Registration to our school’s Web-based School Administration System (Blackbaud). Both the natural parents and host family can have full access to the student’s assignments, grades and school communication emails.
• Bring Your Own Device Orientation (laptop or tablet)
• Registration to our school’s Web-based Athletics and Lunch Management Systems
• Sports Registration, Mandatory MN High School League Sports Physical, Concussion Testing
• Virtual Tour of Holy Family before arrival.
“I go back to when there was only a month left before my flight to Minnesota. I had been preparing for this experience for the past 5 years , I wanted a change, a new experience. I was looking forward to meeting new people. After receiving my Acceptance Letter to Holy Family, I couldn’t believe my dream was coming true.” Adriana, Spain
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR
International Students, host families and teachers need a lot of support throughout the year. The International Student Office provides the services to the members of our school community, including our international students, host families, and faculty and staff.
International Students:
• Academic Support including a weekly review of grades.
• Modified learning strategies and testing if needed, mentoring and peer assistance.
• Assigned School Counselor.
• Frequent communication with our faculty members, natural parents, host families and agencies.
• Fun activities, trips, college visits.
• Support finding and registering to play club sports outside of Holy Family.
Teachers and School Staff:
• Training before and throughout the school year.
• Support when an international student is struggling in a particular area.
• Professional Development in areas that would help our international students such as ESL.
• Guidance to our teachers on how to include our international students in their curriculums in order to enrich lessons, discussion and interactions.
• Support to our teachers in motivating our international students to participate in sports and extracurricular activities.
Host Families:
• Orientations to create healthy and welcoming environments such as expectations, patience, friendships and an atmosphere of understanding, respect and learning.
• Weekly communication with our host families to ensure that students and host families are having a wonderful experience.
• Support to make sure they know how to help our international students with homesickness, academic issues, program rules, communication, social interactions and more.
• Direct lines of communication to address issues or misunderstandings.
• Monthly reports to the agencies and natural families.
Students accepted into Holy Family Catholic High School’s International Student Program receive automatic consideration automatic consideration for acceptance to the College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John’s University (SJU) with a 3.0 GPA or above along with evidence of English proficiency or at least two years at Holy Family Catholic High School.
Meet our International Student Director
Jorge Oconitrillo brings a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience in international travel and education to his role as our International Program Coordinator. Mr. Oconitrillo once walked in the footsteps of those students whom we welcome from abroad, when he attended Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN, and Concordia College in Moorhead, MN on an international student visa. At Concordia College, he served as an instructor in addition to responspbilities preparing and advising students planning to study abroad. He is a frequent international traveler, individually and with high school and college students. In addition to his roles at Holy Family Catholic High School, Mr. Oconitrillo is also an independent travel consultant for high school and college groups traveling to Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, and Spain.
Contact Mr. Oconitrillo by email at internationalcoordinator@hfchs.org.
www.facebook/hfchs
www.twitter/holyfamilyfire
www.instagram/holyfamilyfire