Catholic High School of Baltimore in Baltimore: All-Boys Jesuit Education with a 160-Year History

Catholic High School of Baltimore is a private, all-boys Jesuit secondary school serving grades 9-12 in the Medfield neighborhood, roughly four miles north of downtown. Founded in 1861, it remains one of the oldest continuously operated high schools in Maryland and the only all-boys Catholic secondary school in the city.

What Catholic High School of Baltimore actually is

The school operates under the Jesuit educational tradition, which emphasizes academic rigor, moral formation, and service. Enrollment sits around 650 students, making it smaller than Baltimore's largest public high schools but comparable in scale to other independent schools in the region. The campus occupies a 32-acre site with classroom buildings, a chapel, athletic facilities, and a library. As a Jesuit institution, the school is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools and maintains affiliation with the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Admissions, tuition, and financial aid

Tuition for the 2024-25 school year is $16,450 annually, with additional fees bringing the total cost closer to $17,500 depending on course selection and activities. The school processes applications on a rolling basis starting in October, with most admission decisions made by March. Prospective students take the Catholic High School Entrance Exam (typically administered in November) and attend an on-campus interview. Families are encouraged to apply by January for the strongest consideration.

Financial aid is available; the school reports that approximately 40 percent of students receive some form of assistance. The aid office reviews FAFSA data and the school's own financial form. Unlike some private schools, Catholic High does not guarantee to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need, so families should confirm award amounts during the application process.

How it compares to other Baltimore private high schools

Calvert Hall College High School, also Jesuit and all-boys, is located in Towson and charges similar tuition ($16,700 for 2024-25). Both schools follow the Jesuit curriculum framework and draw students citywide. Calvert Hall's campus is newer and larger; Catholic High's location is more accessible via public transit (Medfield is closer to downtown and bus routes). Cathedral High School, an all-girls Catholic school in Roland Park, operates independently and charges roughly the same tuition. For non-Catholic families seeking college-prep education, Friends School of Baltimore (coeducational, Quaker affiliation) charges $18,800 and has a larger national reputation but draws fewer local applicants than the Jesuit schools.

Catholic High suits families prioritizing Jesuit pedagogy, single-sex education, and strong connections to the Catholic faith. It does not suit students seeking a coeducational environment, those without interest in a religious community, or families unable to manage tuition costs even with financial aid.

Academic programs and extracurriculars

The school offers a traditional college-prep curriculum with required theology courses each year. Advanced Placement courses are available in core subjects; the school does not operate an International Baccalaureate program. Electives include business, technology, and arts. All students complete a senior capstone project focused on service and leadership.

Athletics are central to school life. Catholic High competes in the Interscholastic Athletic Association (IAAM) and offers varsity teams in football, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, cross-country, track, swimming, wrestling, and volleyball. Club organizations include debate, robotics, student government, and a peer ministry program tied to the school's service mission.

The admissions process and first visit

Prospective families typically begin in the fall of eighth grade. The school hosts two open house events in the fall (dates posted on the website each August). Students interested in applying register for the CHSEE, a standardized entrance exam administered by the school on a single Saturday in November. Results arrive within three weeks. Families then complete an application form and schedule an on-campus interview, usually conducted in December or January. Admission decisions are mailed by mid-March; accepted students attend a spring admitted-student program.

Location, parking, and logistics

Catholic High School is located at 5800 Harford Road in the Medfield neighborhood. The campus sits along a major north-south corridor with bus access via the MTA Route 3. Parking is available on campus for visitors and commuting students, though the school encourages juniors and seniors to use public transportation when possible. The school day runs from 8:00 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Monday through Friday. Before- and after-school programs are available, including tutoring and athletic practice facilities.

The school serves students from across Baltimore County and the city; about 60 percent of students commute from outside Baltimore proper, making the Harford Road location accessible but not walkable from most residential neighborhoods in the city limits.

Catholic High School of Baltimore's 160-year tenure and Jesuit identity have made it a consistent choice for families seeking faith-based, single-sex secondary education in the city, though its tuition and entrance exam place it beyond reach for many Baltimore households without substantial aid.