Loyola Catholic School

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Loyola Catholic School is a private Roman Catholic school in Mankato, Minnesota. It serves students from preschool through 12th grade and is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester.

History: The first Catholic school in Mankato opened in 1865. Over the years, several Catholic elementary schools were started and later joined together. Loyola High School began in 1908, and Good Counsel Academy opened in 1912 for girls. In 1969, 7th and 8th grades joined Edmund Fitzgerald Middle School. Loyola High School moved to the Good Counsel Hill campus in 1982 after Good Counsel Academy closed. In 1990, all Catholic schools in the area formed one system, which became Loyola Catholic School in 2006. In 2017, the Fitzgerald Campus closed and all students moved to the Good Counsel Campus.

Campus and academics: The Good Counsel Campus on Good Counsel Hill includes both the elementary and high school. The hill is a local landmark on the east side of Mankato. The school has about 700 students and around 88 staff (as of 2018). Classes are small, with about 20 students per class. The curriculum includes four years of religion, math, and English; three years of social studies and science; and two years of foreign language (French and Spanish). There are four AP courses: Calculus, Biology, Government, and English, offering college credit. The high school competes in the Minnesota State High School League. Loyola also presents a fall musical each year.

Athletics and activities: Loyola offers many sports, often through partnerships with nearby schools. Sports include football, soccer, cross country, basketball, volleyball, track and field, baseball, hockey, swimming, tennis, wrestling, and more. The school has a history of success in athletics and academics, including Knowledge Bowl state championships in 2009, and state appearances in other years. Alumni have gone on to Division I college sports, and one graduate, Ben Brielmaier, played professional football.

School identity: The school colors are blue and gold, the mascot is the Crusader, and teams are called the Crusaders. Tuition is $5,475. Loyola Catholic School is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The school website is loyolacatholicschool.org.