Please use these links below to find information about our local Catholic High Schools.
St. Mary's High School (Lancaster):
Mount St. Mary:
Our annual Open House is set for Saturday, October 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Monday, October 5 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. This event is a wonderful opportunity for students and their parents to experience the academic, spiritual, and co-curricular programs at our school. Interested families can register on our Open House page located under the Admissions tab, on our website.
October is also a great time for eighth graders to shadow our current students We will be hosting shadow days, as we always have, and dates are already filling up for October - November. Please have a teacher/administrator contact us from your school, or parents may reach out individually, if that's what you prefer.
The Placement Exam for eighth graders is scheduled for Saturday, November 21 at 8:30 a.m. Students must complete an online application for admission, and those students who choose Mount St. Mary Academy as their first-choice will then take the test at our school.
Cardinal O'Hara High School:
O'Hara's Open House will be Thursday, October 1st from 4-6pm and Saturday, October 3rd from 9-11am. 5th-8th grade families can register and schedule their tour by going here: Fall 2026 Cardinal O'Hara Open House
Our Entrance Exam Prep Course for 8th graders will be Tuesday, October 20, October 27, November 3, and November 10 from 5:30-7:30pm. The course is $100 and includes a review book and the Entrance Exam fee. To register for the Prep Course, click here: COHS Entrance Exam Prep Course
For shadows this year, call Mr. Wilkie (716-695-2600 ext. 357) to schedule a day as well.
Apply to Cardinal O'Hara today
Canisius High School:
Families are invited to learn more about Canisius and can sign up to visit at canisiushigh.org/visit.
For Boys in Grades 5-8: Fall Open House - Sunday, October 18th or Monday, October 19th - Explore our state-of-the-art campus and learn what makes a Jesuit education unique while engaging with students, teachers, and coaches!
You can view our Open House flyer at the bottom of this message and at the link below:
For Boys in Grade 8: Crusader for the Day - Spend a 'day in the life' of a Canisius student and see what makes our school community special. Appointments span the entire fall and are officially OPEN!
Scholarship & Placement Exam Prep Course - Put your best foot forward on the exam by participating in our three-session prep course - Saturdays October 31st, November 7th & 14th.
Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart:
Sacred Heart Academy’s Open House, for prospective families in 6th, 7th and 8th grades, is Thursday, October 1 from 5:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. I’ve included a flyer to post in your building, copy for a mailing or attach in an email. Reservations are not required but strongly encouraged.
All 8th grade girls are encouraged to shadow at SHA. Please call me at your earliest convenience to reserve a Shadow Day for your school. Shadow days begin Monday, September 21. If you are coordinating the day on behalf of your students, please submit a list with names and parent email addresses so we can send out an interest form as well as specific details for the day and email me at admissions@sacredheartacademy.org. If you are asking parents to schedule on their own, please refer them to the sign up that can be found here. Please note: We cannot accommodate students on September 25-30, October 1-5, 9, 12-14, 27 and November 11, 20.
SHA will once again offer an Entrance Examination Prep Coursefor 8th grade girls. The course runs on three consecutive Saturdays from 9 am to 12 noon: October 31, November 7 and 14. The cost is $75. The Entrance Exam test fee ($25) will be waived for students who take the Prep Course and the Entrance Exam at SHA.
The Catholic High School Entrance Examination is Saturday, November 21. The application can be found here. Sacred Heart requires one letter of recommendation for all applicants. All first-choice applicants can apply for scholarships and financial aid.
Families can learn more about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at an IB Informational Evening on Tuesday, October 20 from 6:30-8 p.m. Sacred Heart is the only private school in the Buffalo area to offer this unique and engaging curriculum. Families can register here.
St Joseph's Collegiate Institute:
MARAUDER FOR A DAY (Shadow Day) for prospective students in grade 8
Begins Monday, September 21
Marauder for a Day allows prospective 9th grade students in fall 2027 the opportunity to become a St. Joe's student for the day! A current freshman will act as your son's guide as he experiences our Community of Excellence. Each Marauder for a Day is paired with a current freshman, attends all classes, enjoys a complimentary meal in our Dining Room, and ends the day with light refreshments. St. Joe's is limiting the Marauder for a Day Program to twelve (12) prospective students per day. We will also be offering the opportunity for parents to tour campus with one of our Admissions Team staff at the time of your son's drop off or pick up on the day of his MFAD visit.
FALL OPEN HOUSE 2026 for all prospective families
Sunday, October 18 & Monday, October 19
All prospective students and their families are invited to Open House for private tours of our modern campus. Your tour will include our entire campus with opportunities to interact with our teachers, staff, coaches, and students. This is a pre-registration event only with limited attendance and appointment slots. Select an arrival time when registering and plan to arrive on campus during that 15 minute time slot. Once on campus, please estimate your tour lasting approximately 1.5 hours.
PRIVATE CAMPUS TOURS for all prospective families
Private tours are available throughout the year. Parents may schedule a tour by calling the Admissions Center at 716.874.4953 or by visiting the following link:
Schedule a Private Campus Tour
Private tours are available throughout the year. Parents may schedule a tour by calling the Admissions Center at 716.874.4953 or by visiting the following link:
Schedule a Private Campus Tour
STEM Night for all prospective families
Thursday, November 5, 2026
This program allows prospective families the opportunity to experience our STEM offerings during an evening in a small group setting. The session includes remarks from our President, Christopher Fulco, Ed.D., and Principal, Mr. James Spillman '95, along with a tour of campus including opportunities to interact with current students and teachers. This event will feature hands-on activities and experiences related to St. Joe's STEM offerings ranging from Science Olympiad, Robotics, Engineering, and much more!
Register for STEM Night 2026
ENTRANCE EXAM PREP COURSE for prospective students in grades 7 & 8
This program allows prospective families the opportunity to experience our STEM offerings during an evening in a small group setting. The session includes remarks from our President, Christopher Fulco, Ed.D., and Principal, Mr. James Spillman '95, along with a tour of campus including opportunities to interact with current students and teachers. This event will feature hands-on activities and experiences related to St. Joe's STEM offerings ranging from Science Olympiad, Robotics, Engineering, and much more!
Register for STEM Night 2026
ENTRANCE EXAM PREP COURSE for prospective students in grades 7 & 8
The St. Joe's Entrance Exam Prep Course is open to 7th and 8th grade boys planning to apply to Catholic High Schools. Held at St. Joe's on Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., the 2026 Prep Course will take place on the four weekends leading up to the Entrance Exam: 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14. The cost is $100 and includes a review book.
To register for the Prep Course, click the following link:
ENTRANCE & SCHOLARSHIP EXAM for prospective students in grade 8
Saturday, November 21, 2026
All prospective members of the Class of 2031 must take the Catholic High School Entrance & Scholarship Exam on Saturday, November 21, 2026. Parents that have any questions regarding the exam may contact me directly at 716.874.4953 or pkennedy@sjci.com.
As in past years, a completed Application for Admission serves as registration for the exam.
SEM - Buffalo Seminary:
Excellence is our goal - academically, spiritually, athletically and socially.