Merit Scholarships

Applicants for freshman admission can qualify for one of two types of merit scholarships based upon performance on the STS High School Placement Test.

Presidential Scholarship

A Presidential Scholarship will be awarded to any student who earns a composite score at the 98th or 99th percentile (national percentile) on the STS High School Placement Test taken during 8th grade or before that time (such as on an approved practice test). The Presidential Scholarship is an academic scholarship worth $16,000 over four years ($4,000 per year).

students in the hallway

Cathedral Scholarship

A Cathedral Scholarship will be awarded to any student who earns a composite score at the 95th, 96th or 97th percentile (national percentile) on the STS High School Placement Test taken during 8th grade or before that time (such as on an approved practice test). The Cathedral Scholarship is an academic scholarship worth $10,000 over four years ($2,500 per year).

Families of students earning a Presidential Scholarship or a Cathedral Scholarship who also qualify for need-based tuition assistance will receive priority status as long as they follow the tuition assistance guidelines. The Presidential Scholarship or Cathedral Scholarship amount will be in addition to any need-based tuition assistance for which a family qualifies for that school year through the tuition assistance application process.

What if my family doesn't need the scholarship?

Families that have no financial need for the monetary award may donate the full amount of the award back to the Cathedral Fund. Families choosing to do so would receive full recognition for their gift from the Advancement Office at Cathedral High School, and all gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

What happens after I become a Presidential or Cathedral scholar?

Students qualifying as Presidential Scholars or as Cathedral Scholars receive priority consideration for admission to Cathedral High School, provided they successfully complete all of the steps in the admissions process, and provided they are in good academic and social standing in their current school. In order to maintain a Presidential Scholarship or a Cathedral Scholarship at Cathedral, Presidential Scholars and Cathedral Scholars must meet the following criteria:

  • The student must study at the Honors level or higher (including Advanced Placement) in all courses taken that are offered at the Honors level. In the event that a course is offered at the AP level and not at the Honors level, but is a course required for graduation, that course must be taken at the AP level.
  • The student must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.50 on a weighted 4.0 scale (reviewed at the conclusion of each school year). Honors courses are weighted by 0.67, meaning that a grade of B in an Honors-level course would earn a 3.67 in the calculation of the student's GPA.
  • The student must demonstrate behavior consistent with the expectations of a Cathedral student.
  • This title and scholarship can be revoked with due cause at any time by the administration or upon the student leaving Cathedral High School for any reason.

Note: The amount of the monetary award is not retroactive to current Presidential Scholars or Cathedral Scholars. The award amount is determined for each entering freshman class and remains the same for all four years of attendance for students in that class.