Sacred Heart Catholic School is a college preparatory school and supports students’ dreams for their future. At the high school, college preparation begins in the seventh grade with resources for test prep, college finances, advanced placement (AP) and collegiate course offerings. Since the high school reopened in 2007, Sacred Heart graduates have earned scholarships and attended prestigious colleges and universities. The list includes, but is not limited to, Harvard, Sewanee, DUKE University, Berkeley University of California, University of North Carolina: Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, Wellesley College, Vanderbilt University, and all local, state private & public schools (see image below for additional institutions of higher learning).

Voted Best of the Pine Belt for five consecutive years, Sacred Heart Catholic School focuses on four key pillars of success: Academics, Fine Arts, Athletics and Faith-Based Education. Here are some highlights from the 2022-2023 academic year:

Academic Excellence Since 1900

• Sacred Heart consistently graduates National Merit Scholarship Recipients. Since 2007, the school has 19 scholarship award recipients and 11 finalists. This current academic year, Beau Hinton was named National Merit Finalist. 
• Reading ACT average of all students scored 3 points higher than the national average and 2 points higher than national college readiness benchmarks (2021). SHS scores are 5 points higher than MS averages (2020). Read more.
• Landon Le and Reese Sullivan placed in mathematics at the Mississippi Science and Mathematics Tournament in February 2023. Read more.
• Matthew Patrolia was accepted into the early entry veterinary school program at Mississippi State University.
• Beau Hinton recognized as Sacred Heart's Mississippi STAR Student. Beau scored a 35 on the ACT which placed him in the top 75 out of 280 STAR Students.
• Noah Brock was invited into the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program at The University of Mississippi. As a member of Cohort 11, Noah has a full scholarship for four years.
• Klaire Bennett, Ameze Ekunwe, and Maura McLaughlin graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic School and Pearl River Community College through the Middle College Program. 
• Sacred Heart also had three students join the 30+ Club this spring. Ethan Do, Olivia Graversen, and Isabella "Bella" Mauritz scored a 30 or higher on the ACT. Scoring a 30 or higher means you are in the 95th percentile across the nation for all students completing this standardized test.

Championship Titles

• State Champions in Mock Trial. 11th consecutive win and 14 state titles in the last 15 years.
• State Champions in Powerlifting. Maura McLaughlin (12^th) and Corley Duckworth (8^th) are state champions in their weight class.
• State Champions in Tennis.
• State Champions in Golf. 
• Back-To-Back South State Champions in Volleyball. 
• South State Champions in Boys Soccer.
• Elementary Athletic Wins
  • Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) 2nd Grade Flag Football team won the 2022 Championship Game.
  • CYO 2nd Grade Basketball Champions
  • CYO 4th Grade Flag Football team won a bowl game.

Excellence Outside of the Classroom

• Klaire Bennett has been accepted into the Disney College Program and will be fulfilling an internship, in Orlando, during Fall 2023.
• 9 high school student artists were chosen to display pieces at the Hattiesburg Cultural Arts Center in November. 
• Lela Knight recognized as the school winner for the Heisman High School Scholarship competition.
• Four student athletes sign letters of intent to play collegiate sports.
  • Soccer: Sophie Bell and Zach Rhynehardt, Read More.
  • Tennis: Clare Conliff, Read More.
  • Golf: Evie Sisk, Read More.
• Powerlifting: Girls Powerlifting are Regional Champions and runner up for South State. 
  • Maura McLaughlin, 1st place and set a south state record in squat bench and total.
  • Lela Knight, 1st place and tied a south state record with squat.
  • Corley Duckworth, 1st place and set a south state record in bench dead lift and total.
  • Marion Reese, 1st place and set a south state record in squat.
• Noah Brock was chosen as Student of the Week for Fox23.
• Andrew Grubbs has been selected to play in the Crossroads Diamond Club 1A/2A All Star game this summer. 
• Anne Kathryn Bullock, senior, will continue her talents as a Dixie Darling at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Other Outstanding SHS News

• Sacred Heart received the highest ranking in the Pine Belt in a recent article, “Best private high schools in Mississippi” (WJTV, 2023). Sacred Heart Catholic School was ranked eighth in Mississippi with an overall grade of A. This is the highest ranking for all private schools in the Pine Belt, and Sacred Heart is the only Pine Belt score with an A grade.
• Gracie Falla, Class of 2022, plays for the University of South Carolina Women's Soccer team where they defeated Alabama Crimson Tide to take the program’s third SEC Tournament Championship. Gracie was also named 2022 SEC All-Freshman Team. Read more.
• SHS is proud to have 15 graduates currently playing collegiate athletics during the 2022-2023 school year. Sports range from baseball, cheer, football, golf and tennis at community colleges and universities across the country.
• Ms. Garlinda Walls recognized as Sacred Heart's Mississippi STAR Teacher.
• The School of Child and Family Sciences at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) honors Lynette Villarreal as the Outstanding Child Development Student. Read More.