St. Francis Catholic Secondary School

What St. Francis Catholic Secondary School does

St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, operating under the brand 'Saint Francis Phoenix,' is a public Catholic secondary school located at 541 Lake Street in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The institution is owned and operated by the Niagara Catholic District School Board, a publicly funded Catholic school board that governs Catholic schools across the Niagara region. The school serves students in Grades 9-12 and operates as part of a Family of Schools network that includes St. Ann, St. Denis, St. James, and St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Elementary Schools, supporting feeder enrollment. The academic portfolio spans Advanced Placement courses, eLearning credits, Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs across six sectors (Arts & Culture, Business, Construction, Health & Wellness, Information & Communications Technology, and Environment), Dual Credit college courses through Niagara College, Cooperative Education and OYAP apprenticeships, and Indigenous Education support. Support services include a Student Success Initiative (P3 after-school program, credit recovery, tutors in the classroom, Pope Francis Centre alternative programs), Student Services for post-secondary planning, and a Christian Community Service graduation requirement of 40 hours. The school demonstrates strong student outcomes, posting an 89.2% four-year graduation rate and 92.8% five-year graduation rate in 2023, exceeding the Ontario provincial average by more than 5 percentage points, and ranking within the top 10 of 60 Ontario English-language school boards for graduation rates.\n\nThe school operates as a publicly funded institution under a non-commercial revenue model. Domestic students are not charged tuition; funding flows from provincial government grants through the Niagara Catholic District School Board, parent contributions, and community fundraising activities (such as the Macgregors Meat & Seafood fundraiser with a $100 per student sales goal). The school facilitates pass-through transactions for post-secondary applications — OUAC university applications ($156 for 3 choices, $50 per additional selection) and OCAS college applications ($150 for 5 programs) — but these are administrative conveniences rather than revenue-generating activities. There is no proprietary technology development; the technology stack consists of standard educational platforms including the NCVLE (Niagara Catholic Virtual Learning Environment) student and staff portals, the SchoolMessenger communication platform, and the My Blueprint education planning system.\n\nThe institution's strategic relationships include a Core partnership with Niagara College for the Dual Credit School-College-Work Initiative (Connecting to College Program with attendance four afternoons weekly), governance and operational integration with the Niagara Catholic District School Board, and a faith partnership with the Diocese of St. Catharines supporting chaplaincy services and the Father Patrick Fogarty Award. Minor partnerships include performance venue collaborations with First Ontario Performing Arts Centre and athletic training connections with EDGE Sport / Thorold Elite Track Club. The school's athletics program is recognized regionally, with the Phoenix basketball team winning its 11th Standard High School Boys Basketball Tournament championship.

Name

St. Francis Catholic Secondary School

Legal name

Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School

Website

https://stfrancisphoenix.com

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

St. Francis Catholic Secondary School is a public Catholic secondary school in St. Catharines, Ontario, serving Grades 9-12 under the Niagara Catholic District School Board with faith-based OSSD preparation, AP courses, and post-secondary pathway programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

Keywords

• Catholic secondary education
• Advanced placement courses
• Specialist high skills major
• Dual credit programs
• Student support services

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Catharines

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

St. Francis Catholic Secondary School (Saint Francis Phoenix) is a publicly funded Catholic secondary school serving students in Grades 9-12 in St. Catharines, Ontario. It delivers the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) curriculum integrated with Catholic faith formation, offering academic, applied, and specialized pathway programs including Advanced Placement, eLearning, Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), Dual Credit through Niagara College, Co-operative Education, and OYAP apprenticeships. The school also provides student support services covering career guidance, special education, Indigenous education, credit recovery, and university/college application assistance.

Product overview

Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School offers a comprehensive Catholic education program with multiple academic pathways and support services. The school's portfolio includes credit programs (Advanced Placement, ELearning), specialized pathways (Specialist High Skills Major, Dual Credit, OYAP/Cooperative Education, Niagara Catholic Technology), and student support services (Student Services, Student Success Initiative, Christian Community Service). Programs are delivered through the Niagara Catholic District School Board and include faith-based education in Religion and Family Life, Special Education inclusion support, and Indigenous Education resources. The school serves grades 9-12 with a focus on preparing students for university, college, apprenticeship, or the workplace.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advanced Placement Program A program offering post-secondary level courses to high school students in Grades 9-12, providing the possibility of earning post-secondary credits recognized by universities in the US and Canada, including 24 universities in Ontario.
• eLearning Program Online learning program where students earn required eLearning credits for graduation, providing flexibility and additional course options in their timetable. eLearning graduation requirement starts in Grade 11.
• Indigenous Education Program Program supporting Indigenous students' unique learning needs with culturally relevant education, land-based learning opportunities, and support from Indigenous educators.
• Religion and Family Life Program Religious education program where students take one Religion credit in each year of high school, aligned with Catholic education values and theological themes.
• Special Education Program Inclusive special education program supporting students with learning and behavior challenges, developmental delays, medical conditions, and gifted learners.
• Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Sector-specific program allowing students to take courses connected to their interests, gain certifications, and participate in experiential learning and cooperative education placements. Sectors include Arts & Culture, Business, Construction, Health & Wellness, Information & Communications Technology, and Environment.
• Niagara Catholic Technology Programs Technology programs introducing students to different career pathways through university, college, apprenticeship, or direct-entry workforce options.
• Co-operative Education and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) Work-integrated learning program allowing students to earn credits through workplace placements. Students can earn 2-Credit Co-Op Package (220 Hours) or 4-Credit Co-Op Package (440 Hours).
• Dual Credit Programs Ministry-approved programs allowing eligible secondary students to take college courses or Level 1 apprenticeship training that count towards both their OSSD and post-secondary credentials. FREE participation including transportation, books, and materials; the Connecting to College Program has students attend Niagara College four afternoons weekly.
• Student Services Department supporting students in setting and pursuing education and career goals, providing course advice, post-secondary exploration, career exploration, and counseling services.
• Student Success Initiative Academic support programs including P3 after-school help program, Success program for credit-deficient students, Credit Recovery, Tutors in the Classroom, and Pope Francis Centre alternative programs.
• Christian Community Service Program Community service program requiring 40 hours for graduation, with students completing 10 hours per year during Religious Education classes in Grades 9-12.
• University/College Application Services Guidance and support for post-secondary applications through OUAC for universities ($156 for 3 choices, $50 per additional selection) and OCAS for colleges ($150 for 5 programs), including application deadlines and prerequisite information.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Niagara CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual Credit programs through the School-College-Work Initiative allow eligible students to take college courses or Level 1 apprenticeship training counting towards both OSSD and postsecondary credentials. The Connecting to College Program has students attend Niagara College four afternoons weekly earning dual credits. Niagara Catholic Technology programs and some SHSM dual credit programming are also delivered in partnership with Niagara College.
• Niagara Catholic District School BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent school board providing governance, resources, policies, and system-wide programs including NCVLE portals, Special Education support, Indigenous Education team, and Student Success Initiatives. The board operates centralized registration, transportation, and parent portal systems.
• Diocese of St. CatharinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith partnership supporting Catholic education mission, chaplaincy services, and religious education programs. The school participates in Diocese events and awards including the Father Patrick Fogarty Award.
• First Ontario Performing Arts CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformance venue partnership where student Molly Levay performed the lead role in My Mulan production during August 8-10 run at the St. Catharines venue.
• EDGE Sport / Thorold Elite Track ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAthletic training organizations where twin sisters Sophia and Katelyn Perri developed as runners, eventually earning NCAA Division 1 scholarships to University of New Orleans.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Denis Morris Catholic High School: Fellow Catholic secondary school within the Niagara Catholic District School Board, serving Grades 9-12 in St. Catharines. Directly comparable as a public Catholic secondary school competing for the same regional student pool and operating under the same board policies.
• Saint Paul Catholic High School: Catholic secondary school within the Niagara Catholic District School Board in St. Catharines. Directly comparable in mission, programming, and as a competing same-region secondary institution.
• Lakeshore Catholic High School: Catholic secondary school in the Niagara Catholic District School Board located in Port Colborne. Directly comparable as a same-board Catholic secondary school with similar academic and SHSM pathway offerings.
• Saint Michael Catholic High School: Catholic secondary school in the Niagara Catholic District School Board, located in Niagara Falls. Comparable as a same-board Catholic secondary school serving a similar Grades 9-12 demographic.
• Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School: Catholic secondary school in the Niagara Catholic District School Board based in Welland. Directly comparable as a same-board Catholic secondary school offering similar academic and extracurricular programs.
• Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School: Public Catholic secondary school within the Niagara Catholic District School Board, located in St. Catharines. Directly comparable in mission, governance structure, programming, and student demographic.
• Notre Dame College School: Catholic secondary school under the Niagara Catholic District School Board located in Welland. Directly comparable in faith-based mission, governance, and academic pathway offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Neil McNeil Catholic High School: Catholic secondary school in Toronto under the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Comparable as a publicly funded Ontario Catholic secondary school offering faith-based education and a wide range of academic pathways, though in a different board territory.
• St. Michael's College School: Prominent Catholic secondary school in Toronto operated independently by the Basilian Fathers. Comparable as a high-achieving Ontario Catholic secondary school delivering faith-based education, AP programming, and strong athletics, though independent rather than publicly funded.
• Loyola Catholic Secondary School: Catholic secondary school in Mississauga under the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Comparable as a large Ontario Catholic secondary school offering AP, SHSM, and broader pathway programs, though serving a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/stfphoenix
• Instagraminstagram.com/stfphoenix
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st.-francis-catholic-secondary-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Francis Catholic Secondary School