Achieve, Lead, Soar
At Holy Family Catholic Schools, it is our mission to form disciples of Jesus Christ through Catholic educational excellence.
Holy Family Catholic Schools is an early childhood through 12th-grade Catholic education system rooted in faith, academic excellence and a deep commitment to knowing and supporting every student.
We serve families across Dubuque and the tri-state area through three elementary schools, Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School and Wahlert Catholic High School, plus two full-service early childhood centers. That systemwide strength means your child benefits from consistent expectations, shared supports and a clear pathway from early learning to graduation.
"Future Proof" Your Child with Holy Family
As a Leader in Me school system, Holy Family uses an evidence-based PK-12 model to develop the whole child, build leadership and resilience, strengthen a high-trust culture and drive results in academics..
Ninety-four percent of Wahlert Catholic High School graduates continue on to post-secondary education.
Wahlert Catholic High School has a 100 percent graduation rate.
Wahlert Catholic ranks as a top ten high school on the Iowa AP Index.
What makes Holy Family special?
"My time at Wahlert has surely impacted my faith journey."
“My time at Wahlert has surely impacted my faith journey. My freshman year, I was a person who checks all the boxes of being a Catholic, but doesn’t do anything to apply it to their life. Being open to your faith is the key to helping it grow, and Sr. Kay and Mrs. Carlson have been central to that growth. They are welcoming faces, and make you feel like you belong here. “I have been a part of Bible Study since I walked into Wahlert. I initially went because one of the leaders at the time was a teacher that I enjoyed having. Now, I go because it is a necessity in my faith life. I also take part in Campus Ministry at Wahlert. I find that planning Mass makes me pay attention more, and even makes me more passionate about my faith. Coming to any of these events can be scary at first, but that inclination to go is a sign to take part. “I have also participated in Kairos as a retreatant and a leader, and I have seen many people come back and enflamed with love and passion for the faith. I long to grow closer to Christ, and the opportunity to grow closer to Him is practically laid in front of me; I would be crazy not to take it! I have gone from being a lukewarm Catholic to devoting myself to Christ.”
Joe Noel
Class of 2026
"There’s no place I’d rather be."
“I never imagined being back in Dubuque, let alone at Holy Family, but there’s no place I’d rather be. After graduating from Wahlert, I studied international relations and music, then spent a year in Italy teaching English as a second language. "When I returned home, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as a long-term substitute music teacher at St. Columbkille. It was my first time back in a Holy Family elementary school since I was a student and it only deepened my respect for Holy Family’s mission. "Now I’m the full-time music teacher at St. Columbkille and an assistant show choir director at Wahlert. "As a Mazzuchelli and Wahlert student, I was involved in everything from athletics to campus ministry, choir and leadership groups and those experiences shaped my faith, confidence and love of music. "Today, I’m grateful to give back to the same community that formed me and to work alongside colleagues who make me feel welcomed, challenged and full of joy every day.”
Owen Borelli '18
St. Columbkille Elementary Music Teacher
"We have a really respectful culture that makes it easy to connect with others."
“Everyone is so welcoming at Wahlert. We have a really respectful culture that makes it easy to connect with others. I feel comfortable asking for help, and people are always willing to share advice. If there’s a senior on one of our teams, I know I can go to them for guidance, and they’ll understand where I’m at. “Wahlert also offers a lot of great classes, including college level courses. They’ve helped me explore subjects beyond the core curriculum and really prepare for the next steps after high school. The staff is just as supportive as the students. They’re always pen to questions and ready to help when you need it with no judgment.”
Callan Martineau
Class of 2027
Mentoring is the most important part of each day."
“The mentoring program serves as an opportunity for a teacher and their mentees to share in the constant social, emotional, academic, and spiritual growth that occurs during the school year. “Mentoring is, in my opinion, the most important part of each day because it allows for the mentor and their mentees to share in the successes and opportunities for growth each and every day. “Since mentoring has been instituted at Wahlert, I have seen students become more confident, accountable, driven, and resilient as they are able to navigate each day with the support of their fellow mentees and mentor.”
Cole Smith
Wahlert Catholic High School Teacher
“I am so thankful for the solid AP and dual enrollment options at Wahlert Catholic High School."
“I am so thankful for the solid AP and dual enrollment options at Wahlert Catholic High School. If one assumes the average cost of tuition/room/board/fees/books at college is $30,000 per year, we have more than broken even when looking at Wahlert tuition paid over four years versus the amount of college credit our son is graduating from Wahlert with. He came into college with 41 credits from AP and college classes. 10 of them are from AP Spanish alone. All of freshman year and half of sophomore year are complete before setting foot on campus thanks to these offerings. And this doesn’t even take into consideration the scholarships earned from being academically well prepared at Wahlert. We are thankful!”
Cheryl
Holy Family parent
