Holy Cross Preparatory Academy is a four-year Catholic high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades, located in Delran Township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The school is the only Roman Catholic high school in the county. Holy Cross has been accredited by AdvancED since 2013.Holy Cross Academy, AdvancED. Accessed March 14, 2017. The school was run under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton until 2018 when the school became independent.Fifth Anniversary, Holy Cross Preparatory Academy. Accessed December 20, 2022.
Occupying a campus, it has a variety of co-curricular activities, including about 40 sports teams in 23 athletic programs and 50 clubs, for students to participate in.Athletics, Holy Cross Academy. Accessed May 1, 2015.Getting Involved at Holy Cross, Holy Cross Academy. Accessed May 1, 2015. Tuition for the 2022–23 school year was $10,900.
As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 300 students and 19.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.2:1. The school's student body was 72.3% (217) White, 17.7% (53) Black, 6.3% (19) Hispanic and 3.7% (11) Asian.School data for Holy Cross Preparatory Academy, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed September 1, 2025. The student population is from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. 99% of the school's graduates go onto two and four-year colleges and universities.About, Holy Cross Academy. Accessed May 1, 2015.
History Constructed on a site at a cost of $3 million (equivalent to $ million in ), the school opened to an initial group of 400 students in September 1957 as the county's first Catholic high school.Savin, William A. "New Catholic High School to Open Sept. 4 at Riverside for 400 Pupils", Courier-Post, August 13, 1957. Accessed May 3, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Burlington County's first Catholic high school will open Sept. 4 with an enrollment of approximately 400 pupils. The new Holy Cross High School, rapidly nearing completion on Rt. 130 in Delran Township, will cost more than $3 million and rank as one of the largest high schools in South Jersey.... The two buildings occupy some three acres of the 100-acre tract. A two-story building, the school has 39 classrooms, with an expansion area on the second floor for 29 more."
The school underwent a $3.5 million renovation in 2005. A renovated Gerald Finsen Media Center was built during the 2005–06 school year.
Former principal Joseph Lemme pleaded guilty in December 2007 to the theft of $400,000 from the school for his personal use and was sentenced to five years in prison as part of a plea bargain.Spoto, MaryAnn. "Ex-principal admits taking $400K from high school", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 3, 2007. Accessed May 1, 2015. "In Superior Court in Freehold, Joseph Lemme, past principal of Holy Cross High School in Delran, pleaded guilty to theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and misapplication of entrusted property, said Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin. Lemme, principal of the Catholic high school from September 2002 to November 2006, stole $415,849 over three years by putting money for school functions in his personal account and using it to finance a lavish lifestyle, Valentin said."
In October 2017 the Diocese of Trenton informed the Holy Cross administration that the school's future was in jeopardy due to the schools enrollment and financial status. Throughout the final months of 2017 the alumni organized a Founding Board to determine if they could find a way to avoid the school’s closure and questioned the Diocese about becoming an independent school. In December 2017 Bishop David M. O'Connell met with school administration and informed them that the school would be closed at the conclusion of the 2017-18 school year. He then met with the Founding Board and informed them of the religious requirements for the school to become independent. The Diocese finally gave the board the permission to move forward and work to become an independent Catholic high school. Prior to 2018 the diocese spent about $500,000 each year to cover the deficit to keep the school in operation; the school remained open since the alumni were able to raise that much in donations."N.J. Catholic school saved from closure after alumni takeover", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 4, 2018, updated January 30, 2019. Accessed April 12, 2021. "Holy Cross Academy in Delran will open next fall under new management after the alumni group received $500,000 in commitments to cover the annual subsidy previously supplied by the diocese to run the school. The rest of the annual budget will be covered by tuition. The school will also have a slightly modified name - Holy Cross Preparatory Academy." The school's name was changed to Holy Cross Preparatory Academy that year.Whittaker, Celeste E. Holy Cross will reopen on July 1 with new name, new leadership, Courier-Post, May 3, 2018. Accessed April 12, 2021.
Extracurricular activities
Holy Cross' student government format is a Student Council.
Athletics The Holy Cross LancersHoly Cross Academy, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. compete in the Burlington County Scholastic League (BCSL), which is comprised of public and private high schools in Burlington, Mercer and Ocean counties in Central Jersey, and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. With 221 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Non-Public B for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 37 to 366 students in that grade range (equivalent to Group 1 for public schools).NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. The football team competes in the Classic Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconferenceHoly Cross Lancers, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023.Home Page, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023. "The WJFL is a 94-school super conference that stretches from Princeton to Wildwood encompassing schools from the Colonial Valley Conference, the Burlington County Scholastic League, the Olympic Conference, the Tri-County Conference, the Colonial Conference, and the Cape Atlantic League. The WJFL is made up of sixteen divisions with divisional alignments based on school size, geography and a strength-of-program component." and was classified by the NJSIAA as Non-Public Group B (equivalent to Group I/II for public schools) for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 140 to 686 students.NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
The football team won the Non-Public A state championship in 1977, 1982, 1991 and 1992; won the Non-Public Group IV state sectional title in 2000 and won the Non-Public Group II championship in 2007 and 2008.NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023. The team won the Parochial A South title in 1977 after a 14-6 win against Red Bank Catholic High School in the tournament final.Schoening, Gary. "Fumble Proves Costly in RBC Loss", Asbury Park Press, December 4, 1977. Accessed February 16, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "While bulldozing through the season, Red Bank Catholic High School came up with the big plays it needed to gain a shot at its second consecutive state South Jersey Parochial A title. But the Caseys' game breaker bag was empty yesterday and it was Holy Cross that came up with big plays in a 14-6 victory over RBC to give the Lancers the SJ Parochial A crown." The 2000 team finished the season with a 10-2 record after coming back from a 41-20 deficit in the third quarter to win the Non-Public Group IV championship game by a score of 41-40 over Don Bosco Preparatory High School on a field goal kicked as time expired."A perfect ending; Hackensack justifies No. 1 ranking", The Record, December 4, 2000, December 7, 2020. "Don Bosco Prep's bid for its first State title since 1990 came up short earlier in the day when Holy Cross' Dave King kicked a 47-yard field goal on the final play to produce a 41-40 victory in the State Parochial Group 4 final. The Ironmen (11-1) led, 40-21, in the third quarter, but were hampered by injuries to senior tailback Ryan Grant and junior quarterback Steve Levy. A blocked punt and a fumble gave life to Holy Cross (10-2)." In 2007, the team won the Non-Public Group II state championship with a 17–0 win over Gloucester Catholic High School in the tournament final.2007 Football - Non-Public, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed March 28, 2008. In 2008, the team repeated as Non-Public Group II state champion with a 7–0 win over Hudson Catholic High School.Minnick, Kevin. "Holy Cross a champ again", Courier-Post, December 8, 2008. Accessed July 26, 2011. "Aaron Fant, Elijah Phillips and Joe Wohceichowski combined for 36 tackles, and the Lancers put together a tremendous goal-line stand late in the third quarter en route to a 7-0 victory over Hudson Catholic for their second straight Non-Public Group 2 state title."
The softball team won the Non-Public A state championship in 1985 and 1989, defeating Paramus Catholic High School in the final game of the tournament in both seasons.Softball Championship History 1972–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated July 2023. Accessed April 1, 2024. The 1989 team finished the season with a record of 14-8 after winning the Non-Public A state championship, defeating Paramus Catholic by a score of 3-0 in the tournament championship game played at Trenton State College.Mattura, Greg. "Paramus Catholic loses final; Paladins' offense vanishes", The Record, May 29, 1989. Accessed December 7, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "Holy Cross senior Karen Kriza limited Paramus Catholic to five hits and led the Lancers to a 3-0 victory in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association game at Trenton State College.... Holy Cross (14-8) had better success against Paramus Catholic senior righthander Janine LiButti."
The boys' soccer team won the Non-Public A state championship in 1989, as co-champion with Delbarton School.NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023. The 2007 boys soccer team won the South B state sectional championship with a 1–0 win over Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in the tournament final.2007 Boys Soccer - South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 14, 2007.
The girls spring track team won the Non-Public A state championship in 1991 and the Non-Public B title in 2008.NJSIAA Girls Spring Track Summary of Group Titles, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023. In 2008, the team won the Patriot Division championship, the South Jersey Non-Public B championship, and the Non-Public B state championship for their first state title since 1991.