Long Island's Catholic high schools: Highlights

Bishop McGann-Mercy High School

Riverhead

Opened: 1956 by the Sisters of Mercy, taken over by Diocese of Rockville Centre in 2002

2013-14 enrollment: 407

Notable alumni: Bruce Kasold, 1969, chief judge, U.S. Court of Appeals; James Gregory Kingston, 1961, screenplay writer, "Turk 182!"

Highlight: $1 million wetland remediation program and Project Lead The Way, a STEM program developed by institutions including the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Chaminade High School

Mineola

Opened: 1930

2013-14 enrollment: 1,748

Notable alumni: Jeffrey Campbell, former chief executive of Burger King; Alfonse D'Amato, former U.S. senator; Lou Gerstner, former chairman and chief executive of IBM; Bill O'Reilly, talk-show host; Thomas Spota, Suffolk County district attorney; Thomas Suozzi, former Nassau County executive

Highlight: The all-boys school, run by the Marianist Brothers, is known for its long tradition of excellence and strong alumni support.

Holy Trinity Diocesan High School

Hicksville

Opened: 1966

2013-14 enrollment: 1,310

Notable alumni: Matt Doherty, played on national championship basketball team at North Carolina University with Michael Jordan, worked as head basketball coach at Notre Dame and Southern Methodist University; Ralph Perretta, center for Los Angeles Rams; Jenna Ushkowitz, actor, TV show "Glee"

Highlight: School officials say it always has been known as a medium-sized Catholic high school with a small-school feel. The school is proud of its theater arts and athletics programs.

Kellenberg Memorial High School

Uniondale

Opened: 1987, after two previous schools (Maria Regina and Saint Agnes) closed due to declining enrollment and financial difficulties.

2013-14 enrollment: 2,031

Notable alumni: "Iron Chefs" Donatella Arpaia and Marc Forgione

Highlight: Known for its strong Catholic identity and as the "school that never sleeps" because of activities that extend beyond classroom hours into the afternoon, evenings and weekends.

Our Lady of Mercy Academy

Syosset

Opened: 1928

2013-14 enrollment: 482

Notable alumnae: Barbara Brennan Ford, curator, Department of Asian Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art; Kerriann Flanagan Brosky, author; Mary Ann Kelly Holzkamp, former mayor, City of Glen Cove; Catherine Ruane Kinney, former president, New York Stock Exchange; Dr. Aldona Wos, former ambassador to Estonia

Highlight: The school says it has a close-knit family atmosphere guided by the belief that "All are welcome at the table where everyone is known by name." Extracurricular activities include crew and horseback riding.

Sacred Heart Academy

Hempstead

Opened: 1949

2013-14 enrollment: 870

Notable alumnae: Pat Clemency, president and chief executive of Make-A-Wish Foundation; Ann Donnelly, deputy bureau chief, Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau, Nassau County district attorney's office; Katharine N. Lapp, first woman executive vice president at Harvard University; Alice McDermott, author

Highlight: The all-girls school describes itself as "a powerhouse for women's leadership" and has a sizable list of distinguished alumnae.

St. Anthony's High School

South Huntington

Opened: 1933

2013-14 enrollment: 2,460

Notable alumni: Michael Cavanaugh, vice president of operations for JPMorgan Chase; Gen. Frank Libutti, lieutenant general of the U.S. Marine Corps., nominated by President George W. Bush in 2003 to serve as undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security; Paul Scheer, actor, writer, director of "The League" and "Human Giant;" Robert Scuderi, Pittsburgh Penguins, two-time Stanley Cup winner

Highlight: Run by the Franciscan Brothers, the school has a $34 million student center and a Romanesque chapel at the center of the school. A rising powerhouse in sports.

St. Dominic High School

Oyster Bay

Opened: 1928

2013-14 enrollment: 428

Notable alumni: Frank Cano, president and founder of Cano Biotech Corp.; Richard "Rick" Pitino, head basketball coach, University of Louisville; Al Carey, chief executive of PepsiCo Americas Beverages; Sister Mary Elizabeth Hughes, O.P., prioress of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville.

Highlight: $7.5 million science and communication center opened last year. Students study with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory scientists and do related marine research with the Waterfront Center in Oyster Bay.

St. John the Baptist

West Islip

Opened: 1966

2013-14 enrollment: 1,700

Notable alumni: Ed Henry, Fox chief White House correspondent; LeRoy Homer, co-pilot of United Airlines Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001; Joe Lhota, 2013 New York City mayoral candidate and former Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman

Highlight: Even with a large enrollment, the school says it tries to "encourage and develop a family-oriented environment that stresses respect, responsibility and spirituality"

St. Mary's High School

Manhasset

Opened: 1949

2013-14 enrollment: 615

Notable alumni: Mary Carillo, sportscaster and former professional tennis star; Kathleen Cawley, senior vice president and chief compliance officer, Bank of America; Danny Green, San Antonio Spurs

Highlight: The school says it "customizes" course offerings for each student. In partnership with St. John's and Adelphi universities, students can take classes for college credit. School also has what it calls a unique online elective program called "Digital University."