APPLY. ENROLL. SUCCEED.

Share this article with a friend.

December 18, 2025

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Why Notre Dame Prep offers an unmatched Catholic and IB education — and how and when to apply for the 2026-27 school year.

With applications open and critical deadlines approaching, families across Southeast Michigan are considering Notre Dame Preparatory School for the 2026-27 academic year. Standing out not only for its Catholic identity, an expansive athletics program and sweeping academic curriculum, NDP is especially recognized for its unique International Baccalaureate continuum, an educational framework that prepares students spiritually, intellectually and globally.

A faith-centered education with global perspective

For families seeking a Catholic education that transcends academics alone, Notre Dame Prep offers a comprehensive experience grounded in faith. In its mission and community, NDP emphasizes forming the whole student, spiritually, morally and intellectually. As the school’s branding emphasizes, NDP “guides them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity.”

This blend of faith and learning reflects broader research on Catholic education, which points to high academic achievement, strong community engagement, robust athletic programs and character formation as key benefits of a Catholic school environment. Catholic schools like NDP often tout a curriculum that integrates values with rigorous academics, fostering learners who are prepared for college and life beyond.

International Baccalaureate: A distinctive (and rare) academic advantage

What truly differentiates Notre Dame Prep from other Catholic schools in Michigan — and most in the nation — is its full International Baccalaureate continuum, spanning Pre-K through 12th grade. NDP is “the first Catholic Pre-K-12 International Baccalaureate School in the U.S. and the only Catholic school in Michigan offering the prestigious International Baccalaureate.”

That continuity means students engage with IB programs from their earliest school years: the Primary Years Program (PYP) for PreK–5, the Middle Years Program (MYP) for grades 6–10 and the Diploma Program (DP) for grades 11 and 12. This seamless academic progression is rare; few schools nationally achieve all three IB authorizations.

The IB mission itself articulates a vision that aligns with NDP’s goals, aiming “to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” This deeply global approach goes beyond content knowledge to build critical thinking, global awareness and lifelong learning skills.

IB and Catholic identity in harmony

NDP’s approach to IB is not a departure from its Catholic character but an enrichment of it. In a story on the school’s global perspective, NDP leaders and external researchers highlighted how the IB learner attributes — such as being inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective — have “seeped into the religious and Marist aspects of the school.”

Fr. Leon Olszamowski, s.m., corporate president and co-founder of Notre Dame Prep, explained that these attributes align with Christian values, noting: “It’s not about recklessness; it’s about being courageous in learning, trying new things, and standing up for beliefs.”

“And once students get to university, their IB-DP education has more than prepared them for the challenges that await,” added Katrina Sagert, NDP’s IB diploma program coordinator. “Students can emphasize interdisciplinary learning, long-form projects and the kind of critical writing that colleges prize.”

University of Dayton professor John White, an expert on the IB in Catholic schools, reinforces this view. He wrote that “the International Baccalaureate Diploma provides an academically challenging curriculum that when combined with moral and religious formation prepares graduates of Catholic secondary schools to succeed in college and to live as Christian citizens in an interconnected global society.”

Voices of students and alumni

Students and alumni affirm the transformative nature of an IB education at NDP. In one school profile, a graduate described how IB “taught me how to learn, not just what to know,” enabling her to “focus my time and energy on learning new things because I already have such a strong foundation.”

Another Notre Dame Prep graduate reflected on how the IB Diploma Program prepared her for college: “A wonderful effect of IB was teaching me how to think differently, write clearly and manage long-term projects,” a sentiment echoed by many who see the program’s challenge as a launching pad for success beyond high school.

“Each of my IB courses was challenging in its own way, as they push you to look at information in ways that you haven’t before,” said Ryan Wells, a 2024 NDP grad. “I loved what I did in my IB classes, especially Theory of Knowledge. It is philosophical and confusing, yet completely satisfying. I liked the challenge it gave me to think differently and not only in an analytical context.” 

Edith Byrd, current senior at NDP, notes that she thinks the school is unique because it builds its strong academics upon the element of faith and creating a well-rounded student.

"These two aspects are vital in order for students to succeed in the world," she said. "We will graduate not only with a multitude of skills and knowledge, but also a light to help guide us in the right direction."

Benefits of a Catholic education within the NDP IB continuum

Researchers and educators alike recognize several advantages of IB learning, which align with Notre Dame Prep’s mission:

• Holistic skill development: IB students routinely exhibit stronger critical thinking, research, time-management and communication skills, all of which are predictors of future academic success.

• Global mindset: With requirements in multiple languages and intercultural understanding woven into curriculum and service, IB learners are better equipped to navigate a diverse, interconnected world.

• Service and empathy: The IB’s creativity-action-service (CAS) component encourages ethical reflection and meaningful engagement with community needs, a natural complement to Catholic values of charity and justice.

How to apply — key dates and procedures for 2026-27

Families considering Notre Dame Prep for the 2026-27 year should note important admissions deadlines and procedures:

• Application opened: The online application for future NDP students opened Oct. 1, 2025.

• Early completion encouraged: Families are encouraged to complete the entire admission process, including interviews and required materials, by early January so decisions can be released on schedule.

• Acceptance day: As with all Archdiocese of Detroit schools, student acceptance decisions will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, for applicants whose files are complete at least one week prior.

• After Jan. 22 decisions: Applications completed after the early deadline will be reviewed, with decisions released within one to two school days following the student-parent interview.

• Enrollment: Students admitted by Jan. 22 may enroll promptly; after that date, enrollment is available as space permits.

• Wait pools: All lower school grades except first grade begin in a wait pool, and NDP is also operating wait pools for grades 7 and 8 in its middle school. Students seeking these grades must apply and be accepted to be included. The application for fifth grade is currently closed, though inquiries are still welcome.

So why choose Notre Dame Prep?

In an educational landscape crowded with choices, Notre Dame Prep offers a distinctive combination of Catholic faith formation, international academic excellence and personal development. Its fully realized IB continuum positions students for academic achievement and global citizenship, while its Catholic and Marist ethos fosters thoughtful leaders committed to service and moral purpose.

As experts and alumni alike affirm, NDP students are shaped not only for college but for lives of principled leadership, intellectual curiosity and compassionate engagement with the world.

Stephanie Ketty NDP'01 has a thriving career in Portland, Oregon. She credits her high school for instilling the confidence necessary to be able to chart her own successful path.

"The school’s emphasis on spirituality and faith also grounded me, providing a strong moral compass and a sense of purpose that continues to guide me on my personal and professional journey," she said.

Apply today and discover why Notre Dame Prep is not just a school — it’s a foundation for life.

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.