St. Benedict's Preparatory School is a Catholic college preparatory school in Newark, New Jersey run by the Benedictine monks of Newark Abbey.

The school serves boys and girls in kindergarten through twelfth grade on a urban campus. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1990.Saint Benedict's Preparatory School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed October 6, 2022.

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 965 students and 74.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.9:1. The school's student body was 53.6% (517) Black, 35.4% (342) Hispanic, 4.7% (45) White, 3.8% (37) two or more races, 2.2% (21) Asian and 0.3% (3) American Indian / Alaska Native.School data for St Benedict'S Prep, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed September 1, 2025.

History Established in 1868 by the Benedictine monks of Newark Abbey, the school is guided by the sixth century Rule of Saint Benedict. It has been located in the Archdiocese of Newark for more than 130 years.Essex County Catholic High Schools, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed December 21, 2022.

The school serves students from Newark and its neighboring communities; students come from 100 towns and approximately 215 schools. More than 60 are from 23 other countries.Facts at a Glance, St. Benedict's Preparatory School. Accessed January 18, 2022.

Starting in the 2017–18 school year, the former St. Mary School began operating within St. Benedict's. Classes for kindergarten through eighth grade are co-educational. The high school, known as the Prep Division, was previously all-boys before becoming co-institutional (i.e. boys and girls are admitted, but are segregated in classes) in the 2020-2021 school year, after Benedictine Academy in Elizabeth closed in the spring of 2020.Clark, Adam. "St. Benedict's, renowned all-boys school, merges with co-ed elementary school", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 14, 2017. Accessed May 2, 2017. "St. Benedict's Preparatory School, a Newark Catholic boys' school that's earned national recognition for its academic success, will expand to offer a co-ed elementary school and middle school classes for girls, the school announced Tuesday. The change at St. Benedict's, a school founded by the Benedictine Monks in 1868, comes as part of a merger with St. Mary School, the state's oldest existing Catholic elementary school... St. Benedict's will now operate a co-ed K-6 school, a 7th and 8th grade school with separate classes for boys and girls and its existing high school, which will remain an all boys school."“St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark to admit girls starting in fall”

The school was closed for the 1972–73 school year. Since its re-opening in 1973, the headmaster has been Fr. Edwin D. Leahy, O.S.B, who was graduated from St. Benedict's in 1963.About St. Benedict's and Newark Abbey, Saint Benedict's Preparatory School. Accessed June 18, 2008.

Curriculum St. Benedict’s Preparatory School operates on an academic calendar distinct from most secondary schools. The year is divided into three instructional phases: Summer, Fall–Winter, and Spring.

The Summer Phase consists of a five-week session held in August, during which students attend half-day classes.

Spring phase ends the academic year. Students choose projects to work on for four weeks such as community service, U.S. history, gardening, dancing, music production, photography, journalism, finance, acting, physics, intense exercising, karate, and cooking.

At the conclusion of the freshman year, students participate in the Backpacking Project, a five-day trek of approximately 50 miles (80 km) along the Appalachian Trail in western New Jersey. Freshmen are organized into teams and assume leadership and support roles. The program is preceded by several weeks of preparation and is intended to foster self-reliance, teamwork, and leadership. Transfer students are also required to participate.Saint Benedict's Preparatory School

Extracurricular activities St. Benedict's has a music program and a visual arts program.

The Benedict News student newspaper has won the Columbia Scholastic Press Association gold medal three times, in 2005, 2006, and again in 2008.The Benedict News, Issuu. Accessed June 9, 2014. "Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist: 2005, 2006, 2008" The school literary magazine, The Kayrix, is published every year during spring phase.

The 520 is a student-run maintenance corporation. The goal of the corporation is to cost-effectively support the maintenance needs of the school while enhancing the environment and providing students with the opportunity to develop skills and earn a competitive income. The corporation was established in 1998.

Athletics

The St. Benedict's Preparatory School Gray Bees,Saint Benedict's Preparatory School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. compete in 12 interscholastic sports: water polo, cross country running, soccer, swimming, fencing, wrestling, basketball, indoor track, crew, golf, baseball, and outdoor track. The school has produced several notable athletes including an Olympic gold medalist.Thornton, Ed. "Another Olympic Gold Medalist Vists St. Benedict's"; Kenyan champion offers advice to track team, St. Benedict's Prep, January 2008. Accessed June 9, 2014. "St. Benedict's had the wonderful opportunity to have alumnus Cullen Jones '02 speak to the school back in October. Jones won the gold medal with Michael Phelps in the 4x100m this past summer in the Beijing Olympics." School colors are garnet and gray.

The cross country running team won the all-group state championship in 1921 and the Prep title in nine times from 1922 to 1931. The program's nine state group titles are tied for seventh-most in the state.NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.

The track team won the winter/indoor track Non-Public state championship in six times from 1922 to 1927 and seven times from 1931 to 1937. The 13 state group titles won by the program are ranked fourth in the state.Boys Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1922-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.

The track team won the Non-Public Group A spring / outdoor track state championship in 1949.NJSIAA Boys Spring Track Summary of Group Titles, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.

The wrestling team won the Non-Public Group B North state sectional championship in 1980 (as co-champion), 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1989 to 1991. The team won the Non-public Group B state title in 1987 and 1989 to 1991.NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.

The fencing team won the overall state championship in 1990.NJSIAA History of Boys Fencing Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.

Basketball

St. Benedict's basketball teamconsistently ranks as one of the top high-school basketball teams in the United States among USA Today High School Boys' Basketball Super 25.Cohen, Micah. "St. Benedict's Basketball Plays Two", The New York Times, January 19, 2007. Accessed June 3, 2015."New Jersey Powers St. Benedict's (Newark), St. Anthony (Jersey City) Move into Top 5 of USA Today High School Sports Super 25 Boys' Basketball Rankings", USA Today press release, February 19, 2013. Accessed June 3, 2015. "Two of New Jersey's most longstanding boys' basketball powerhouses—St. Benedict's Prep of Newark and St. Anthony of Jersey City—continued to advance up the rankings and have now moved into the top five of the USA TODAY High School Sports Super 25 national editorial rankings for the week of Feb. 18, 2013." and is part of what The New York Times calls the "NBA pipeline".Araton, Harvey. "N.B.A. Pipeline Bypassing New York for New Jersey", The New York Times, December 18, 2012. Accessed June 3, 2015. In 2013, the basketball team was ranked fifth in ESPN's top 25, losing to Montverde Academy in the ESPN Rise National Championship.

Soccer

The soccer team won the Non-Public Group B state championship in 1982 (against runner-up Mater Dei High School in the finals of the tournament), 1987 (vs. Mater Dei), 1989 (vs. Eustace Preparatory School) and 1990 (vs. St. Augustine Preparatory School).NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023. The 1982 team finished the season with an 18-3-1 record after coming back from a 2–0 deficit to win the Parochial B state title with a 3–2 win against Mater Dei in the championship game at Mercer County Park."Seraph's title dreams go up in smoke with 3-2 loss", Asbury Park Press, November 20, 1982. Accessed February 8, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Mater Dei's defense of the NJSIAA Parochial B soccer championship began with a bang yesterday, but ended with a whimper After the Seraphs had taken an early 2-0 lead, St. Benedict's rallied for three goals to the second half to post a 3-2 victory at Mercer County Park and wrest away the crown.... Records: NJSIAA Parochial B championship at Mercer County Park. Mater Dei (17-3-2). St. Benedict's (18-3-1)." The 2006 boys' soccer team finished the season with a 20–0 record, and was ranked first in the nation in the NSCAA/adidas National Rankings.NSCAA/adidas National Rankings: National Final Regular Season Poll Poll, November 21, 2006. Accessed July 27, 2007. A 4–1 win against the Pennington School in the 2011 Prep A championship gave St. Benedict's a perfect 24–0 season, its 23rd consecutive Prep A title and its number one spot as the top-ranked high school soccer team in the nation by ESPN/Rise. St. Benedict's have been recognized as national champion in 1990, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024, and 2025. Winning in total of 16 National Championships and 37 State titles. They are widely considered the most dominant high school soccer program in the country.Staff. "Pennington (1) at St. Benedict's (4), Prep A Tournament, Final Round – Boys' Soccer", Trenton Times, November 6, 2011. Accessed December 5, 2011. "With the victory, St. Benedict's completed a perfect 24-0 campaign and will finish as the No. 1 ranked team in the country for the seventh time in school history and first time since 2006. The title is the 23rd straight Prep A crown and 25th overall state title for St. Benedict's, which will carry a 36-game winning streak into next year.... St. Benedict's, which was guaranteed the ESPN/Rise No. 1 spot in the national rankings with a victory, also won national championships in 1990, '97, '98, 2001, '05, '06, ""Seventh Heaven! Gray Bees Pick Up Their 7th National Championship; Beat Pennington to cap perfection & earn 23rd straight state title" , St. Benedict's Soccer, November 6, 2011. Accessed August 21, 2012. "The Gray Bees wrapped up a perfect season and claimed their 7th National Championship and 23rd successive state title with a 4–1 victory over Pennington Sunday in the Prep A Championship game before a boisterous crowd at NJIT." Numerous alumni of the soccer program have become world-renowned players.Parchman, Will. "St. Benedict's is a N.J. beacon for soccer", TopDrawerSoccer.com, September 23, 2013. Accessed November 5, 2017.

Awards and recognition

Publicity