Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, the premier private school in Blair County, PA, offers grades from Pre-K through 12^th grade. We are an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, Catholic educational institution governed by a Board of Trustees. 

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy develops students with a commitment toward intellectual and personal growth, and fosters a strong moral foundation.  By inspiring and supporting individual students as they strive for personal and academic excellence within an ethical framework, our students achieve inspiring heights.

As a Catholic school, we exist to make a postive impact on our community by serving any child who can benefit from our school, regardless of faith, background, or ability to pay. A growing share of families are not Catholic and feel equally at home at BG. 

BG Academy offers 3 elementary school campuses (two in Altoona and one in Hollidaysburg, PA). These campuses include early education (Pre-Kindergarten) for 3-4 year olds and elementary school from Kindergarten through Grade 5.

The Junior High (Grades 6-8) and the Senior High School (Grades 9-12) are located at the Pleasant Valley Boulevard campus in Altoona, PA.

The school community is often referred to as a “family” because of the strong relationships and bonds formed.  

Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge have been the school’s motto since the beginning and has carried on through generations.

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Elementary and Secondary Education

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy was founded in 1922 and has grown and evolved through the years. The school has educated generations of graduates who achieved tremendous success and made major impacts on their profession, community, and nation. While graduates do achieve at very high levels in a variety of professions, the school’s proudest accomplishment is helping to raise young men and women of strong character who are great spouses, parents, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and positive community members. 

A Tradition Like No Other

Throughout the early 1900’s local parishes opened elementary schools to serve their families. Immigrants speaking many languages came to Altoona for work and a better life.

The high school opened in 1922 as Altoona Catholic High School and occupied a building at 1100 6th Ave, Altoona, PA 16602. The school was managed by the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Enrollment steadily grew over the ensuing decades. 

The name of the school changed to Bishop Guilfoyle High School in 1961 with the opening of the building at 2400 Pleasant Valley Boulevard in Altoona. Initially 11^th and 12^th grades were offered at this site, with 9^th and 10^th grades at the original building at 1100 Sixth Avenue. The Marauder mascot was adopted around this same time.

In 2008, Bishop Guilfoyle became an independent Catholic school, operating as a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation based on its charitable educational mission. With the Diocese no longer part of the operation of the school, the Board of Trustees and corporate by-laws were established to manage the school. The Bishop of the Altoona/Johnstown Diocese became a “Class A” Trustee. Along with these changes, the school name changed to Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School. 

In 2022, Bishop Guilfoyle combined operations with Holy Trinity Catholic School, which was formed in 2015 through a combination of area parochial elementary schools.  A unified Board of Trustees was appointed to manage both schools/501(c)(3) corporations to create a positive, seamless experience that benefits students and families.

After extensive study and assessment, it was decided that beginning with the 2024-25 school year, both corporations would operate under one name, “Bishop Guilfoyle Academy.” The rebranding signifies one, unified school system from Pre-K through 12^th grade.  

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy has become the premier PreK-12 private school in the area, serving all families regardless of faith tradition. While the school remains a Catholic school, students of other faiths are welcomed and feel right at home. 

Families appreciate the school environment that is not subject to whims of social trends and offers high quality, advanced academics in a secure, warm environment where children can grow into confident, thriving young adults.