Top Christian High Schools in Houston: How St. Thomas High School Leads with Goodness

Have you seen United Airlines’ “Good Leads the Way” campaign? It shares a powerful idea: by leading with goodness, we can create a better world and future for those around us. While this United Airlines campaign has just recently begun, the concept of leading with goodness has been at the heart of St. Thomas High School for over 125 years.

Rooted in the Basilian tradition, our mission of “teaching goodness, discipline, and knowledge ensures that goodness shapes every aspect of our community. It is not just a classroom value—it is a way of life that unites our faculty, students, and families. By prioritizing goodness, we have spent over a century guiding young men to lead lives of faith and integrity.

At St. Thomas, students learn about Jesus Christ and follow His example of goodness, humility, and leadership. In Theology classes, they study His teachings to strengthen their faith and discover how to be good in their words and actions. These lessons help students make informed choices and develop strong morals to guide them.

Not only in Theology class, but in all subjects, teachers show how faith and character are connected to what students learn. We believe that faith and learning are interconnected because all knowledge originates from God.

Outside of class, these lessons continue through daily faith formation, retreats, service projects, and the Senior Leadership Program. These activities help students grow in faith and character in everything they do.

Our mission is to nurture the faith of every student. We provide daily faith formation opportunities designed to support students on their faith journey. These opportunities include weekly access to Mass, Adoration, Reconciliation, Bible study, and the Rosary, all of which provide time for prayer and reflection. We encourage students to deepen their faith through these experiences. This holistic approach ensures that faith becomes an integral and meaningful part of their daily lives.

Our four-year retreat program is an important part of the St. Thomas experience. These retreats help students grow spiritually and develop kindness and compassion. Each retreat is designed for a specific grade level, meeting students where they are in their faith journey. During these retreats, students build self-awareness and a stronger connection with God. This helps them live lives focused on goodness and faith.

• Freshman Retreat – “Camp Aquinas“: Camp Aquinas helps students discover what it means to be a Man of St. Thomas. Through team activities, prayer, and reflection, they build brotherhood and a strong sense of belonging as they start their journey at St. Thomas.

• Sophomore Retreat – “Take up your Cross“: Students will face the profound reality of suffering. Throughout this retreat, they will find answers in God’s compassion by exploring the mystery of Christ’s Passion.

• Junior Retreat – “Father-Son Retreat“: The Junior Retreat is a Father-Son retreat created to strengthen their bond. It offers a chance to connect through meaningful dialogue, shared experiences, and activities that build understanding and communication.

• Senior Retreat – “The Great Commission“: The senior retreat celebrates spiritual growth, fosters gratitude for the future, and provides an opportunity to reconnect and say goodbye.

These retreats are not just time away from the classroom; they help students grow into strong, faith-filled leaders who face the world with confidence and kindness.

Serving others is central to our mission. Students learn to lead with goodness by putting their faith into action. Through various service projects, they work to address real-world challenges and embody the Catholic value of serving marginalized communities, becoming the hands and feet of Jesus on earth.

Every student takes part in four supervised, in-person service projects each year. Each project is based on a Corporal Work of Mercy, teaching students how to care for others.

These projects not only help the community but also teach important lessons like kindness, leadership, and a lifelong habit of serving others. The young men of St. Thomas are always ready to help and make a difference wherever they go.

True leadership comes from doing good, following the example of Jesus through service, kindness, and love for others. Our Servant Leadership Program helps students lead with honesty and care by focusing on three main ideas: modeling the way, encouraging the heart, and enabling others to act. These values inspire students to make a difference and help others in everything they do.

• Leadership in Action: Students take on roles like organizing faith events, leading retreats, or mentoring younger classmates. These opportunities let them inspire and support others.

• Building Skills for the Future: St. Thomas supports student leaders’ growth through activities like the Senior Leader Retreat. This retreat features workshops, team-building activities, and lessons on teamwork, communication, and decision-making. Additionally, monthly leadership development programs are provided to teach our Senior Leaders essential leadership skills, preparing them to lead on campus and in their future roles.

Does your son aspire to lead with goodness?

The power of goodness is evident in every aspect of student life. From the rich, spiritual experiences of retreats to the character-building moments of service and the empowering development of servant leaders, we are shaping the next generation of good, faith-filled men.

If you’re looking for a school that inspires purpose, compassion, and a dedication to faith, we invite you to explore St. Thomas High School and discover how St. Thomas leads with goodness.

Visit St. Thomas High School Admissions to learn more about how your son can thrive in a community devoted to faith, excellence, and service.