Skip To Main Content

About

Welcome to Our Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service

Founded in 1925, Father Ryan High School is a co-educational, college preparatory, Catholic high school located in Nashville, Tennessee. Over the past 99 years, our school, campus, and community have grown along with the city we call home. 

We are founded in strong ideals that continue to evolve to meet the need of our community, to live out our mission, and to form lives of excellence in the Catholic tradition. Welcome to Father Ryan.

Graduation cap throw

Mission

Mission – Father Ryan's mission is to be an experience of the living Gospel while challenging students to reach their spiritual, academic, and personal potential.

Vision

Vision – Father Ryan seeks to be a superior Catholic high school, providing excellence in religious and moral formation, academics, athletics, and the arts while remaining accessible to those seeking an education in the Catholic Tradition.

Motto

Motto – A Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service

Culture

Culture – "You will be Known. You will be Loved.®" is more than a tagline at Father Ryan. It is our culture. Through relationships with peers, mentorships with faculty and staff, and interactions with the entire Father Ryan community, we strive to know and love our students every day. 

Visual Identity

Visual Identity – Father Ryan's school colors are purple and white. Our coat-of-arms contains references to Father Ryan, Bishop Smith, and the three branches of learning and religion. The red and gold colors are taken from the old Ryan family arms.

Academics At A Glance

  • 200+ Courses Across Four Learning Levels

  • 81 Courses at Honors or Above
  • 28 Advanced Placement Courses
  • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
  • 15 Average Class Size
  • 61% Faculty Hold Advanced Degrees
  • 100% Admittance Rate to Colleges and Universities
  • $34.8M Scholarships Offered to Class of 2023

Learn More

Student Life At A Glance

  • 830+ Students
  • 142 Schools and 55 ZIP codes Represented
  • 6 Houses. All Irish.
  • 31 Sports Teams
  • 37 Performing and Visual Arts Courses
  • 40+ Clubs and Organizations
  • 25 Local Service Partner Organizations
  • $1.72M Raised for Relay for Life

Learn More

 I chose to attend Father Ryan because I really wanted to continue my faith formation at a Catholic high school. Father Ryan has provided opportunities for me to grow in leadership through the House System and Relay for Life, in service to our community as a Student Ambassador and Peer Mentor, and in faith through daily Mass, Adoration, and a strong Campus Ministry community.

Harry Penne '24