Holy Trinity High School

The Challenge

Holy Trinity High School has long served students excluded from opportunity due to wealth or status. While the school’s mission has remained steadfast, the demographics of its students and the educational landscape have evolved. Today, the Holy Trinity community holds deep emotional connections to the school, valuing the personal relationships, academic opportunities, and mutual respect that foster transformative growth. At the same time, prospective families are unclear about what distinguishes Holy Trinity, often making generic assumptions about the school based on its Catholic identity and tuition support programs. Holy Trinity engaged Mission Minded to help them communicate their unique approach in hopes of reversing misperceptions and several years of declining enrollment.

The Insight

Our research revealed that internal audiences, while emotionally connected to the school, were experiencing a crisis of confidence. Externally, most prospective families were either unaware of the school or misunderstood its value, leading to perceptions that limited its appeal. We also found that Holy Trinity’s founding mission continues to resonate deeply, but the signals sent around its values felt outdated. To succeed, Holy Trinity needed to break away from the perception of being a traditional, low-cost Catholic school to redefine itself as a community focused on personal impact, human connection, and transformative education.

The Journey

The reimagining of Holy Trinity’s brand would mean moving away from outdated notions and embracing its true strength: a community where families can access opportunities and meaningful connections that help students transform their lives. This came to life in a vibrant visual identity and a powerful admissions campaign, anchored by the message, “Great education starts with what you learn – and becomes more powerful when it shapes who you are.” A stunning admissions view book was created to showcase this ethos, resonating with prospective families and students alike.

The Impact

Holy Trinity’s revitalized brand and admissions campaign have already yielded significant results. The school welcomed 72 ninth-grade students at the start of the 2024 year, a marked increase from 43 the previous year, with enrollment likely to grow further. The community has embraced the new visual identity, and excitement around the new admissions viewbook has been overwhelmingly positive, solidifying Holy Trinity’s place as a top choice for education in Chicago.

Your findings have inspired people. There’s a new energy because people see a different path forward. I’m confident that we will invest what it takes to bring this to life.

Tim Bopp, Head of School

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