Founded in 1950, Santa Catalina School is an independent, Catholic, day and boarding school for girls in California.
We are located on 36 acres in beautiful Monterey, a two-hour drive south of San Francisco.
Our students choose from a variety of academic offerings, including 11 Advanced Placement (AP) classes, 19 Advanced Topics (AT) classes, and our signature marine ecology research program.
We also offer a wide range of visual and performing arts electives, including theatre, digital media, photography, and dance.
Our students discover skills, talents, and interests they never knew existed within themselves-whether it's playing one of 12 interscholastic sports, or leading a club, or serving the greater community.
Class sizes are small and are taught the way girls learn most effectively, often with open discussion and group projects.
The Catalina experience is about asking deeper questions, taking braver chances, and making bolder mistakes-to become leaders that impact their communities and the world around them.
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 215 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $77,000
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Feb. 1 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Santa Catalina School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Offering Breadth
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Year Founded
1950
1907
Campus Size
36 acres
125 acres
Colors
Blue, Gold
Student Body
Enrollment
215 students
319 students
% Students of Color
45%
27%
% International Students
22%
21%
% Students Boarding
60%
67%
SAT range (25th-75th percentile)
1060 - 1390
-
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
8:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
38
18
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
82%
72%
Summer Program Details
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$56.9 million
$30 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$77,000
$66,900
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
n/a
$35,500
% Students on Financial Aid
37%
40%
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No
Admissions
Application Deadline
Feb. 1 / rolling
Jan. 15
Director of Admissions
Jamie Buffington Browne '85
Associate Director of Admissions
Ala Milani ’87
AP / Advanced Courses
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
38
18
Courses
AT: Computer Science & Technology, AT: Dramatic Literature, AT: History Research Seminars (6), AT: Mandarin Chinese, AT: Marine Ecology Research 3, AT: Multivariable Calculus, AT: Philosophy, AT: Physics w/ Tigonometry, AT: Physics w/Calculus, AT: Shakespeare, AT: Spanish Literature, AT: Statistics, AT: The Art of Rhetoric, AT: The Reality of Fantasy, Biology AP, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry AP, English Literature AP, French Language AP, Mandarin Chinese AP, Music Theory AP, Spanish Language AP, US History AP
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
16
16
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
44
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Accents (Dance), Alegria, BURRITO (improv group), Catalina Children's Fund, Catalinan (Yearbook), Chemistry Club, Chinese Culture Club, ECCO (a capella), French Culture Club, Health and Wellness Committee, Jewish Cultural Club, Korean Culture Club, Lady Rhythmics (body percussion), Lamplighter (Student Newspaper), Math Tutoring Center, Mock Trial, Model United Nations, Mosaic (Literary Magazine), Movie Club, National Honor Society, Peace and Justice, R4 (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Renew), Reverb (Music Group), Robotics Team, Safe Space, Spanish Language and Culture Club, Student Senate, Students of Color Affinity Group, TEDxSantaCatalinaSchool, Thespian Society, Wildlife Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Ballet (Pointe), Choir, Contemporary Dance, Digital Media, Hip-Hop Dance, Instrumental Ensemble, Jazz Dance, Musical Theatre Dance, Photography (Darkroom), Private music lessons, Tap Dance
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Rugby Club, Strength and Conditioning
Accents (Dance), Alegria, BURRITO (improv group), Catalina Children's Fund, Catalinan (Yearbook), Chemistry Club, Chinese Culture Club, ECCO (a capella), French Culture Club, Health and Wellness Committee, Jewish Cultural Club, Korean Culture Club, Lady Rhythmics (body percussion), Lamplighter (Student Newspaper), Math Tutoring Center, Mock Trial, Model United Nations, Mosaic (Literary Magazine), Movie Club, National Honor Society, Peace and Justice, R4 (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Renew), Reverb (Music Group), Robotics Team, Safe Space, Spanish Language and Culture Club, Student Senate, Students of Color Affinity Group, TEDxSantaCatalinaSchool, Thespian Society, Wildlife Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Ballet (Pointe), Choir, Contemporary Dance, Digital Media, Hip-Hop Dance, Instrumental Ensemble, Jazz Dance, Musical Theatre Dance, Photography (Darkroom), Private music lessons, Tap Dance
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Rugby Club, Strength and Conditioning
College Matriculation
College Acceptance Rate
100%
Year: 2019 - 2023
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
University of Southern California
10
Chapman University
8
University of California, Berkeley
7
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
6
University of San Diego
6
Northeastern University
5
Syracuse
5
University of California, Davis
4
University of California, Los Angeles
4
Johns Hopkins University
3
School Notes
- School Motto: VERITAS—truth—our school motto
- School Mascot: Cougar
- The co-curricular advisory program, Journey, assists students in developing their highest personal, academic, and spiritual potential.
- Introductory through advanced level courses are offered in art, photography, music, dance, and theatre.
- Performance facilities include a professional-level 500-seat performing arts center, a 150-seat recital hall, and a dance studio.
- Our signature marine ecology program is a three-year intensive focus on marine science for a select group of students beginning in their sophomore year. Students study in and around the ocean, doing research, learning by observation, testing hypotheses, and experimenting in the bay itself.
- Our college counseling goal is to help each young woman find the right program that is the best academic, extracurricular, and personal fit for her.
- Our strong alumnae base is comprised of more than 5,000 women with 15 domestic and 3 international alumnae association chapters.
- Accreditations and memberships include Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), and the National Coalition of Girls Schools (NCGS).
- Santa Catalina School accreditations: Western Association of Schools and Colleges; NAIS, CAIS, NCGS, TABS, CASE, CEEB, NACAC, WBSA, SSAT
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Cynara Coomer, M.D. ’87 - General surgeon at Staten Island University Hospital and a a medical contributor at Fox News
- Monica C. Lozano ’74 - Publisher and CEO of the Spanish language newspaper, La Opinión, in Los Angeles
- Kate Dentoni Mitchell ’76 - CEO and co-founder of Scale Venture Partners and chairman of the National Venture Capital Association
- Leslie Redlich Cockburn ’70 - Award-winning investigative journalist and filmmaker
- Jessica Koehne ’96 - Physical scientist, NASA Ames Center for Nanotechnology
- Angelique Cabral ’97 - Actress, best known for her role on "Life in Pieces"
- Brita Sigourney ’08 - Olympic bronze medalist, freestyle skiing
- Teresa Barger ’73 - CEO, Cartica Capital
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Santa Catalina School cost?
Santa Catalina School's tuition is approximately $77,000 for boarding students.
Who are famous alumni from Santa Catalina School?
Santa Catalina School famous alumni include: Cynara Coomer, M.D. ’87, Monica C. Lozano ’74, Kate Dentoni Mitchell ’76, Leslie Redlich Cockburn ’70, Jessica Koehne ’96, Angelique Cabral ’97, Brita Sigourney ’08 and Teresa Barger ’73.
What sports does Santa Catalina School offer?
Santa Catalina School offers 16 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Diving, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Volleyball and Water Polo.
Does Santa Catalina School offer a summer program?
Yes, Santa Catalina School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What is Santa Catalina School's ranking?
Santa Catalina School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High # of AP/advanced courses offered.
When is the application deadline for Santa Catalina School?
The application deadline for Santa Catalina School is Feb. 1 / rolling (applications are due on Feb. 1 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
All girls, religious, mandatory church/ religious studies, volunteer, arts, athletics.. . .
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