true self YOUR
VERITAS. It’s our motto and our modus operandi. We seek truth and selfknowledge at every turn.
VER ITAS at Catalina.
THAT’S WHAT WE CARE ABOUT
So speak your mind. Own your ideas. Follow your dreams, and don’t ever stop going after what you want. Because this is about you: the person you are today and the even more amazing person you’re about to become.
Founded in 9-12
Grades 227
students from 13 countries and 10 states
“Educating young women to lead in a complex world has never been more important than today. Through all of the experiences available to them, girls grow into their best selves, confident and capable, ready to succeed in any future challenge.”
-Dr. Barbara Ostos, Head of School
Truth: Santa Catalina has the largest all-girls boarding program west of the Mississippi.
BUT FIRST, YOU SHOULD KNOW:
There’s a Santa Catalina type.
It’s true. Catalina students are fierce, funny, confident, down-to-earth, and intellectually ambitious. They’re also kind – and incredibly caring. They’re people you would want to be friends with. Forever.
Everyone here is on a path of self-discovery. So, bring
us that spirit that makes you “you.” Bring the fire that fuels your thinking. And bring us that compassion that connects you to others.
You want to change the world? Start here. Then get ready to take the lead.
Truly spirited. Spirituality is a way of being at Catalina. Each and every day, we manifest our Catholic identity by recognizing and celebrating our diverse community and by coming together to explore questions of meaning and purpose.
you’re brilliant. THE TRUTH IS…
We see it, and we want to help you go supernova. Our academic standards are high. They have to be, because the complexities of the world demand it.
At Catalina, we’ll challenge you to ask deeper questions, take braver chances, make bolder mistakes, and then try again.
It’s a big world out there. And our global education program encourages you to explore it. Participate in a student exchange. Travel abroad on service and culture trips. Share a meal with international peacekeepers. These experiences and more will equip you with the attitudes, skills, and knowledge to be a diplomatic leader and an ethical, globally minded change maker
True success comes with a plan. At Catalina, we call it the Journey Program. Each grade level meets weekly to discuss topics from leadership to personal finance, following themes tailored to each class’s unique needs and development. Sure, it’s about your personal growth and self-reflection, but it’s also part of a bigger plan to prepare you for college. And life after college.
And our teachers are right there with you. Every academic department is represented by at least one resident faculty member. They know your strengths, challenges, and interests and will make sure you have all the support (and encouragement and inspiration) you could ever ask for.
Our Marine Ecology Research Program (MERP) is where learning gets deep. And one of the most biodiverse regions in the world becomes your classroom. Get ready to do realworld science with actual professional scientists. This is the hands-on, feet-wet, neuron-firing, award-winning kind of true learning that takes you beyond the classroom.
IT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING:
To filter your POV through an Emily Dickinson poem.
To discover mathematical patterns in nature.
To test a scientific hypothesis on the banks of Monterey Bay.
7:1
Student-to-faculty ratio 14 Average class size
of faculty hold advanced degrees
VER ITAS
“BE WHO GOD MEANT YOU TO BE and you will set the world on fire.”
—Saint Catherine of Siena, patron saint of Santa Catalina She was a mystic, author, activist, and diplomat. And one of the most influential voices in medieval Europe.
STEP INTO
your most authentic self.
That’s where true power lies. At Santa Catalina, we live by the fierce wisdom of Saint Catherine — and like her, our students just seem destined to make their mark.
So don’t hold back. Take the stage. Rush the field. Burst into song. Your passion is about to set the world on fire.
Built to inspire
THE VISUAL ARTS
True story: Before the school was here, these grounds were home to a community of artists. And one of those artists? None other than Salvador Dalí.
Art is part of life at Santa Catalina. It’s in the sunsets and the landscape. It’s in the sketches and
brushstrokes. In the dark rooms and light-filled studios. It’s off campus, too – on field trips to visit museums, galleries, and stunning private collections.
Self-expression is an art form. And Catalina students are masters at it.
• Light-filled studios
• Full black and white photography dark room
• Digital media lab
Visual Arts Offerings
• 2-D Foundations, Intermediate, Advanced
• Studio Art Seminar
• 3-D Media
• Design, Architecture, and Engineering
• Photography
Space to Create
Light up the stage
THE PERFORMING ARTS
From improv to dance to musical theatre, the art of performance is undeniably thrilling. So, breathe deep and dive in – to our theatre, music, and dance programs. Catalina students do three performances a year and our theatre tech program (lighting, sound design, set design, costumes, and props) is as popular as our performance track.
Performance & Practice Spaces
• 500-seat professional theatre
• 150-seat recital hall
• Dance studio
• 6 music studios for private instruction and practice
Private music lessons. In addition to music courses and chorale groups, private lessons (voice and instrument) are also available.
GO FOR PERSONAL BEST AND TEAM TRIUMPHS.
Go Cougars!
ATHLETICS
Catalina athletes compete (and win) in league and regional competition at the varsity and junior varsity levels. Just as important? They get noticed for their
great attitude on the field and off. Within our division, we’ve received the “Exemplary Sportsmanship” award 18 times in the past 20 years.
Sports
Golf
Swimming & Diving
Track & Field
Volleyball
Water Polo
Lessons
Horseback Riding
Tennis
Facilities
Full gym for basketball & volleyball
Six outdoor tennis courts
Running track
Athletic field
Weight room
Competition-sized pool
Workout room
True community
At Santa Catalina, boarding and day students come together to create a powerful sense of community. Our international students come from places like Asia, Europe, and Latin America, and they bring their own culture and traditions that consistently enrich the Catalina experience.
As for our day students, they get to share all they know and love about this beautiful area – including the best places to hike, kayak, and paddleboard.
Try everything. That’s what your friends will say. “You can do it” is the underlying spirit at Catalina. So audition for the musical, play a new sport, join robotics, or submit a story for publication. It’s the energy of encouragement on campus that powers true sisterhood.
Caring for community needs. Service is a huge part of the Catalina experience. You’ll find our students helping out at the Monterey Food Bank, volunteering at the Family Resource Center, and participating in beach cleanups and habitat restoration all across the peninsula.
Road trip, anyone?
Just 10 minutes southwest of Santa Catalina is the city of Carmel, a historic (very dog friendly) community of artists, writers, poets, and creatives. If it’s the outdoors you crave, head 45 minutes south on the world-famous Highway 1 and marvel at the unmatched glory of Big Sur.
Do more, explore more, connect more.
There’s no end to what you can do here. Experience international relations in Model UN. Educate about well-being as part of the Student Health and Wellness Committee. Make some noise with Lady Rhythmics.
Of course, we also have groups for performers, coders, thinkers, culture seekers, and animal lovers. Anything that piques your interest, you can pursue.
“Ring Sisters” for life! Costume parties, scavenger hunts, and more. Ring Week is when seniors plan a week of themed activities and juniors receive their coveted class rings. Is it fun? Yes. But it’s really about sisterhood –celebrating the lifelong friendships that are forged while you’re here.
TEDxSantaCatalinaSchool. Organized and managed by students, our annual TEDx event features presentations from students and experts on topics ranging from creativity and transformation to altruism and abundance. It’s all presented in front of a live audience. And streamed around the globe.
Traditions. Boarding student or day, freshman or senior, you’ll bond through programs like Big Sister-Little Sister. Through whitewater rafting trips. At Halloween Dinner. And at Candlelight Mass. Traditions run deep here.
GET READY FOR….
Big/Little Sisters
Birthday Desks
Parents’ Weekend
Halloween Dinner
Kris Kringles
Candlelight Mass
Ring Week
Junior-Senior Prom
Father-Daughter
Weekend
Spirit Day
Cake Auction
Class Night
71%
of the Class of 2025 admitted to “reach” colleges (25% chance of acceptance)
Class of 2025: 24% of the Class of 2025 admitted to “unlikely” colleges (2% chance of acceptance)
266 185 acceptances to colleges in nearly all 50 states and 4 countries
Live your truth –
IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND.
At Santa Catalina, we want each of our graduates to go on to achieve great personal and professional success, and that begins with making the best college choice academically and personally.
Our graduates go on to study everything from engineering to fine art to social justice to marine science. And they regularly report feeling more than prepared for the challenges and opportunities of their college experience.
College Counseling.
Our college counseling program is a sophisticated system that moves beyond box-checking and helps you become the architect of your own application process. You start thinking and dreaming sophomore year. Researching and organizing junior year. Applying and celebrating senior year.
Need college information?
We have you covered. An annual information night and college fair. Dozens of college rep visits. A weekly newsletter packed with opportunities, insights, and news from the wider college admissions world. We demystify the process so you can focus on your journey, confidently.
VISIT
You have to see this place. Call 831.655.9356 or email admission@santacatalina.org to schedule your visit. Questions? We’d love to hear from you.
Learn more and apply online santacatalina.org.