We challenge students at just the right level, helping them flourish in areas of strength and providing reinforcements in areas of growth. No matter the subject, students are encouraged to explore and pursue questions of meaning.
Academic Excellence
Santa Catalina School's academic program is designed to expand students' minds and inspire their curiosity and desire for lifelong learning. Our faculty encourage students to think for themselves, to ask questions, and to find answers. By the time they graduate, our students leave here equipped and empowered to excel.
Marine Ecology Research Program
The Marine Ecology Research Program (MERP) is an award-winning, three-year program that exposes students to the wonders of Monterey Bay, one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. MERP provides an 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.
Global Education
The purpose of Santa Catalina’s global education program is for students to develop the attitudes, skills, and knowledge they need to understand and address the world’s shared challenges. Students wishing to pursue a Certificate in Global Leadership complete courses in world languages, religious studies, and history, and engage in experiences outside the classroom: traveling abroad, participating in service, attending lectures, and taking part in outward-focused extracurricular activities.
Engineering
Santa Catalina’s engineering program aims to serve each student. Delivered through designated courses, co-curricular offerings, club activities, and curriculum integration across disciplines, engineering education and design challenges give students the opportunity to develop skills and competencies that are essential for success in college, career, and life. Even if students choose not to pursue the engineering profession, they will benefit from a mindset that empowers them to solve challenging problems and drive innovation.
Student Exchanges
Santa Catalina participates in exchanges with Saint-Denis International School in France and the all-girls Downe House School in England. Students say these exchanges expand their worldviews, expose them to different perspectives, boost their communication skills, and push them to become more resilient and independent—all qualities that the next generation of global leaders need to be successful.
International Trips
Students may also take part in an international trip each year. Our mission and identity trip to Italy immerses students in the history and culture of the country, including visits to museums, historical sites, and the birthplace of Santa Catalina’s patron saint, St. Catherine of Siena. On our service trip to Costa Rica, students spend time with locals, take part in adventures like ziplining, and take part in a service project, such as building walking paths in a national wildlife refuge. These trips not only expose students to different cultures and ways of living, but also allow them to blossom in confidence and appreciation—and form strong bonds of friendship with one another.
Upper School Signature ProgramsThe Freshman Foundations program provides incoming ninth-graders with a set of academic and lifelong learning skills they can employ over the course of their high school experience at Catalina. There is no homework in this ungraded, year-long course; rather, students meet with an instructor in small sections once a week to cover study skills designed to prepare and support them as they progress through their freshman year. Because the course relies on inquiry learning, students learn through doing, becoming skilled through practice and one-on-one instruction.
Upper SchoolWhether you're working through a tricky math concept, preparing for a test, or crafting a strong essay, support is always within reach. The Math Tutoring Center offers a welcoming space for students to ask questions, review homework, practice problems, or study independently or with classmates. For writing, the Writing Lab provides one-on-one guidance on everything from brainstorming and thesis development to organizing arguments and selecting textual evidence.
Upper School