Academics

Learn it, do it, discover it.

At Catalina, true learning is rooted in self-discovery. Our academic standards are high, and the level of support and care we give to each student is even higher. 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. In the process, they learn more about themselves and their place in the world.


 

Marine Ecology

The Marine Ecology Research Program is where learning gets deep. This is hands-on, feet-wet inquiry that happens in one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.

College-Level Classes

Our Advanced Topics courses, certified by the University of California, allow for intensive, college-level study around specialized subjects.

The Arts

Fun fact: 100% of Catalina students take classes in the arts. From visual arts to theatre, music, and dance, creative expression is valued as highly as academic and athletic excellence.

 

 

Meet Our Teachers

With a 7:1 student-faculty ratio, Catalina teachers get to know you exceptionally well.
 

Santa Catalina School teacher and students holding small robots

Amy Azevedo Mulgrew '02

Math and Computer Science
Freshman Class Dean

In computer science, I have loved exposing the girls to the world that they will forever be a part of. No matter what their interest, these skills will make them competitive in their academics and in their careers.

Amy Azevedo Mulgrew '02

From: Livermore, CA

Degrees: B.A., applied mathematics, UC Berkeley
M.S., applied mathematics, CSU Long Beach

Mrs. Mulgrew's ties to Catalina began when she was a boarding student. “I am still inspired by the teachers I had here. They showed me that I could do anything, and that support carried me through much of the rest of my education.” After graduating in 2002, she attended UC Berkeley and California State University Long Beach, where she also taught math. She enjoys crafts, swimming, and playing with her three young children.

Claire Lerner smiles with a student in an art studio with paintings on easels in the background.

Claire Lerner

Visual Arts

I am constantly inspired by my students and their work.

Claire Lerner

From: New York City

Degrees: B.F.A. and M.F.A., State University of New York

Ms. Lerner is an award-winning photographer and painter who has taught at Catalina for more than 20 years. Prior to coming here, she was a member of the photography faculty at Monterey Peninsula College. Her work has been exhibited both locally and internationally and has been collected by a broad range of private and public institutions.

Santa Catalina School teacher Blake Riley smiles in class

Blake Riley

Religious Studies

Students here want to grow and learn. The classroom experience is relaxed, focused, and respectful.

Blake Riley

From: St. Louis, Missouri

Degrees: B.A., political science and religious studies, Saint Louis University

Mr. Riley began teaching at Santa Catalina in 2006. He and his wife live on campus with their two daughters. Mr. Riley loves the collaborative nature of the Religious Studies department, where teachers work together on service projects, spiritual retreats, and weekly chapel services. “We want students to feel comfortable and confident to reflect on faith, and we want them to be open to the spiritual and God,” he says.

 

 

Santa Catalina School students pose for a group shot in their college sweatshirts in front of the Hacienda.

College Prepped

Santa Catalina School girls are accepted into the top schools in the country every year. Through one-on-one college counseling meetings and the Veritas Journey advisory program, students are carefully guided through each stage of the process so they select the school that is the best fit for them. Wherever their next steps take them, new graduates report being more than prepared for the college academic experience.

Class of 2023

Santa Catalina’s newest graduates were accepted into four Ivy League schools: Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Yale.

See Full List of Colleges

Inquire     Visit    Apply