Curriculum
Santa Catalina School's academic program is designed to expand students' minds and inspire their curiosity and desire for lifelong learning. Whether discussing the life of a cell or American foreign trade policy, 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.
Special Programs
Advanced Topics (AT) Courses
AT courses allow students to go deep on the topics that interest them. These courses, which are UC Honors certified, are inspired by the passions of Santa Catalina students and designed by our expert faculty. AT courses are offered in English, history, math, science, and world languages.
Learn more about AT courses.
Certificate Program
The certificate program is designed to give students a college-level experience while exposing them to the professional world. Students can earn a certificate if they engage in a four-year course of study and complete out-of-class assignments to broaden their understanding. Certificates are a way to acknowledge student accomplishments and to recognize their commitment to a given area, whether the arts or marine science or global leadership.
Learn more about the Certificate Program.
Freshman Foundations
The 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. Topics include digital literacy, competency in Google Drive, note-taking, time management, strategies for effective reading, communication, test-taking approaches, organizational tips, research methodology, and familiarity with campus resources like the Writing Lab and the Math Tutoring Center. Because the course relies on inquiry learning, students learn through doing, becoming skilled through practice and one-on-one instruction.
Marine Ecology Research Program
Because of our location just two miles from the Pacific Ocean, we have developed a signature program that exposes our students to the wonders of Monterey Bay and allows them to take full advantage of its great educational value. Our three-year Marine Ecology Research Program (MERP) provides an intensive focus on marine science for a select group of students beginning in their sophomore year.
Learn more about MERP.
Veritas Journey Program
Santa Catalina’s co-curricular advising program encompasses a weekly advising session as well as Journey Days, which offer deeper dives into topics of community interest through presentations by visiting speakers, films, and discussion groups. Journey ensures a smooth transition into Santa Catalina for new students, teaches students essential life skills, promotes their growth as leaders, and helps them seek the best possible fit in the college application process.
Learn more about the Veritas Journey Program.