Santa Catalina School is an independent, Catholic, all girls boarding and day school for grades 9-12 in Monterey, California. We empower girls to ask deeper questions, take braver chances, become bolder leaders, and embrace their most authentic selves.
Founded in 1950, Santa Catalina provides a values-based, all-girls environment that is designed for young women to explore, discover, and deepen their passions and interests in academic and real-world settings. The Catalina experience is about each girl becoming her smartest, strongest, most confident, authentic self.
Santa Catalina’s campus is located in Monterey on the central coast of California, a region that boasts one of the most scenic coastlines in the country. From expanded learning opportunities to weekend outings, Monterey and its surroundings offer Catalina girls plenty to explore. Our Marine Ecology Research Program takes advantage of being only two miles from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and exposes our students to the wonders of local marine life allowing them to take full advantage of its great educational value. Students also have opportunities to engage with experts from local institutions such as the Naval Postgraduate School, Middlebury Institute for International Studies, and Panetta Institute for Public Policy.
In addition to Advanced Placement classes, our Advanced Topics courses, certified by the University of California, allow for intensive, college-level study around specialized subjects. Advanced topic courses are offered in English, history, math, science, and world languages. Students are also able to engage in one of our four certificate programs, which were designed to give them a college-level experience while exposing them to the professional world. Certificate programs include the Marine Ecology Research Program, global leadership, performing arts, and visual arts.
Community is an important part of the Catalina experience, and the girls build bonds through shared experiences that go beyond the classroom. Our students dive into athletics, the arts, student-run clubs, community service, and all our beloved traditions. They learn from one another in a global community that benefits boarding and day students alike.
