Located on the breathtaking California coast in Monterey, Santa Catalina School is an independent, Catholic, all-girls boarding and day school that prepares students to lead lives of meaning and purpose. Grounded in relationships and service to others, Santa Catalina boasts a 75-year tradition of educating fearless and enthusiastic scholars equipped to enter the world with courage, grace, and compassion. Guided by expert faculty, girls take ownership of their academics and pursue their passions in athletics, the arts, and beyond. And they learn from one another in a global community where lifelong friendships are forged—and where true sisterhood fuels a culture of curiosity, kindness, and confidence.
Unique Characteristics
Marine Ecology Research Program: Santa Catalina sits just two miles from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, an environment so rich in biodiversity it’s known as “The Serengeti of the Sea.” Our three-year Marine Ecology Research Program takes advantage of our location by providing an intensive focus on marine science for a select group of students beginning in their sophomore year. Students study in and around the ocean, undertaking an independent research project as juniors and presenting their findings at a professional conference in their senior year.
Theatre Arts: Catalina dancers, singers, and actors captivate audiences in our 500-seat Performing Arts Center, staging two musicals and one comedic or dramatic play each year. Off-stage, students operate the state-of-the-art sound system, computerized lighting, and full-fly scenery equipment in all three full-scale productions. Our certificate program in the performing arts guides students through a comprehensive, four-year course of study that expands as well as refines each student’s artistic repertoire.
Global Leadership: The purpose of Santa Catalina’s global leadership program is to develop students’ attitudes, skills, and knowledge to be diplomatic leaders and ethical, globally minded change-makers. The certificate program, which begins in the sophomore year, takes an interdisciplinary approach and includes required academic coursework, travel abroad with an experiential education component, service, and more.