Founded in 1950, Santa Catalina School is an independent, Catholic, day and boarding school for girls in California.
We are located on 36 acres in beautiful Monterey, a two-hour drive south of San Francisco.
Our students choose from a variety of academic offerings, including 11 Advanced Placement (AP) classes, 19 Advanced Topics (AT) classes, and our signature marine ecology research program.
We also offer a wide range of visual and performing arts electives, including theatre, digital media, photography, and dance.
Our students discover skills, talents, and interests they never knew existed within themselves-whether it's playing one of 12 interscholastic sports, or leading a club, or serving the greater community.
Class sizes are small and are taught the way girls learn most effectively, often with open discussion and group projects.
The Catalina experience is about asking deeper questions, taking braver chances, and making bolder mistakes-to become leaders that impact their communities and the world around them.
Quick Facts (2026)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 200 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $68,500
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $43,500
- Average class size: 11 students
- Application Deadline: Feb. 1 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Santa Catalina School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 307 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Offering Breadth
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Year Founded
1950
1909
Campus Size
36 acres
125 acres
Colors
Blue, Gold
Student Body
Enrollment
200 students
300 students
% Students of Color
41%
25%
% International Students
20%
20%
% Students Boarding
58%
70%
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
29
17
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
74%
70%
Summer Program Details
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$56.9 million
$25 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$68,500
$59,900
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$43,500
$33,500
% Students on Financial Aid
37%
40%
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No
Admissions
Application Deadline
Feb. 1 / rolling
Jan. 15
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Director of Admissions
Jamie Buffington Browne '85
Associate Director of Admissions
Ala Milani ’87
AP / Advanced Courses
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
29
17
Courses
AT: Dramatic LiteratureAT: History Research Seminars (6)
AT: Mandarin ChineseAT: Marine Ecology Research 3
AT: Multivariable CalculusAT: Physics w/ Tigonometry
AT: Physics w/CalculusAT: Shakespeare
AT: Spanish LiteratureAT: Statistics
AT: The Art of MemoirAT: The Art of Rhetoric
Biology APCalculus AB
Calculus BCChemistry AP
English Literature APFrench Language AP
Mandarin Chinese APMusic Theory AP
Spanish Language APUS History AP
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
17
16
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
44
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Arts and Music Programs:
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Accents (Dance)Alegria
BURRITO (improv group)Catalina Children's Fund
Catalinan (Yearbook)Chemistry Club
Chinese Culture ClubECCO (a capella)
French Culture ClubHealth and Wellness Committee
Jewish Cultural ClubKorean Culture Club
Lady Rhythmics (body percussion)Lamplighter (Student Newspaper)
Math Tutoring CenterMock Trial
Model United NationsMosaic (Literary Magazine)
Movie ClubNational Honor Society
Peace and JusticeR4 (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Renew)
Reverb (Music Group)Robotics Team
Safe SpaceSpanish Language and Culture Club
Student SenateStudents of Color Affinity Group
TEDxSantaCatalinaSchoolThespian Society
Wildlife Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Ballet (Pointe)Choir
Contemporary DanceDigital Media
Hip-Hop DanceInstrumental Ensemble
Jazz DanceMusical Theatre Dance
Photography (Darkroom)Private music lessons
Tap Dance
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Rugby ClubStrength and Conditioning
College Matriculation
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
University of Southern California
11
Chapman University
10
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
8
University of Oregon
7
Saint Mary's College of California
6
Boston University
5
Texas Christian University
5
University of California, Berkeley
5
Carnegie Mellon University
4
Southern Methodist University
4
School Notes
- The co-curricular advisory program, Journey, assists students in developing their highest personal, academic, and spiritual potential.
- Introductory through advanced level courses are offered in art, photography, music, dance, and theatre.
- Performance facilities include a professional-level 500-seat performing arts center, a 150-seat recital hall, and a dance studio.
- Our signature marine ecology program is a three-year 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.
- Our college counseling goal is to help each young woman find the right program that is the best academic, extracurricular, and personal fit for her.
- Our strong alumnae base is comprised of more than 5,000 women with 15 domestic and 3 international alumnae association chapters.
- Accreditations and memberships include Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), and the National Coalition of Girls Schools (NCGS).
- Santa Catalina School accreditations: Western Association of Schools and Colleges; NAIS, CAIS, NCGS, TABS, CASE, CEEB, NACAC, WBSA, SSAT
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Cynara Coomer, M.D. ’87 - General surgeon at Staten Island University Hospital and a a medical contributor at Fox News
- Monica C. Lozano ’74 - Publisher and CEO of the Spanish language newspaper, La Opinión, in Los Angeles
- Kate Dentoni Mitchell ’76 - CEO and co-founder of Scale Venture Partners and chairman of the National Venture Capital Association
- Leslie Redlich Cockburn ’70 - Award-winning investigative journalist and filmmaker
- Jessica Koehne ’96 - Physical scientist, NASA Ames Center for Nanotechnology
- Angelique Cabral ’97 - Actress, best known for her role on "Life in Pieces"
- Brita Sigourney ’08 - Olympic bronze medalist, freestyle skiing
- Teresa Barger ’73 - CEO, Cartica Capital
- School Motto: VERITAS—truth—our school motto
- School Mascot: Cougar
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Santa Catalina School cost?
Santa Catalina School's tuition is approximately $68,500 for boarding students and $43,500 for day students.
Who are famous alumni from Santa Catalina School?
Santa Catalina School famous alumni include: Cynara Coomer, M.D. ’87, Monica C. Lozano ’74, Kate Dentoni Mitchell ’76, Leslie Redlich Cockburn ’70, Jessica Koehne ’96, Angelique Cabral ’97, Brita Sigourney ’08 and Teresa Barger ’73.
What sports does Santa Catalina School offer?
Santa Catalina School offers 17 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Diving, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Sailing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Volleyball and Water Polo.
Does Santa Catalina School offer a summer program?
Yes, Santa Catalina School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What is Santa Catalina School's ranking?
Santa Catalina School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High # of AP/advanced courses offered.
When is the application deadline for Santa Catalina School?
The application deadline for Santa Catalina School is Feb. 1 / rolling (applications are due on Feb. 1 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
All girls, religious, mandatory church/ religious studies, volunteer, arts, athletics.. . .
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