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Aquinas High School: Lemann Center
Photo: Cbarrowsaquinas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Catholic high school

Aquinas High School

  • LocationSan Bernardino, CA
  • Type and sizeDiocesan school · Grades 9–12 · 626 students
Official website

Aquinas High School in San Bernardino is a co-educational Catholic high school whose mission is to form students through Catholic education to be servant leaders in the light and truth of the Gospel. Its Faith & Service campus ministry runs student-led retreats for each class from grades 9 through 11, and seniors attend the Kairos retreat. Students must complete 20 Christian service hours a year in grades 9, 10 and 11.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Aquinas High School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miOur Lady of Fatima Church: 2.3 mi1Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral: 2.6 mi2Saint Adelaide Catholic Church: 2.6 mi3Aquinas High School (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Our Lady of Fatima Church — 2.3 mi
  2. Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral — 2.6 mi · 2525 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino
  3. Saint Adelaide Catholic Church — 2.6 mi

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Faith scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ASacramental life: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Sacramental life

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Daily Mass available to students on campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Confession offered to students during the school yearNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolNot enough information: not found in official sources.
N/ATheology and curriculum: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Theology and curriculum

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Years of theology or religion requiredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Theology courses follow the USCCB Curriculum FrameworkNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in the program of studies or mission)Yes (Stated in the school's mission statement, not in a program of studies.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Mission Statement & ISOs | About Us | Aquinas High Schoolaquinashs.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=444674&type=d&pREC_ID=958750 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “A faith filled learning environment that is Christ centered, emphasizing diversity, social justice and service to one’s community.”
      The school's mission describes a faith-filled, Christ-centered learning environment.
N/ACampus culture: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Campus culture

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    RetreatsA retreat for every grade (Retreats are listed for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Special Events & Retreats | Faith & Service | Aquinas High Schoolaquinashs.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=486176&type=d&pREC_ID=1038317 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Kairos is a three-day, off campus retreat modeled after Ignatian spirituality. It is designed to provide an opportunity for Seniors to look more closely at and deepen their relationships with self, others, and God.”
      Seniors attend the three-day Kairos retreat.
      “Joyful Noise (Freshmen): Using music and the Psalms as a basis, the goal of this retreat is to bring teens into intimate and honest relationship with God”
      Freshmen attend the Joyful Noise retreat run by the Campus Ministry Team.
      “Thrive (Junior Retreat): The goal of this retreat is to help Juniors take greater ownership of their faith as they head toward high school graduation.”
      Juniors attend the Thrive retreat, and sophomores attend a separate sophomore retreat.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Campus ministry staffTwo or more (Two campus ministry staff are named on official pages: the director and an assistant director.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Staff | Faith & Service | Aquinas High Schoolaquinashs.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=486176&type=d&pREC_ID=staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Michele Nielsen Dir. of Campus Ministry/Teacher”
      Michele Nielsen is the Director of Campus Ministry.
    2. Staff Directory | Aquinas High Schoolaquinashs.net/apps/staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Chris Estrella Asst. Director of Campus Ministry, Teacher, Choir & Sound Team Director”
      Chris Estrella is the Assistant Director of Campus Ministry.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayNot enough information: not found in official sources.
N/AService and Catholic social teaching: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Service and Catholic social teaching

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Required service hours40 or more hours over four years (Students must complete 20 service hours per year in grades 9, 10 and 11, which is 60 hours by the end of grade 11 for a student who enrolls in grade 9.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Christian Service Hours Program | Faith & Service | Aquinas High Schoolaquinashs.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=486176&type=d&pREC_ID=1041767 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Please note that students who do not complete their 20 hours per year during grades 9, 10, & 11 will not receive their Semester 2 Ethics grade on transcripts until hours are submitted.”
      Students must complete 20 Christian service hours per year in grades 9, 10 and 11.
      “For example, if you have been here since 9th, you will need 60 hours.”
      A student who enrolls in ninth grade must have 60 service hours by the end of junior year.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes (Community service days are organized through the vicariates at local nonprofits and Catholic partner schools.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Special Events & Retreats | Faith & Service | Aquinas High Schoolaquinashs.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=486176&type=d&pREC_ID=1038317 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Each vicariate leader plans and supervises their group of Aquinas students at a participating local non-profit organizations or Catholic partner school.”
      Campus ministry organizes a Community Service Day at local nonprofits and Catholic partner schools.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • Every class from freshman to senior has a school retreat, including the three-day Kairos retreat for seniors.
    Sources (1)
    1. Special Events & Retreats | Faith & Service | Aquinas High Schoolaquinashs.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=486176&type=d&pREC_ID=1038317 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Kairos is a three-day, off campus retreat modeled after Ignatian spirituality. It is designed to provide an opportunity for Seniors to look more closely at and deepen their relationships with self, others, and God.”
      Seniors attend the three-day Kairos retreat.
      “Joyful Noise (Freshmen): Using music and the Psalms as a basis, the goal of this retreat is to bring teens into intimate and honest relationship with God”
      Freshmen attend the Joyful Noise retreat run by the Campus Ministry Team.
      “Thrive (Junior Retreat): The goal of this retreat is to help Juniors take greater ownership of their faith as they head toward high school graduation.”
      Juniors attend the Thrive retreat, and sophomores attend a separate sophomore retreat.
  • Students must complete 20 Christian service hours a year in grades 9 through 11, and the program is tracked through an online hours system.
    Sources (1)
    1. Christian Service Hours Program | Faith & Service | Aquinas High Schoolaquinashs.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=486176&type=d&pREC_ID=1041767 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Please note that students who do not complete their 20 hours per year during grades 9, 10, & 11 will not receive their Semester 2 Ethics grade on transcripts until hours are submitted.”
      Students must complete 20 Christian service hours per year in grades 9, 10 and 11.

Concerns

  • The published service requirement covers grades 9 through 11.
    Sources (1)
    1. Christian Service Hours Program | Faith & Service | Aquinas High Schoolaquinashs.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=486176&type=d&pREC_ID=1041767 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Please note that students who do not complete their 20 hours per year during grades 9, 10, & 11 will not receive their Semester 2 Ethics grade on transcripts until hours are submitted.”
      Students must complete 20 Christian service hours per year in grades 9, 10 and 11.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Faith & Service (Campus Ministry), Aquinas High School

  • Address: 2772 Sterling Ave. San Bernardino, CA 92404
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: chapel

Source: aquinashs.net, verified Oct. 12, 2026, aquinashs.net, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

5 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 2 off campus, 3 location not published

Retreats 4

  • Kairos Retreat for SeniorsOff campus
    A three-day, off-campus retreat modeled after Ignatian spirituality, with talks, prayer, Mass and reconciliation.
    aquinashs.net
  • Joyful Noise (Freshmen retreat)
    A student-led retreat for freshmen based on music and the Psalms.
    aquinashs.net
  • Virtuous Reality and Shake Your Beauty (Sophomore retreats)
    One-day retreat
    Separate one-day student-led retreats for sophomore young men and young women, based on the four cardinal virtues.
    aquinashs.net
  • Thrive (Junior retreat)
    A student-led retreat to help juniors take greater ownership of their faith.
    aquinashs.net

Service 1

  • Community Service DayOff campus
    Vicariate groups serve at participating local nonprofits or Catholic partner schools for a day.
    aquinashs.net

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Campus ministry

Sources (2)
  1. Staff | Faith & Service | Aquinas High Schoolaquinashs.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=486176&type=d&pREC_ID=staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Michele Nielsen Dir. of Campus Ministry/Teacher”
    Michele Nielsen is the Director of Campus Ministry.
  2. History & Map of the Campus | About Us | Aquinas High Schoolaquinashs.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=444674&type=d&pREC_ID=958767 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Aquinas High School 2772 Sterling Ave. San Bernardino, CA 92404 PH: (909) 886-4659”
    The school's published address is 2772 Sterling Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92404.
    “student center, chapel, school store, snack bar and counselors' offices”
    The campus includes a chapel.

Reach out

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Academic Excellence

DAcademic Excellence: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
50 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduates going to four-year colleges 75% of scoreThis measure counts for 75% of the Academic Excellence score.85%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.18.4 to 1

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed. Federal data on private high schools is limited to these two measures.

Source: NCES Private School Survey (2023–24 school year)

School facts

TypeDiocesan school
DioceseDiocese of San Bernardino, CA
Grades9–12
Students (all grades)626
Students in grades 9–12626
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio18.4 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges85%
SettingCity

Source: NCES Private School Survey 23-24 public-use file (school year 2023–24). The college-going rate and student–teacher ratio feed Academic Excellence; nothing here changes the faith grades.

Local Church

Diocese of San Bernardino

The Most Reverend Alberto Rojas, Bishop of San Bernardino

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Aquinas High School a Catholic high school?
Yes. Aquinas High School is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of San Bernardino.

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