Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.
Aerial view of Cardinal Newman High School
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

Catholic high school

Cardinal Newman High School

  • LocationSanta Rosa, CA
  • Type and sizeDiocesan school · Grades 9–12 · 550 students
Official website

Cardinal Newman High School is a private Catholic, college preparatory school in Santa Rosa, California. It has a chaplain, a campus ministry director and a chapel on campus. Every grade has a class retreat, and students complete 25 hours of Christian service each year.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Cardinal Newman High School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 miNewman Chapel: 0.0 mi1Cardinal Newman Campus Ministry: 0.2 miCardinal Newman High School (campus)N0.1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Newman Chapel — 0.0 mi · 4320 Old Redwood Highway, Santa Rosa

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.

  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearA few times a year
    Sources (2)
    1. Campus Ministry | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/faith-service/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Our Cardinal Newman community came together to honor our parish and local partners with a school-wide Mass dedicated to St. Angela Merici, the patroness of Ursuline High School.”
      A school-wide Mass was held during Catholic Schools Week 2025.
    2. Retreats | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/faith-service/retreats · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Through prayer, small group discussions, Mass, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, students deepened their faith”
      The junior class retreat included Mass and a Reconciliation service.
  • Not enough information: 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: 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: 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.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolYes (Fr. Christopher Girolo is listed as chaplain.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Service | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/faith-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. Christopher Girolo Chaplain”
      Fr. Christopher Girolo serves as chaplain.
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.

  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Years of theology or religion requiredFour years (Theology is required for four years (8 semesters).)
    Sources (1)
    1. Graduation Requirements | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/academics/graduation-requirements · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “4 Years/8 Semesters Christian Service Project concludes with a presentation and essay in May of senior year”
      Theology is required for four years.
  • Not enough information: 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: 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.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in the program of studies or mission)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
ACampus culture: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Campus culture

87 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    RetreatsA retreat for every grade (Each grade (freshman, sophomore, junior and senior) has a class retreat.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Retreats | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/faith-service/retreats · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Freshman Retreat takes place during the school day”
      Freshmen have a class retreat.
      “The sophomore retreat is an overnight retreat.”
      Sophomores have a class retreat.
      “The Junior Retreat is an overnight retreat taking place on a Sunday and Monday during the spring semester at CYO Camp in Occidental.”
      Juniors have a class retreat.
      “The Senior Retreat an overnight retreat taking place on a Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday during the spring semester in Occidental.”
      Seniors have a class retreat.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Campus ministry staffTwo or more (Three ministry staff are listed on the Faith & Ministry Team: the chaplain, the Campus Ministry Director and the Christian Service Coordinator.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Faith & Service | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/faith-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. Christopher Girolo Chaplain”
      Fr. Christopher Girolo serves as chaplain.
    2. Retreats | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/faith-service/retreats · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Marie Rodnick, Campus Ministry Director”
      Marie Rodnick is the Campus Ministry Director.
  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsOne (One Campus Ministry Club is identified through its faculty advisor.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faculty & Staff Directory | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/about/faculty-staff-directory-1 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Teacher, Campus Ministry Club Advisor”
      Marie Rodnick is the advisor of a Campus Ministry Club.
  • Not enough information: 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: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Required service hours40 or more hours over four years (Students must complete 25 Christian Service hours each year, which totals 100 hours over four years.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Graduation Requirements | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/academics/graduation-requirements · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Students are also required to complete 25 hours of Christian Service each year.”
      Students must complete 25 Christian Service hours each year.
  • Not enough information: 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: 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.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Not enough information: not found in official sources.

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

Strengths

  • A priest, Fr. Christopher Girolo, is listed as chaplain.
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith & Service | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/faith-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. Christopher Girolo Chaplain”
      Fr. Christopher Girolo serves as chaplain.
  • Every grade has a class retreat.
    Sources (1)
    1. Retreats | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/faith-service/retreats · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Freshman Retreat takes place during the school day”
      Freshmen have a class retreat.
      “The sophomore retreat is an overnight retreat.”
      Sophomores have a class retreat.
      “The Junior Retreat is an overnight retreat taking place on a Sunday and Monday during the spring semester at CYO Camp in Occidental.”
      Juniors have a class retreat.
      “The Senior Retreat an overnight retreat taking place on a Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday during the spring semester in Occidental.”
      Seniors have a class retreat.
  • Students complete 25 hours of Christian Service each year.
    Sources (1)
    1. Graduation Requirements | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/academics/graduation-requirements · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Students are also required to complete 25 hours of Christian Service each year.”
      Students must complete 25 Christian Service hours each year.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Cardinal Newman Campus Ministry

  • Address: 4320 Old Redwood Highway, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: chapel

View on map ↗

Source: cardinalnewman.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, cardinalnewman.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

4 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 1 off campus, 3 location not published

Retreats 1

Clubs and groups 1

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • School-wide Mass
    Catholic Schools Week 2025
    A school-wide Mass was held during Catholic Schools Week.

Service 1

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 (3)
  1. Faith & Service | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/faith-service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Through a comprehensive program which includes campus ministry, the celebration of the Eucharist, prayer services, retreats, and service work, students are encouraged to embody the gospel values of Faith, Leadership, and Service.”
    Faith programs include campus ministry, the Eucharist, prayer services, retreats and service.
    “Fr. Christopher Girolo Chaplain”
    Fr. Christopher Girolo serves as chaplain.
  2. Message from the Chaplain | Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org/faith-service/message-from-the-chaplain · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “We are blessed to have a First Class relic of Blessed Stanley Rother present with us in our new chapel at Cardinal Newman.”
    The school has a chapel on campus.
  3. Cardinal Newman High Schoolcardinalnewman.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “4320 Old Redwood Highway Santa Rosa CA 95403”
    The school's address is 4320 Old Redwood Highway, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

Reach out

Contact details for Marie Rodnick (Campus Ministry Director) and 3 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

Sign in Create a free account

We keep campus ministers’ emails behind sign-in to protect them from spam.

My rating and notes

Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.

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.76%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.10.6 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 Santa Rosa, CA
Grades9–12
Students (all grades)550
Students in grades 9–12550
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio10.6 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges76%
SettingSuburb

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 Santa Rosa

The Most Reverend Robert F. Vasa, Bishop of Santa Rosa

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Cardinal Newman High School a Catholic high school?
Yes. Cardinal Newman High School is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Santa Rosa.

Reviews

Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.

No reviews yet.

Sign in to write a review.

More in California · California rankings