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Aerial view of St. Mary's College High School
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

Catholic high school

St. Mary's College High School

  • LocationBerkeley, CA
  • Type and sizeIndependent Catholic school · Grades 9–12 · 627 students
Official website

Saint Mary's College High School is a Lasallian Catholic college preparatory school in Berkeley, California. It publishes a four-year Religious Studies requirement, a Ministry Program with liturgy, retreats, service and immersion, daily classroom prayer, and a Philosophy requirement. The school's pages describe communal liturgies several times a school year, including a Mass of the Holy Spirit.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of St. Mary's College High School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Ambrose Catholic Church: 0.5 mi1Saint Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church: 0.7 mi2Saint Joseph the Worker Church: 0.9 mi3Saint Jerome Roman Catholic Church: 1.5 mi4Newman Hall Holy Spirit Parish: 2.0 mi5Saint Columba Roman Catholic Church: 2.4 mi6Saint Mary's Ministry Center: 0.0 miSt. Mary's College High School (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Ambrose Catholic Church — 0.5 mi · 1145 Gilman Street, Berkeley
  2. Saint Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church — 0.7 mi · 2005 Berryman Street
  3. Saint Joseph the Worker Church — 0.9 mi · 1640 Addison Street, Berkeley
  4. Saint Jerome Roman Catholic Church — 1.5 mi
  5. Newman Hall Holy Spirit Parish — 2.0 mi
  6. Saint Columba Roman Catholic Church — 2.4 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.

  • 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 (The page says the school gathers for liturgy several times a school year, including the Mass of the Holy Spirit.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Lasallian Prayer | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/ministry/lasallian-prayer · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “In addition to classroom prayer, we also gather in communal prayer and worship several times a school year for liturgy. These liturgies include the Mass of the Holy Spirit”
      The school gathers for liturgy several times a school year, including the Mass of the Holy Spirit.
  • 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.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolVisiting or shared priest (A school Mass is confirmed.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Lasallian Prayer | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/ministry/lasallian-prayer · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “In addition to classroom prayer, we also gather in communal prayer and worship several times a school year for liturgy. These liturgies include the Mass of the Holy Spirit”
      The school gathers for liturgy several times a school year, including the Mass of the Holy Spirit.
ATheology and curriculum: 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.

Theology and curriculum

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Years of theology or religion requiredFour years (Religious Studies is a four-year graduation requirement (40 credits). Courses are Faith in the Modern World (grade 9) and Scripture (grade 10), with upper-division selectives in grades 11 and 12.)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-2027 Course Catalog | Saint Mary's College High Schoolresources.finalsite.net/images/v1783535854/saintmaryschsorg/qyrawf7rbrwqfna61oot/2026-2027CourseCatalogv324.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Graduation requirement: Four years (40 credits)”
      Religious Studies is a four-year graduation requirement of 40 credits.
  • 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.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredYes (The Philosophy department lists a four-year graduation requirement (25 credits) in the course catalog; the catalog's graduation chart lists three years (15 credits).)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-2027 Course Catalog | Saint Mary's College High Schoolresources.finalsite.net/images/v1783535854/saintmaryschsorg/qyrawf7rbrwqfna61oot/2026-2027CourseCatalogv324.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Graduation requirement: 4 years (25 credits)”
      The Philosophy department lists a graduation requirement of four years (25 credits).
  • 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 (The program of studies states the curriculum as a whole is offered in the Lasallian Catholic tradition.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Course Catalog | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/academics/course-catalog · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The curriculum, as a whole, provides the intellectually rigorous coursework students need as part of an integrated, well-rounded, college preparatory education offered in the Lasallian Catholic tradition.”
      The curriculum as a whole is offered in the Lasallian Catholic tradition.
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

90 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    RetreatsA retreat for every grade (The retreat program has a day of reflection for freshmen and sophomores and an overnight retreat for juniors and seniors.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Retreats at Saint Mary's | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/ministry/retreats-at-saint-marys · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The retreat program has a full scope and sequence that builds upon itself, and also is designed to be developmentally appropriate for students at each of the four years in high school”
      The retreat program is designed for each of the four high school years, including a day of reflection for freshmen and sophomores and overnight retreats for juniors and seniors.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Campus ministry staffOne (One ministry staff member is listed: the Director of Ministry, who is also the vocation coordinator.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Clubs & Organizations | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/student-life/clubs-organizations · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Ministry Team Moderator: Mr. Jose Alvarez jalvarez@smpanthers.org”
      Mr. Jose Alvarez moderates the Ministry Team and is the school's Director of Ministry.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsTwo or more (The Ministry Team leads liturgies and formation, and the Service Club engages in Christian community service.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Clubs & Organizations | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/student-life/clubs-organizations · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “This team helps lead liturgies, student formation, and other faith-based events and activities throughout the school year.”
      The Ministry Team is a student group that leads liturgies and faith-based events.
      “The Service Club engages in living the Gospel imperative through Christian Community Service.”
      The Service Club is a student group for Christian community service.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayYes
    Sources (1)
    1. Lasallian Prayer | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/ministry/lasallian-prayer · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “These short prayers are familiar to Lasallians throughout the world – Brothers, teachers, students, parents, and alumni – and are recited during each period of the day.”
      Short prayers are recited during each period of the school day.
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.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Required service hoursNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesYes (Social Justice is a selective course in the Religious Studies department. It is not required of all students.)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-2027 Course Catalog | Saint Mary's College High Schoolresources.finalsite.net/images/v1783535854/saintmaryschsorg/qyrawf7rbrwqfna61oot/2026-2027CourseCatalogv324.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “This course will introduce students to the basic philosophical principles of justice and Catholic Social Teaching.”
      The Social Justice course, a selective Religious Studies course, introduces Catholic Social Teaching.
  • 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
    Sources (2)
    1. Enrichment Week | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/enrichment-week · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching, participants engage real questions of human rights and social justice”
      The Immersion Program trips are framed by Catholic Social Teaching and social justice.
    2. Clubs & Organizations | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/student-life/clubs-organizations · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Service Club engages in living the Gospel imperative through Christian Community Service.”
      The Service Club is a student group for Christian community service.

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

Strengths

  • Religious Studies is a four-year graduation requirement (40 credits), with a selective course on Catholic Social Teaching.
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-2027 Course Catalog | Saint Mary's College High Schoolresources.finalsite.net/images/v1783535854/saintmaryschsorg/qyrawf7rbrwqfna61oot/2026-2027CourseCatalogv324.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Graduation requirement: Four years (40 credits)”
      Religious Studies is a four-year graduation requirement of 40 credits.
      “This course will introduce students to the basic philosophical principles of justice and Catholic Social Teaching.”
      The Social Justice course, a selective Religious Studies course, introduces Catholic Social Teaching.
  • The retreat program is designed for each of the four high school years.
    Sources (1)
    1. Retreats at Saint Mary's | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/ministry/retreats-at-saint-marys · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The retreat program has a full scope and sequence that builds upon itself, and also is designed to be developmentally appropriate for students at each of the four years in high school”
      The retreat program is designed for each of the four high school years, including a day of reflection for freshmen and sophomores and overnight retreats for juniors and seniors.
  • Students recite short Lasallian prayers during each class period.
    Sources (1)
    1. Lasallian Prayer | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/ministry/lasallian-prayer · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “These short prayers are familiar to Lasallians throughout the world – Brothers, teachers, students, parents, and alumni – and are recited during each period of the day.”
      Short prayers are recited during each period of the school day.

Concerns

  • Mass is described as a liturgy several times a school year rather than as a regular weekly or daily offering.
    Sources (1)
    1. Lasallian Prayer | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/ministry/lasallian-prayer · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “In addition to classroom prayer, we also gather in communal prayer and worship several times a school year for liturgy. These liturgies include the Mass of the Holy Spirit”
      The school gathers for liturgy several times a school year, including the Mass of the Holy Spirit.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Saint Mary's Ministry Center

  • Address: 1294 Albina Avenue, Berkeley, CA
  • Location: On campus

View on map ↗

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

Catholic clubs and student life

6 groups and regular activities · 1 on campus, 2 off campus, 3 location not published

Retreats 2

  • Freshmen Community Day and Sophomore Day of ReflectionOff campus
    Freshmen: spring; Sophomores: during Lasallian Days
    A day of reflection for freshmen at Mont La Salle in Napa, and a sophomore day of reflection at Saint Mary's College in Moraga.
    saintmaryschs.org
  • Junior and Senior retreats
    Fall, winter and spring Lasallian Days
    Juniors attend a one-night, two-day retreat and most seniors attend a two-night, three-day retreat, offered during Lasallian Days.
    saintmaryschs.org

Service 2

  • Immersion ProgramOff campus
    Enrichment Week (March)
    Enrichment Week immersion trips to Lasallian schools abroad and in the United States, framed by Catholic Social Teaching.
    saintmaryschs.org
  • Service Club
    Meets weekly
    Organizes campus-wide service projects and programs with the local community, the Catholic Diocese of Oakland, and the Lasallian District.
    saintmaryschs.org

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • Lasallian school prayerOn campus
    Each period of the school day
    Short Lasallian prayers recited during each class period.
    saintmaryschs.org

Faith formation 1

  • Ministry Team
    Student team that helps lead liturgies, student formation, and other faith-based events, open to students of all faith traditions.
    saintmaryschs.org

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. Ministry | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “The Saint Mary’s Ministry Center, is located in Saint Joseph’s Hall just behind the Library and is open daily for the students, faculty, and staff of Saint Mary’s”
    The Ministry Center is on campus in Saint Joseph's Hall and open daily.
    “The Saint Mary’s Ministry Center, is located in Saint Joseph’s Hall just behind the Library and is open daily for the students, faculty, and staff of Saint Mary’s”
    The Ministry Center is on campus in Saint Joseph's Hall and open daily.
  2. Retreats at Saint Mary's | Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org/activities/ministry/retreats-at-saint-marys · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “The retreat program has a full scope and sequence that builds upon itself, and also is designed to be developmentally appropriate for students at each of the four years in high school”
    The retreat program is designed for each of the four high school years, including a day of reflection for freshmen and sophomores and overnight retreats for juniors and seniors.
  3. Saint Mary's College High Schoolsaintmaryschs.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “1294 Albina Avenue, Peralta Park Berkeley CA”
    The school's published address is 1294 Albina Avenue, Berkeley, CA.

Reach out

Contact details for Mr. Jose Alvarez (Ministry Team Moderator (Director of Ministry)) and 3 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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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.
49 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.18.8 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

TypeIndependent Catholic school
DioceseDiocese of Oakland, CA
Grades9–12
Students (all grades)627
Students in grades 9–12627
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio18.8 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 Oakland

The Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, Bishop of Oakland

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is St. Mary's College High School a Catholic high school?
Yes. St. Mary's College High School is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Oakland.

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