Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.
Aerial view of St. Monica Academy
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

Catholic high school

St. Monica Academy

  • LocationMontrose, CA
  • Type and sizeIndependent Catholic school · Grades 1–12 · 291 students
Official website

St. Monica Academy in Montrose, California, is an independent Catholic school for grades 1 through 12 that calls its high school a classical and authentically Catholic high school. Its 'Why SMA?' page states that the school offers daily prayer and weekly Mass, and the 2025-26 handbook places a school Mass at 8:00 AM on Fridays at Holy Redeemer Church, where the campus is located. The high school theology course runs in each of the four years, and the pro-life club Crusaders for Life prays the Rosary.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 1

  • Friday8:00 AMHoly Redeemer Church · From the 2025-26 parent-student handbook, the newest edition found.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 13, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. Parent-Student Handbook 2025-2026 | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/250813_ParentStudentHandbook_ForWebsite.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “On Fridays, school begins with 8:00 mass in Holy Redeemer Church.”
    School begins with an 8:00 AM Mass on Fridays at Holy Redeemer Church.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of St. Monica Academy, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miHoly Redeemer Catholic Church: 0.1 mi1Saint James Catholic Church: 2.5 mi2Holy Redeemer Parish campus (school Mass at Holy Redeemer Church): 0.1 miSt. Monica Academy (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Holy Redeemer Catholic Church — 0.1 mi
  2. Saint James Catholic Church — 2.5 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.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearWeekly (The 2025-26 handbook says school begins with an 8:00 AM Mass on Fridays, and the 'Why SMA?' page says the school offers weekly Mass. The handbook is the most recent edition found.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Parent-Student Handbook 2025-2026 | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/250813_ParentStudentHandbook_ForWebsite.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “On Fridays, school begins with 8:00 mass in Holy Redeemer Church.”
      School begins with an 8:00 AM Mass on Fridays at Holy Redeemer Church.
    2. Why SMA? | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/why-sma · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Daily prayer and weekly Mass”
      The school states that it offers daily prayer and weekly Mass.
  • 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 (The school Mass is held.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Parent-Student Handbook 2025-2026 | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/250813_ParentStudentHandbook_ForWebsite.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “On Fridays, school begins with 8:00 mass in Holy Redeemer Church.”
      School begins with an 8:00 AM Mass on Fridays at Holy Redeemer Church.
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 (The high school runs a theology course in each of the four years: Sacred Scripture, Doctrine, Apologetics and Moral Theology. The page describes these as the course for each year of the single high school program.)
    Sources (1)
    1. High School | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/high-school · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “During freshman year, the high school theology course is Sacred Scripture, covering both the Old and New Testaments.”
      The freshman-year theology course is Sacred Scripture.
      “During sophomore year, the course is Doctrine, focusing on the doctrinal teachings of the Catholic Church.”
      The sophomore-year theology course is Doctrine.
      “During junior year, the course is Apologetics.”
      The junior-year theology course is Apologetics.
      “During senior year, the course is Moral Theology.”
      The senior-year theology course is Moral Theology.
  • 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 (Apologetics is taught in junior year and Moral Theology in senior year. Each theology course has an apologetics component.)
    Sources (1)
    1. High School | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/high-school · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “During junior year, the course is Apologetics.”
      The junior-year theology course is Apologetics.
      “During senior year, the course is Moral Theology.”
      The senior-year theology course is Moral Theology.
  • 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 mission statement says the school seeks to form students in faith, reason and virtue through a classical education in the Roman Catholic tradition.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Mission & Philosophy | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/mission-philosophy · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “seeks to form students in faith, reason, and virtue through a classical education in the Roman Catholic tradition.”
      The mission is to form students in faith, reason and virtue through a classical education in the Roman Catholic tradition.
    2. High School | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/high-school · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Each theology course has an apologetics component, so students will learn to explain and defend the basic tenets of the Catholic faith.”
      Each high school theology course includes apologetics.
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.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    RetreatsNot 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.
    Campus ministry staffNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsTwo or more (Two faith-based student clubs are listed: Crusaders for Life, which prays the Rosary, and Schola, which sings at school Masses.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Crusaders for Life | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/crusaders-for-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Crusaders for Life is St. Monica’s pro-life club. Our students pray the Rosary and work for an end to abortion,”
      Crusaders for Life is the school's pro-life club, and its students pray the Rosary.
    2. Schola | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/schola · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The Schola is SMA’s largest club and provides choral sacred music at every school Mass.”
      The Schola is a student club that provides sacred music at every school Mass.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayYes (The school states that it offers daily prayer and weekly Mass.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Why SMA? | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/why-sma · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Daily prayer and weekly Mass”
      The school states that it offers daily prayer and weekly Mass.
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.
  • 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.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Yes (Crusaders for Life is the school's pro-life club, and it takes part in activities such as One Life L.A.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Crusaders for Life | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/crusaders-for-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Crusaders for Life is St. Monica’s pro-life club. Our students pray the Rosary and work for an end to abortion,”
      Crusaders for Life is the school's pro-life club, and its students pray the Rosary.
      “leading and participating in activities like One Life L.A. and Christian Service 4LIFE.”
      The club takes part in activities such as One Life L.A.
  • 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

  • The school states that it offers daily prayer and weekly Mass, and the handbook places a Mass at the start of the school day on Fridays.
    Sources (2)
    1. Why SMA? | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/why-sma · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Daily prayer and weekly Mass”
      The school states that it offers daily prayer and weekly Mass.
    2. Parent-Student Handbook 2025-2026 | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/250813_ParentStudentHandbook_ForWebsite.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “On Fridays, school begins with 8:00 mass in Holy Redeemer Church.”
      School begins with an 8:00 AM Mass on Fridays at Holy Redeemer Church.
  • A theology course is taught in each high school year, including Apologetics and Moral Theology.
    Sources (1)
    1. High School | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/high-school · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “During junior year, the course is Apologetics.”
      The junior-year theology course is Apologetics.
      “During senior year, the course is Moral Theology.”
      The senior-year theology course is Moral Theology.
      “Each theology course has an apologetics component, so students will learn to explain and defend the basic tenets of the Catholic faith.”
      Each high school theology course includes apologetics.
  • Two faith-based student clubs are listed, Crusaders for Life (pro-life) and Schola (sacred music at school Masses).
    Sources (2)
    1. Crusaders for Life | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/crusaders-for-life · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Crusaders for Life is St. Monica’s pro-life club. Our students pray the Rosary and work for an end to abortion,”
      Crusaders for Life is the school's pro-life club, and its students pray the Rosary.
    2. Schola | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/schola · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The Schola is SMA’s largest club and provides choral sacred music at every school Mass.”
      The Schola is a student club that provides sacred music at every school Mass.

Concerns

  • The service hours described are for parents.
    Sources (1)
    1. Parent-Student Handbook 2025-2026 | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/250813_ParentStudentHandbook_ForWebsite.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “On Fridays, school begins with 8:00 mass in Holy Redeemer Church.”
      School begins with an 8:00 AM Mass on Fridays at Holy Redeemer Church.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Holy Redeemer Parish campus (school Mass at Holy Redeemer Church)

  • Address: 2361 Del Mar Rd. Montrose, CA 91020
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: church

View on map ↗

Source: stmonicaacademy.com, verified Oct. 13, 2026, stmonicaacademy.com, verified Oct. 13, 2026, stmonicaacademy.com, verified Oct. 13, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

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

Clubs and groups 1

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • Schola
    The school's largest club. It provides choral sacred music at every school Mass.
    stmonicaacademy.com

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. Parent-Student Handbook 2025-2026 | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/250813_ParentStudentHandbook_ForWebsite.pdf · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “On Fridays, school begins with 8:00 mass in Holy Redeemer Church.”
    School begins with an 8:00 AM Mass on Fridays at Holy Redeemer Church.
    “On Fridays, school begins with 8:00 mass in Holy Redeemer Church.”
    School begins with an 8:00 AM Mass on Fridays at Holy Redeemer Church.
  2. Our History | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/our-history · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “Burgeoning enrollment and a 7-year search led the school to the current campus at Holy Redeemer Parish in 2016”
    The school's current campus is at Holy Redeemer Parish, since 2016.
    “Burgeoning enrollment and a 7-year search led the school to the current campus at Holy Redeemer Parish in 2016”
    The school's current campus is at Holy Redeemer Parish, since 2016.
  3. About | St. Monica Academystmonicaacademy.com/about · verified Oct. 13, 2026
    “2361 Del Mar Rd. Montrose, CA 91020”
    The school is at 2361 Del Mar Rd., Montrose, CA 91020.

Reach out

Contact details 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.75%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.9.6 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

TypeIndependent Catholic school
DioceseArchdiocese of Los Angeles, CA
Grades1–12
Students (all grades)291
Students in grades 9–12117
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio9.6 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges75%
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

Archdiocese of Los Angeles

The Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is St. Monica Academy a Catholic high school?
Yes. St. Monica Academy is a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Where is Mass celebrated at St. Monica Academy?
Mass is listed at Holy Redeemer Church. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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