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Aerial view of Valley of the Sacred Heart Academy
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

Catholic high school

Valley of the Sacred Heart Academy

  • LocationDixon, CA
  • Type and sizeIndependent Catholic school · Grades K–12 · 76 students
Official website

Valley of the Sacred Heart Academy is a Catholic school in Dixon, CA, with a Montessori program, a junior high, and the Chesterton Academy high school for grades 9-12. Its pages say a local pastor assists with Mass for students, that Chesterton students attend retreats and adoration, and that philosophy and theology are part of the classical curriculum.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Valley of the Sacred Heart Academy, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 miSaint Peter Catholic Church: 0.0 mi1Valley of the Sacred Heart Academy (campus)N0.1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Peter Catholic Church — 0.0 mi · 101 South 2nd Street, Dixon

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.

DSacramental life: 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.

Sacramental life

43 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • 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 8th grade Mass is a junior high class and is not counted.)
    Sources (1)
    1. About – Valley of the Sacred Heart Academyvalleyofthesacredheart.com/about · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Father Ronald Torres, pastor of St. Peter Church, assists in celebrating Mass for the students.”
      A named local priest assists in celebrating Mass for the students.
  • 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.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredOccasionally (Chesterton students are said to enjoy adoration.)
    Sources (1)
    1. About – Valley of the Sacred Heart Academyvalleyofthesacredheart.com/about · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Chesterton students enjoy retreats, Adoration, formation classes, and ongoing opportunities for service.”
      Chesterton students have retreats and adoration.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolVisiting or shared priest (A named priest, the pastor of St. Peter Church, assists with Mass for students. He is not presented as the school's chaplain; the visiting or shared level is recorded.)
    Sources (1)
    1. About – Valley of the Sacred Heart Academyvalleyofthesacredheart.com/about · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Father Ronald Torres, pastor of St. Peter Church, assists in celebrating Mass for the students.”
      A named local priest assists in celebrating Mass for the students.
      “We are blessed by the support of local priests to assist us with the Sacraments and retreats throughout the school year.”
      Local priests assist with the sacraments and retreats.
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.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredYes (The Chesterton curriculum includes a philosophy course in the humanities sequence.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Chesterton Academy – Valley of the Sacred Heart Academyvalleyofthesacredheart.com/chesterton-academy · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “We study the development of philosophy from its classical roots focusing on Plato and Aristotle”
      Philosophy is taught in the Chesterton curriculum.
  • 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 about page says the Catholic faith is woven throughout the classical curriculum.)
    Sources (1)
    1. About – Valley of the Sacred Heart Academyvalleyofthesacredheart.com/about · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The Catholic faith is woven throughout the classical curriculum.”
      The Catholic faith is woven throughout the curriculum.
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.

  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    RetreatsRetreats for some grades (Retreats are offered as an opportunity, and the October 2026 retreat is described as an opportunity.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Chesterton Academy – Valley of the Sacred Heart Academyvalleyofthesacredheart.com/chesterton-academy · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Faith & Service Pro-Life Club Annual Spiritual Retreat”
      The Chesterton student activities list includes a Pro-Life Club and an annual spiritual retreat.
    2. Chesterton Retreat – Valley of the Sacred Heart Academyvalleyofthesacredheart.com/events/chesterton-retreat · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Chesterton student will have an opportunity to spend the day growing closer to Our Lord.”
      Chesterton students have the opportunity for a retreat day on October 16, 2026.
  • 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.
  • 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.

  • 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 (A Pro-Life Club is listed among the Chesterton student activities.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Chesterton Academy – Valley of the Sacred Heart Academyvalleyofthesacredheart.com/chesterton-academy · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Faith & Service Pro-Life Club Annual Spiritual Retreat”
      The Chesterton student activities list includes a Pro-Life Club and an annual spiritual retreat.
  • 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

  • Philosophy and theology are part of the Chesterton curriculum, and the faith is described as woven throughout the classical curriculum.
    Sources (2)
    1. Chesterton Academy – Valley of the Sacred Heart Academyvalleyofthesacredheart.com/chesterton-academy · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “We study the development of philosophy from its classical roots focusing on Plato and Aristotle”
      Philosophy is taught in the Chesterton curriculum.
    2. About – Valley of the Sacred Heart Academyvalleyofthesacredheart.com/about · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “The Catholic faith is woven throughout the classical curriculum.”
      The Catholic faith is woven throughout the curriculum.
  • Students have a Pro-Life Club and an annual spiritual retreat.
    Sources (1)
    1. Chesterton Academy – Valley of the Sacred Heart Academyvalleyofthesacredheart.com/chesterton-academy · verified Oct. 13, 2026
      “Faith & Service Pro-Life Club Annual Spiritual Retreat”
      The Chesterton student activities list includes a Pro-Life Club and an annual spiritual retreat.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Catholic clubs and student life

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

Other 1

  • Pilgrimage to Rome and AssisiOff campus
    Every other year; a 2027 pilgrimage is planned
    Juniors and seniors have the opportunity for a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, Italy.
    valleyofthesacredheart.com

Retreats 2

  • Chesterton RetreatOff campus
    Friday, October 16, 2026, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
    A day of retreat offered as an opportunity for Chesterton students, held at the PES Formation House in Vacaville.
    valleyofthesacredheart.com
  • Annual Spiritual Retreat
    Annual
    Listed among the Chesterton student Faith & Service activities.
    valleyofthesacredheart.com

Clubs and groups 1

Liturgy and prayer 1

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

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Academic Excellence

FAcademic Excellence: Minimal (grade F): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
25 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.55%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.5.0 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 Sacramento, CA
GradesK–12
Students (all grades)76
Students in grades 9–1224
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio5.0 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges55%
SettingTown

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 Sacramento

The Most Reverend Jaime Soto, Bishop of Sacramento

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Valley of the Sacred Heart Academy a Catholic high school?
Yes. Valley of the Sacred Heart Academy is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Sacramento.

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