Saint Mary’s College HighSchool is a fully accredited, Lasallian Catholic college preparatory high school, located in North Berkeley. The park-like campus is tucked inside a quiet residential area and is easily accessible by bike, car, bus and North Berkeley BART. Saint Mary’s believes it is our responsibility to prepare, teach, and educate our students to be compassionate and competitive in a global society. We actively incorporate the importance of faith, values, and service to others, with a strong sense of tradition and heritage.
Saint Mary’s also knows that our students are part of a world that is rapidly changing, connecting, adapting, and evolving. Our academic program prepares students for a university education and gives them the tools to discover their place as leaders and citizens in the 21st Century.
The traditional educational model, developed over a century ago, is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of today’s culture and environment. Saint Mary’s academic program emphasizes Mastery Over Performance. Our curriculum moves away from the traditional notion of reading a chapter and answering questions correctly, to understanding the implications of what is learned, or mastery of the material. Saint Mary’s teaches its students to become agents of their own learning by introducing them to research-supported learning strategies with an emphasis on the ability to read, think, analyze, and write critically; where they are also encouraged to explore their world by engaging in intellectual and moral inquiry.
Saint Mary’s offers a challenging curriculum that exceeds the University of California and California State University requirements. Historically, over 98% of our graduates have been accepted into four-year colleges and universities. Important educational opportunities also exist outside the traditional classroom. We are confident that our academic program together with a competitive athletic program, our extensive visual and performing arts offerings, and our Mission-based curricular and co-curricular programs (Epistemology Studies, Enrichment Week, Lasallian Days, The Freshman Experience, etc.), set Saint Mary’s apart and enable us to provide one of the best educational opportunities for students in the Bay Area.