Saturday morning, the hubby & I participated in helping the Diocese of San Diego with The Million Meal Event. Working in fellowship with our church community to help feed others was a wonderful experience. Our morning group did so well and broke previous records By the time our morning shift was over we had all packed 700,000 meals!! We are hoping by the end of this weekend event, we will have packed at 2 million meals. This is a beautiful school. Very well organized event. read more

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We were here to participate in a million meals event for the Catholic Diosee. We had a great time on this beautiful campus.

The school cannot support and does not tolerate atypical teens. We were forced to withdraw our senior 1 semester from graduation because he was in the restroom too long. He is a good student but high-functioning autistic. He is quirky. Not violent or disruptive. Our teen was bullied, but the school did nothing. The school called the police on him over an "anonymous" accusation that was unreasonable and false. Being different at CCHS made him an easy target by students and enough reason for admin to dismiss him. No compassion. The Learning Center is just a study hall. Unqualified and unsupportive staff. One confused our son causing him to fail to sign up for extra time for his final. BTW, extra time was a pre-approved accommodation for all tests. He went from an A to C in that class. Teacher nor staff did anything to right this wrong. Our kid lost out on AP Physics and Comp Sci exams and Calculus because his new public school does not offer those classes. CCHS was a waste of money. read more

Attended CCHS from 2006-2009. I didn't graduate from Cathedral because I switched schools to attempt to get an easier admission to a local college by being within the SDSU school district zone of admission (CCHS is out of that zone). The facilities of course are amazing, and they should be for the cost of tuition. I'm happy to say that I survived the Catholic school experience from 1st grade all the way to 11th, I am thankfully not indoctrinated into the Catholic faith. I am 32 now and a satanist (the satanic temple, which is a non-theistic religious organization. No, we don't worship the devil because they do not exist). As for my experience: all high school experience differ, but for the most part I think many struggle in high school. I was not from a wealthy family, and being surrounded by students whose parents were wealthy beyond my 15 year old comprehension was difficult in ways that might sound ridiculous. It wasn't the other student's fault, the class system is systemic and I was not in poverty (nobody going to CCHS is in poverty). I remember feeling singled out many times because of my uniform not being just right, but I couldn't afford to hem it. I'm not sure if it's the same now, but in the early '00s there was a rotating block schedule. Red days and Gold days, 123 and 456. Complicated, but that was one of the better aspects of the school overall in my opinion, it was to prepare us for college, I think? The worst part of my experience at this school was simply my unwillingness to accept benign answers to questions about religion that my teachers didn't know how to answer. If you're being forced as an adolescent to learn about a religion, it is not acceptable to make that student feel like a problem when they ask questions or criticize the religion they're being forced to "practice". I was also bullied pretty viciously for a period of time, but I don't think I can blame the school for a peer-to-peer problem. My biggest concern: I was a student here during a time when using certain words to describe something that's "dumb" or "stupid" or "annoying" would be considered a hate crime today.. it was completely normal. There were VERY few minorities in my class of over a thousand students. I cannot imagine what being a student in an environment like that must be like today. Where any questions of gender, romantic preference, or religious differences are seen as a hindrance to the overall organism that is a catholic high school. I truly hope that has changed, but I have serious doubts that it has. Upsides: the theatre program was amazing, and choices of elective classes were really cool, stuff like media class (which i took) where I learned that music production was a passion of mine, as well as access to VERY expensive camera and audio equipment that we were allowed to take home and bring back. Again though, for the cost of tuition, this is expected. Having swim be an option for P.E. class was pretty cool in my opinion, minus the smell of chlorine in my hair for the rest of the day depending on which day it way (rotating block schedule, again). Extreme Downsides: religious trauma. I drank at school, along with many other students who used substances (the kind I couldn't afford, some might say it's ski-slope related), despite there being spontaneous drug dogs that would come. I had friends with severe eating disorders. Lunch was not free, and although the options at the outdoor lunch shop were wide and diverse, many days I just didn't eat because unlike other students, I couldn't afford lunch (was bullied for this, too). It's not the student's choice where they go to school for the most part, but if you're a parent reading this, please please please spare your child the difficulty of the Cathedral Catholic experience. Do Montessori instead if you've got the money and want to skirt public school for whatever reason (I understand there ARE serious reasons to not want public school for your child). Two stars because some of the teachers were subversive and amazing, although they didn't last long because of it, plus the facilities were brand new and really great. I made it out and am now a functioning adult living in San Francisco with my partner of 10 years, as a socialist and satanist, factor that in as you'd like to. ‍ if you care about your child's long term mental health, maybe don't send them here. read more

This private catholic school is one of the best high schools in Southern California. The facilities are much like a university campus with well structured curriculum and talented teachers. Security at the campus is friendly but vigilant and brings about a safe learning environment. The school boasts some of the best athletic programs, especially in soccer and football. The stadium football field and indoor gym are huge and are of exceptional quality. Some of the schools athletic teams are nationally ranked. The school is pricey but you get what you pay for. This places provides excellent structure and warm guidance for our teen students to enter a big world with God as their guide. read more

Cathedral Catholic High School - Middle Schools & High Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

Great school great community- really challenging course work for kids lots of extra curriculum activities for student

Great teachers, except for select few who don't care about students. Great staff, very caring, admin on the other hand also does no care about students- teachers are prioritized and given immunity, regardless of acts or amounts of complaints. Even teachers would complain about admin to students. Overall, would like admin to hear out students opinions more as they are the ones in the classrooms everyday read more

class of 2020: absolutely horrible school (particularly for closeted queer children) with a history of inappropriate behavior from security guards, male teachers, and administrators. extremely strict enforcement of traditional gender roles, mediocre-at-best academics, widespread hostility towards non-believers and non-catholics, and a strange fixation on their beloved ipads that tended to do more harm than good. arbitrary policies regarding facial and head-hair length (jesus had a beard and long hair, didn't he?), phone usage, and headphone usage. there is lackluster selection of classes and art electives. administration loves to surveil students on social media and during class. they also did a terrible job at curtailing students vaping, and the selling, buying, and trading of vapes between students; they were either so oblivious that they didn't even realize it was a problem or too incompetent to address it in a meaningful way. i always got really yucky vibes from the "options" program there, which seems to be rooted in a deeply-entrenched neurotypical savior complex and ableism--complete with performative allyship and pseudo-inclusion. i genuinely believe this school helps foster, encourage, and excuse misogynistic behavior within men and teenage boys. look no further than the fact that they banned skirts from the dress code because they were "distracting" to male teachers and/or dress code violations regarding skirt length were too "difficult" to bring up to girls. i had a spanish teacher who'd hand out detentions for forgetting your flashcards or being a single second late to class. honestly, some of the older teachers simply need to retire and move on, or find another job. perhaps the only redeeming quality of this school in my opinion is the counselors. however, this school was a net detriment to the trajectory of my life overall and the years i spent there made me miserable. CCHS inspired in me nothing besides a total loss of self-esteem and unforgettable negative associations with the word Cathedral. i dreaded the sound of my alarm clock going off on a school day. please don't waste your money on this place; your child is probably better off at torrey pines. (reposting this on Yelp since they turned off Google reviews lol) read more

I have two sons entering 9th grade and a nephew entering 10th grade. They are all dedicated sports players and have maintained a 4.0 GPA. However, after meeting with Mr. Calkins and Mrs. Conroy, who I believe are the Dean or principal, we decided to consider enrolling them in a different school. The reason being that we were taken aback by their pretentious attitude and inappropriate remarks towards some current students shortly before our introduction. Although the campus is beautiful and I'm sure there are excellent teachers there, the interaction left my wife and me feeling uneasy. Two stars given for the campus read more

Second time at this school for waterpolo tournament, amazing campus. The 5 stars for the campus grounds only! I have no clue about the staff or academics. read more

Great school beautiful campus. Had a great time at the Honor Bowl Cathedral Catholic be Brophy Prep.

Solid high school with great kids and a well-kept, new campus. It's Tuscan styled, which is fitting for this co-ed Catholic school. I highly recommend Mrs. Harmaning for English. She taught me priceless writing skills. Even though I am decent at writing, she often returned my essays covered in commentary and I found the importance and an ability to analyze better in her class than any science class I've ever taken. I have always wanted to thank her for how much she has contributed to my life. I also love Mr. Fares, who also teaches English, though to me he was more of a mentor. He moderated Zero Period Journalism class, and he is absolutely a pleasure to know. He too left a forever lasting impression on me and I think of him and our Journalism team often. They form some of my fondest memories and feelings of fulfillment. Many teachers stood out. Other popular teachers included Mrs. Davis, who could boast a 100% pass rate for her AP European History students. Dr. Bertch taught Chemistry very thoroughly as well. She, as well as most teachers, was available on an unlimited basis for additional help and review sessions. Many of the teachers are also involved in sports. CCHS students are generally more athletic than your typical student, and very motivated. I highly recommend participating in sports at least one quarter. I only did to fulfill a PE credit, but it was an unexpected blast! I enjoyed going to CCHS and the body of students and faculty is, overall, quite loving and courteous. I was not religious when I attended CCHS, and this was known, but it was not a problem at all. Students are, however, required to take four years of religion classes and to attend Mass on occasion. When I was a student, the food was not the best and there are more enforcements for school dances than your typical school. Some teachers go around with rulers to measure distance between bodies and I couldn't bring my date to Prom because he was 21. Also, uniform skirts aren't to be greater than three inches above the knee, though most girls break that rule. I suppose Saturday detention was worth it ;) read more

My review is for the football field / track field. Our family has been here several times for football games and track and field events. This campus is gorgeous. Everything is maintained to a very high level. Parking is ample and the grounds are very clean. I hope someday my kids get to go to school here. read more

Cathedral Catholic High School - Sports field - Middle Schools & High Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

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I still don't know what we paid for that was for the direct benefit of our kid, who was a STELLAR student first and an athlete second at way more rigorous institutions, but the campus is beautiful so they get an extra star for that. Get ready to shell out a lot more $$$ if your kid is a true academic who has sights on competitive universities and wants to build a strong resume toward a desired major. This school is geared toward getting athletes or others who probably can't compete elsewhere academically into good schools. They're good at that if that's your kid. Another poster broke it down perfectly. read more

Their lacrosse team has no character. Their arrogance, poor sportsmanship, and constant chirping makes them impossible to respect. Saying that the "make a wish" kid finally got their wish when we scored is reprehensible. Disgusting. Who is raising these kids? read more

Words cannot describe how incredibly WONDERFUL this high school is! The campus is like a palace. We are beyond Blessed to have our son attend here with another son to follow in the next 2 years. He is not only a part of the school but a family who supports one another. From the administrative staff on up to the Principal, Mr. Calkins and the President, Mr. Laaperi! The teachers are loving and truly care about their students learning and well being. CCHS is a home of Faith, Knowledge, Character, and Responsibility. And with a main focus on God, your child will flourish in their future endeavors. read more

One of the rudest schools we have attended No manners I would think a school of this caliber would have parents , children and staff with better manners read more

I have had one daughter graduate from CCHS and a second one graduating soon. I love the grooming of our children in becoming the responsible and good hearted Catholics they have become and are going to be. Well worth the sacrifices our family made to send our kids here. A HUGE THANK YOU! read more

Top notch school on every level. It has been an incredible, academic, collegial experience for our children and I am so honored and thankful. They have had amazing teachers, peers and opportunities. read more

Hated this school and the stupid rules. Administration is so rude and ruled through fear. Got in trouble for writing on my backpack, hair not being the right way, jeans too tight, wearing the wrong sweater. Boys fighting or harassing girls with no consequences and even breaking school property they dont get punished. Biology teacher played pranks using dissecting animals, so disrespectful. Students can't be themselves, forced to be something else. Mandatory Religion class takes away opportunities to pursue other elective class which made me behind when i switched schools. Art classes are practically nonexistent and is required to graduate. Some of the admin are also teachers and they dont care about the students and can't teach. Go somewhere else in fact, stay far away, save your money. read more

I sent my kids to CCHS and thought I'd like it, but I loved it. The school grounds are impressive and well maintained. The security guards keep the place safe during school and even at all sporting events, home and away. They supervise social events on campus and secure the area ahead of time. The students have assigned parking and once in school, they can not go to their cars or off campus until the end of school. Once a month the SDPD, security, principal and the drug dogs go up and down the parking lot. They have no tolerance for drugs at school or events. The academics are excellent with a learning center for special education all the way up to AP classes. The teachers work hard to make sure the students have all the tools and support they need to excel. The students have many opportunities to participate in sports, theater, and clubs. The campus is very busy even after school is out as the students are invested in their activities and academics making for well rounded respectful students. This was a great experience for my children and the family. read more

I went here, and what I think a lot of parents seem to forget when considering schools is that looks aren't everything. Sure the campus is nice looking - and if you're from out of state like my parents were, you think it looks like an Ivy League school (newsflash: it doesn't, and most Californian schools are outdoors). Before I list my criticisms I'd like to say that a lot of my teachers at Cathedral were great, but they'd be great teachers in any school, and they were the minority not the majority. I also ended up going on to an Ivy League, but I don't attribute getting into any of the schools I did to anything at Cathedral - I know that I would've gotten in just as easily had I gone to Torrey Pines High School or Canyon Crest, and probably have enjoyed high school a little more along the way. 1) If your child isn't on track to getting a sports scholarship, nationally ranked in their sport, or otherwise more athletic than they are smart then look elsewhere, this school really won't benefit them much for higher education unless they're on the sports track. Francis Parker is a better alternative if they're athletic and pretty smart...but unfortunately more athletic. 2) Since uni became Cathedral they've really started to pimp the UC system. Granted the UC schools are great, but I remember walking into my counselor junior year to say that I wanted to try to get into Brown and RISD or their dual degree program (I did get into both schools) and she said that both were out of my league. They weren't. She suggested (and friends with the other counselors had similar experiences) I try UCSD or UCLA - neither of which have the majors I was applying for. 3) Students are just sort of thrown into the PSAT and SAT with no prior counseling or run-down of what to expect. Students are expected to come from families able to pay for SAT classes. I know my friends at other nearby schools were at the very least provided with some basic practice and tips before being thrown into either exams. (Tip for students struggling with the SAT: pick up the book "Hack the SAT" and read it for a 1/2 hour or so every day on your ride to school, make flashcards with the words on the bottom, and borrow the SAT practice tests book from the library and do one each Saturday morning before the SAT...it ends up being less work than a class, free, and helped me get my score from 1720 to 2380. Good luck). 4) IB classes aren't offered. For students looking to get into higher-tiered schools AP classes are useless. Granted, they're better than non-AP classes...but when students only have a list of AP classes and are competing against students in the rest of the country taking IB courses...well....you barely stand a chance/it makes things much harder. 5) The academics are mediocre for a private school. 6) I know it's a religious school, and I know I didn't have an option in going here or not (like many students), but religion is TOO pervasive in classes. What is this, a monastery? I want to learn how to get a job and get into a good college, not receive the kind of harassment that goes down in "religion classes." On religion classes: the level of sexism that some of the teachers would dole out is unacceptable and many of the religion teachers -surprise shock and alarm- are bullies themselves. Also, for students looking to get into better schools and take weighted classes, the required religion class will kill your GPA since you're taking a class that can only be weighted out of 4, not 5. 7) Because it's a commuter school there's no social life. It's really hard to feel any school pride or make any friends/hang out with friends if you all live in different parts of San Diego. I know this isn't something parents seem to care about, but trust me, it's horrible to finally make friends in a new school and never be able to hang out outside of school since everyone is scattered miles away from each other. 8) Last, I wasn't the girl who got a detention every weekend. Hell, I had one detention my entire time in high school (for standing up for a friend against a religion teacher's verbal abuse - as a side note, because of the routine verbal abuse she was also suicidal), but the dress code detentions while I was there only applied to girls' skirts and prom dresses (which are pretty tame to begin with), only ever give out by male teachers and staff. Yes, I know, there's a uniform, but the message this school sends (along with many others in the US, don't get me wrong) is that a boy's education is more important than a girl's. Overall, save your time and money and send your kid to Torrey Pines High School, Canyon Crest Academy, Francis Parker, Coronado High School, or any of the charter schools. read more

My son attends Cathedral Catholic High School and I am very pleased. He is.a Freshman and the classes are small and very well taught. He came from Stella Maris Academy in La Jolla and was very well prepared. Yes the Beachboys played there because one of the original members has a daughter who attends the school. I don't believe you can find a better school for the price. read more

Amazing campus, teachers, coaches, etc. Could not be happier with our decision to send our children to CCHS! Best in San Diego!

The campus is nice and the food is eh. But the teachers suck! They don't care about the student at all. If your child does go there, just don't get Mrs. Asuncion, she doesn't speak understandable English, and doesn't care about her students one bit! read more

Cathedral Catholic High School, formally known as the University of San Diego High School, is a Catholic institution located in Northern San Diego. When an individual walks on campus one can not help but be impressed by the new facilities and technology. However there are some very serious problems with this school that make me not able to recommend this school with a clear conscience. The most troubling issue is that the administration has consistently shown a hostility towards students, constantly finding ways to limit the privileges of its students. Also academically the school has slipped, USDHS was known as the elite tier of academics in the region, with many students going to ivy-league caliber schools. Now it is more likely for a student to be receiving an athletic scholarship to an SEC school for football then to be getting "5's" on their AP examinations. Finally, the atmosphere is something that has changed for the worse, former alumni are coming less and less to events, and donations from young alumni has declined dramatically. If a parents need a good school in North County, Torrey Pines HS and Canyon Crest will more then suffice, and if parents insist on private school, Saint Augustines (all boys), Our Lady of Peace (all girls), and Bishops or Marian (co-ed), are much better value and environment. I sincerely hope that CCHS can reverse the negative trend that has occurred in the last 5-7 years, until then however, this institution will not be receiving a dollar from me. read more

My daughter has been at Cathedral Catholic for all four years of her high school education. I can not be more happy and thrilled with the educational, spiritual and social experience she has received at this gorgeous school. The teachers there seam to truly love what they do and most make an effort to connect personally to each and every student. I am also impressed with the top notch security the school provides at all times during school hours and at all school related activities. The strictness CCHS requires for all students in regards to school work, appearance and conduct is what I am glad to invest in to ensure my daughter reaches her full potential and a responsible member of society. read more

The pool is amazing. The surrounding landscape between football field, pool and baseball files is pretty awesome. Wish all schools could resemble CCH. read more