My son attended St. Catherine's for 7th and 8th grade. To be honest, I was initially hesitant about sending him there, but looking back, I am incredibly grateful that we did. My son is exceptionally bright and has severe ADHD, mild autism, and some oppositional tendencies. He is also kind, funny, and engaging. Before St. Catherine's, he relied heavily on his natural intelligence and often struggled with missing assignments, organization, follow-through, and accepting guidance from adults. What he needed was structure, accountability, challenge, and opportunities to learn respect outside of our home. Over the past two years, we have seen tremendous growth. His behavior at home improved significantly, he matured, became less demand-avoidant, and developed much stronger habits around schoolwork and responsibility. One of the things that impressed me most was how the staff learned what motivated him as an individual. Sister Joann found a way to challenge and motivate him when many other approaches had failed. Today, he has the highest GPA in the school, and his chronic missing-assignment problem has largely disappeared. The military structure, clear expectations, standards, and accountability are among the school's greatest strengths. Some families may initially view that structure as restrictive, but for many children, it is exactly what they need. St. Catherine's provides consistency, discipline, and character development in a way that is increasingly difficult to find. The small class sizes are another major benefit. I also appreciate the limited use of Chromebooks, the no-phone policy during the school day, and the emphasis on paper-and-pencil learning. Within the first week, I noticed improvements in my son's handwriting. Over time, he also became a better listener, paid closer attention to details, and stopped rushing through his work. Even his art and coloring skills improved noticeably. As both a Christian parent and a social worker, I care deeply about my son's emotional, spiritual, and academic development. While no school is perfect, St. Catherine's provided exactly the environment he needed during a critical stage of his life. I only wish we had enrolled him sooner. For families with boys who need more structure, accountability, challenge, and opportunities to build character and self-discipline, St. Catherine's is absolutely worth considering. read more

My son has been attending St. Catherine for the past year and a half, and I will be eternally grateful to the school for helping our family turn his life around. Thanks to their small class sizes, faith-based teachings, and positive male mentors, he has developed a beautiful sense of self-confidence, accountability, and brotherhood. read more

St. Catherine's Academy - Torrance Armed Forces Parade - Religious Schools Near Me - Anaheim, California

My brother started at SCA in its Early Childhood Program, and now he's entering third grade. Watching him grow into the young man he is becoming has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I'm incredibly proud of him, and I often catch myself admiring qualities in him that remind me I still have things to learn myself. I truly believe so much of that is because of St. Catherine's. To him, it isn't just a school; it's an extension of our family. Knowing he has such a strong support system there gives me confidence that he'll continue to thrive and go far in life. One thing people often misunderstand is the military program. It's not there to reform boys; it's there to teach discipline, structure, sacrifice, accountability, and the value of strong camaraderie. Those are lessons that shape character for a lifetime. SCA has helped mold my brother into someone I genuinely look up to, despite being more than 20 years older than him. You can't put a price on that. He is kind, levelheaded, stoic, devoted, respectful to everyone he meets, and carries himself with a maturity far beyond his years. Those qualities are a reflection of the values that St. Catherine's has helped instill in him, and for that, I will always be grateful. read more

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This school has been the best decision we have made for our son! This all-boys Catholic elementary school provides an outstanding education in a structured, faith-centered environment. The dedicated teachers and staff set high academic expectations while helping students develop strong character, leadership skills, discipline, and respect for others. The military-style program encourages responsibility, confidence, and teamwork, while the Catholic values taught each day help students grow spiritually and morally. As a parent, I feel confident knowing my son is receiving a well-rounded education that prepares him for future success both in and out of the classroom. I highly recommend this school to families seeking a nurturing, disciplined, and academically excellent environment for their son. read more

Our first and last year here at St Catherines is coming to a close. Only 3 more weeks! My only regret is not getting started here earlier. I wish we had 4 more years for highschool but my son is graduating 8th grade and we are moving on. Its been a great year of reflection, accountability, discipline, structure and growth. St Catherines is a gem. If youre contemplating which school to enroll your son in, I highly recommend visiting St Catherines. Even if it feels unreachable due to costs, distance, etc.. its truly worth looking into. They offer tuition assistance, boarding for 7days, 5days and they offer day classes for students and cadets that attend during school hours. Blessed to have been given the opportunity to send my son here. Its truly been a great experience for us. Thank you to the administration, staff and the military dept for all of the support. read more

My son has grown tremendously, not only academically but also in character. The relationships he has built with both students and staff are meaningful and will last a lifetime. I highly recommend St. Catherine's Academy to any family seeking a well-rounded education. read more

Love and appreciate the school and staff, for all they've done for my son, forever grateful with the military department for all the work with the kids. read more

I dedicated 9 years of my life to St. Catherine's Academy, and I'm writing this review because I've witnessed countless boys transform into men of integrity and outstanding character. This remarkable transformation is a result of the unique blend of Catholic/Christian values and the rich military tradition that defines SCA. To put it simply, there is no place quite like St. Catherine's Academy. At SCA, the education goes beyond just academics, even though the academic programs are indeed exceptional. With small class sizes and a plethora of extracurricular activities, boys have the opportunity to develop in a holistic way. The combination of faith and military principles is truly special. Where else can a young boy receive such a profound education in morals and respect? I wholeheartedly recommend St. Catherine's Academy to any parent who wants something extraordinary for their son/s. The impact of SCA on young lives is nothing short of remarkable. SCA is not just a school; it's a place where boys become exceptional men. read more

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Forget the stigma of a military school being a reform school. SCA is a character building school. The adminstrators, teachers, military staff and coaches know how to build up character, responsibility, knowledge, and COMMON SENSE in the boys. Accountability combats bullying and hazing. Drill and coursework build the boys into men. There is a difference between an SCA Cadet entering high school and a middle schooler from anywhere else. We will be back next year (8th grade), which will unfortunately be our last. Watch your son grow and gain the confidence he needs. Sweat feeds the grass, books feed the brain! P.S. cadets do not have to board at the school (we do not), but they do have 5day and 7day options available. read more

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I wanted to write this review because I keep thinking about ways that I can somehow repay everyone there for what they have done for my boys. First off, the school is gorgeous. Swim classes twice a week, a full time nurse with a mini hospital (lol, they have patient rooms), a movie room, drop off at 7 with a full breakfast served, child care until 6, boarding options for 3-8, a principal and a president who LOVE every boy and family, private piano lessons, Ethil the therapy dog, all boys, mass on Fridays, the best lunches ever, a sergeant, corporal, Coach Greg, class sizes of 10-15, and boys from other countries boarding allow my boys to have such a well rounded education. As an educator for over 20 years, current Assistant Superintendent and former principal and teacher, I have seen the good, bad, and ugly. There is NOTHING out there that compares to this school. My oldest boy is in 3rd grade, and I really think his teacher has wings under her clothing. She is exactly what my son needed. He has struggled with behavior for his entire education K-2, but he is successful for the first time this year! She is firm, but patient, calm, and loving. She loves her boys with her soul, her rigor and expectations are high, and her room feels like a space of love. She is a gift for kids and the best 3rd grade teacher I have seen over my 20 years in education. My youngest son is in kindergarten. I was soooo nervous to put him there because I knew he needed a strong teacher to get him off on the right foot, and when the teacher I wanted in my current public school district's class was full this year, I decided to hope for the best and have him join his brother at SCA. As an educator, people do not realize how important a child's first year of education is and how this year will create the stories they tell about themselves for the rest of their lives. Wow is all I can say. I have seen over 1,000 teachers teach, and she is honestly the best kinder teacher I know. She is teaching a TK, K, and 1 combo. There are currently 9 boys, and she has an aide! Let me repeat that, 9 kids and 2 adults, and the teacher is a rockstar! My son was reading books and WRITING independently by November! Lastly, the military is the heart of the school. My sons have so much pride wearing their uniform, and the boys collect ribbons and insignia when they show good behavior and do well in their class. My son will dance the jig for a ribbon. He LOVES the structure, the belonging of the "company" Delta, it's truly a brotherhood. I love that they teach manners, chivalry, and how to carry yourself as a man. Sergeant May and Corporal Detour know and love every boy there. My oldest son has anxiety that exacerbates his ADHD, so I was a little nervous about how he'd do following military commands, but he insisted he wanted to go. I asked him about a week in how he's doing with all the yelling, and he said, "Mom, it's not yelling, it's military talk. You wouldn't understand." Lol. My heart melted. Hopefully this review helps another family out there looking for the right school for their child. It's honestly the best school I've ever seen, and I've seen it all. If you're looking to raise a man who grows up with respect for self, women, and authority, who is academically ahead of all other children, who is culturally aware, who loves the Lord, understands the concept of brotherhood and what it means to be a servant leader, you have come to the right place. read more

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I had 2 sons go here. My youngest went to 5th grade. He was bullied and compared to older brother. They treated him as he was a failure and was far from that prior to entering. He wanted to join his brother because his brother was enjoying the experience that was very hard. My son was an exceptional student and did not require the negative discipline. It ruined by son and now he suffers for it. This school is for the child that needs to catch up on school grade information. My older son was autistic and had gaps in math, that improved there. My youngest was excelled but since they compared him to his brother, he was then treated remedial. TWO extreme experiences. read more

Class of 1993... Ah, memories. We were the last year to have a rifle drill team and a shooting team. The riots ended that proud tradition for us. There is a fascination that most healthy young boys have with military affairs. Throw in some international boarding students, some seasoned old military men who served as commandants, and some old school nuns and you have St. Catherine's. Was grateful for the time I spent there, though it would be years before I internally - not just externally - learned the lessons of discipline that my mother had hoped to achieve by sending me there. read more

I don't know if I can be a fan of Catholic Boarding School. Let me see if I can convince myself: Nuns, retired ex-military thugs, and the fact that you cannot run away if you wanted to. That's the formula for a pretty crazy amount of ultra right wing politics and religious zeal that is crucified into your eyeballs 24-7. At the tender age of 12 years old, I was in 7th grade. Like most children my age, I wore braces, liked to play baseball, run laps, drink chocolate milk, and fart. Then there were my classmates. You think you dealt with bullies growing up? Try an f'ing 18 year old 8th grader that went straight into the Marine Corps after graduation. No joke. However, the school did something right. The sisters taught us discipline, the military taught us to be men, and school teachers were quite rigorous. It makes me feel happy that despite competing with delinquents twice my age, I ended up being valedictorian. Unfortunately, that was the peak of my academic and personal development. Doh. read more

This review is long overdue. This all-boys school is the best kept secret in the heart of Anaheim. Their month-long Summer Program and one-week Leadership Camp is the best experience for boys and we have been sending our son here for 3 Summers in a row. It is a well-rounded program, with academics, sports, music, religious, and military activities. He even asked me why we didn't send him sooner. I told him it's because I didn't know about it earlier! This Fall, we finally made the big move from public school to St. Catherine's for Alexander's 7th and 8th Grade. Although Yorba Linda has some of the best public schools, we decided to commute to St. Catherine's because we saw how much our son has grown and matured through their Summer program. He has become more respectful, appreciative, and responsible in a short time. We believe he will grow in the right direction under the close guidance of the stellar teachers and staff here. He went from a class size of 32 to 11! With 120 years experience with boys, this school provides just the right amount of discipline and structure that all boys need. In St. Catherine's, he has the opportunity to exercise leadership skills and earn promotions and ranks through good behavior. They use positive reinforcement as well as appropriate punishment when rules are not followed. The best part- No more missing homework due to fear of detention and losing of his rank! Due to their small class sizes, they are able to customize learning for our son. He's taking algebra with the 8th graders because his Math teacher said he was ready. Hopefully he can take Geometry next year. We are extremely pleased with our decision to send him here. Their teachers and staff genuinely care about the boys and it is a loving environment despite their military tradition. Highly recommend for all boys from kindergarten up to 8th grade! read more

Our boys couldn't be happier and of course as parents that's exactly what we want. We looked into a variety of schools before coming here. No other schools seemed to match what St Catherine's had to offer. This school has provided academics, love, care, and discipline. My 2 oldest boys started here since kindergarten and I cannot say enough greatness for their kindergarten,1st and 2nd grade teachers and now my youngest in the TK program is also doing amazing work and learning so much. It's the perfect environment for our 3 sons. We are extremely appreciative of the staff there and how attentive they always are to any and all needs of our sons or the families. It's a true family environment. I recommend St. CATHERINE'S TO ANYONE looking for the best school for their son! From the quietest, shy boy to the strongest personality any boy will thrive here. My 3 sons are all so different and yet all 3 look forward to school everyday and find the various activities or events always meet their differences. We love this school!!!! read more

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After having had my son enrolled and exited through five different elementary schools by 4th grade, - both public and private - I was an exhausted and concerned mom desperately needing the right school atmosphere for my caring, gentle, friendly, athletic, and musically inclined son. By 5th grade, I fell into the loving arms of St. Catherine's Academy. It's not simply a school: this blessed institute for boys' minds and spirits is designed to serve, nurture, develop, and teach the whole young man...not just the brain. My son, now ready to complete his final year in the 8th grade at St. Catherine's in 2016, adores Jesus Christ, respects authority and his peers, has great self-respect, is chivalrous to all women of any age, has attained a college preparatory education and is college-motivated, has supreme admiration for our country's service men and women thus developing his own affinity for the Armed Forces, excels at playing the clarinet, plays for the school's football, basketball, and volleyball teams, and, absolutely LOVES going to school every day! Thank you St. Catherine's faculty, teachers, staff, and volunteers for impacting our family's life in such an eternally positive way! read more

St. Catherine's Academy is the best choice I have made for my son. The structure, the brotherhood, and discipline this school provides is extraordinary! My son is very determined to be a better student and self and has taught him many things. I love everything about this school. read more

St. Catherine's Academy - My son receiving an award from Colonel. - Religious Schools Near Me - Anaheim, California

I really have to give props to Colonel Bizell and Captain Ramos. These two commanding presence men are a virtual powerhouse team that can, and will, build your son's self esteem and help him to get into the best shape of his life! At first you may feel intimidated by these two, but you will soon be disarmed by these wonderful two leaders. And also of major significance, they are good, honest & real people commanding respect due of ex servicemen. This school is very, very strong on building up character, it's tragic that the school's grade level stops at the 8th grade, or I'm sure he'd still be going there! During the one school year, our son,s academics did show some approval, but, in my opinion, with the surprisingly HUGE increase in self esteem, I'm sure he would definitely have had a stellar academic year the following year in 9th grade...if St. Catherine's only had a 9th grade, would have been so very good for him, actually. :( AAA+++ for building a young man's self-esteem and character! THESE GUYS ROCK!!! B-C Rating - This (apparently) weaker part of the school should be overcome with good Parental Skills. However in my case, to be fair to the school, our son was always very difficult to work with academically. Finally at almost 17 years of age in 11th grade, he seems to be turning the corner where he is attending now (the Grove School in Connecticut), which I've also reviewed. If you are going to spend the money to send your son to this school, his esteem should soar! If his academics suffer, as our son's academics sure did, you will need to work with him to ensure that the self esteem ties in with the academics.... OBVIOUSLY A RECIPE FOR SUCESS!!! read more

So grateful for the last 9 months. Our boy started as a summer school resident, then went to Leadership Camp and was most excited to attend for his 7th grade. This school has given him more self awareness and he is actually motivated to do his work. Our son is happy to go to school. We just committed for his 8th grade year. read more

SCA is just an amazing school for young boys. My son attended for the full 9 years. He is an amazing young man. He played in the band, and eventually became one of the top officers. His years there helped him to grow in his faith and knowledge. He has very fond memories and continues to practice his faith and do well in high school. read more

Don't send your son here. My son hates this school, and we left after a year of attending this school. I would not recommend this school to anyone unless you don't love your child read more

SCA is truly the "gift that keeps on giving." I was fortunate enough to discover SCA and enroll my son for 7th and 8th grade (middle school years are so important to character development). The focus of this program and its priority is leadership, integrity and GRIT. I firmly believe that academics is easily acquired anytime as great teachers are plentiful among some very good Orange County high schools, but there is a small window during which a boy develops character and leadership that defines his future. SCA's proven "military" culture is to build character which these boys take into adulthood - a directive sadly lacking in every private/public curriculum I have observed. All the highly regarded OC schools focus on STEM, test scores and college admissions. Important yes, but ultimately short sighted. The leadership opportunities for these boys is completely lacking in any other middle school program. My son transformed from a disorganized, immature, entitled, and coddled know-it-all to a responsible, accountable and respectful young adult over the last two years. On a daily basis these boys face important leadership issues such as,"my friend just did something wrong, and I am his commanding officer, I should discipline him, but he's begging me to look the other way, what should I do?" I have these sort of conversations with my son all the time - what teaching moments! These challenges of leadership and emotional intelligence occur on a regular basis, and purposefully cultivated by this military culture. These experiences are the foundation of character that we expect from our future leaders and managers. The administration, teachers and military staff have been incredibly attuned to the boys' emotional and academic welfare. They are supportive, responsive and unwavering in their prime directive: ignite within each boy the fire of honor, integrity and hard work. Equally important, as a parent I'm no longer spending time helping him with homework. The teachers ensure that all studying is done at school, with no more than 90 minutes of homework during the week and no homework on weekends, because they believe that a boy should have a balanced life at home. YES, that's how it should be. Thanks to this balance, my son is able to participate in year-round club swimming on the side. I don't know about the elementary grade teachers, but middle school teachers have been PERFECT. Academic rigor is as challenging as the student is willing to make it. Age 12, my son will be finishing geometry this year and loves it. His writing and research skills have improved significantly. And rare for a middle school curriculum, his history teacher focuses on relevant applications of important political events rather than pointless rote memorization of facts (dates, people, places, etc.), with a healthy dose of discussion and debate. SCA has a teaching culture that immediately engaged my son, who was raised on the individualistic "each child is special" approach of Montessori. The last time he enjoyed school so much was when he attended Montessori from K through 2nd grade. After 2nd grade, he attended various well regarded public and private schools, but lost interest because he was never fully engaged. My son is also a musician and artist, so we struggled to find a program that met his diverse needs. Surprisingly, SCA managed to keep him fully engaged academically while fulfilling his creativity and building his executive functions. Much is written about how sports is so important to a boy's understanding of camaraderie and brotherhood; this is why my son has been so happy at SCA. He will be continuing high school with lifelong friends who are themselves boys of remarkable character, all bearing the hallmarks of the SCA experience. I remind him all the time to "be in the moment" at SCA, because he may look back and realize these were the best years of his life. Sadly, a few never discovered the magical experience of SCA, and found it to be a miserable existence. This is likely because they didn't have friends - being lonely is a terrible feeling no matter how great the school. All I can offer is that it would probably have been far worse in a public school environment where administrators are apathetic, students are cruel and bullying runs rampant. On the other hand, many boys had experiences that would be best described by this personal anecdote: we happened to be driving by St. Catherine's one day and my son's classmate said: "This is home - I have never been happier anywhere else." read more

This school has helped my nephew so much ! When he started first here he was a shy, so introverted , lazy, and just awkward . He went from weird to a young gentleman ! Our family was worried about him , but thank God he has came out if his shell! His study habits and grades have improved , and he seems happier! When he was young he moved around very much and had no structure or friends . Then he went to live with his dad and finally got some structure and a steady school life ! This school helps form boys into well rounded gentlemen! Teaches them not only academically but Christian structure, ethics, morality , self confidence, integrity, respect, discipline, responsibility, and self awareness . This is not a typical school ! You will not get this education at any public school . It is not a school for bad boys , it is a school for boys that can help transform them into great gentlemen . Boys from different countries attend here and I can definitely see why. The staff here genuinely care about the boys at this school and they do their work with pride. read more

I can't say enough about this school, it's staff or students. If you truly care about your sons education and the type of young man he is becoming, then do not hesitate to send him here. This school truly cares and will take the time to invest in your child's education and well being. My kid was a great person before e rolling him but they have really brought him up to take advantage of his full potential. His self confidence has soared and I couldn't be more pleased with the academics. I only wish they went thru high school. read more

This place is magical. It is like Harry potter meets marching, military, excellent academics and music, all rolled into a school for your son! No wands; however, a place where community stands strong in an international way and not to mention a beautiful campus. Sisters that would be your wizards, teach and nurture your sons to be amazing young men! The school is outstanding and many of us with daughters have asked and asked to have St. Catherine's open an all girls academy!!! read more

I attend this school in 1964 and 1965. They taught me many skills I would need later in life. I joined the USAF and reached the grade of CMSGT got an MBA from the University of Tennessee and then entered Civil Service where I attained the grade of GS-15. Most of my leadership abilities were formed here. Great school! read more

LOVE SCA! both my boys attend, 2015-2016 will be our 3rd year. i highly recommend this school to all my friends and family.

This has been the best life changing decision we have made for our son when we selected St. Catherines Academy. The way his teachers have helped our son develop his individuality, while at the same time emphasizing self-discipline and respect towards others, and the love of our Catholic Faith is heartwarming. My son started in Kindergarten , with the most amazing teacher on campus Mrs. Fristensky!! Then followed by another talented teacher, Ms. Willey in the primary wing of the school. We would have enrolled him in the TK program, however it was not offered at the time. The staff and faculty are amazing and are readily available for any questions or concerns you may have. Believe me when I say this is not a reformatory school but a transformatory one, where everyone is part of one same family. I love this school and so does my son! read more

Hands down the most amazing and positive school any of my children have attended. The nuns are loving, the military staff taught my son to be a respectful man and the teachers were outstanding! Small classroom sizes really help create a great education. The international students taught my son so much about other countries and cultures. The principal is the ultimate in wisdom. And this is the school that has done the best job with bullying. They have any boy who bullies hit the track and obstacle field and let his anger out through exercise. The school fosters a sense of brotherhood and is a very positive environment. My son is graduating and does not want to leave. He says he is happy here. He is accepted. read more

St. Catherine's Academy has helped our family in so many ways. My son was struggling in a public school class of 37. At St. Catherine's there have been no more that 16 students per class. His grades are up (in 9 subjects, two more than his public school), his confidence is up, his already strong athletic skills have improved even more, and his attitude is better. I wish St. Catherine's went all the way through high school! read more

At Catherine's in the greatest and safest school I have ever had the privilege of sending a child to. Captain Ramos, Seargant May, Colonel Bizell, the teachers, the coaches, especially Coach Greg, Kevin and Matt, Sister Cheryl, Sandra and John Ellen....too many to name. This place is professional, they develop and push kids to be their best! It is truly amazing. I can't say enough about my son's experience! Love it, the boy and the families. I am forever grateful that we found it! read more

I'll never forget my time there I never had any regrets going there I'll never forget all the memories and the friends I made there.

St. Catherine's Academy is the PERFECT fit for boys whose parents are looking for sound academics, a spiritual foundation and structure, with an emphasis on leadership. The school is expert in all things boys. The military department is outstanding with firm and fair officers who all are GREAT role models. The school even teaches handwriting and serves balanced, cooked "real-food" meals. Because of the merit system, my son is self-motivated to get all of his work done. One morning he got up early just to shine his boots! The uniform inspection has made him aware of his appearance and he comes home with virtually clean clothes every day (which is a HUGE change from before!) His fifth grade teacher - who is new to the school - has been excellent - enthusiastic, caring, and always responds right away to any question or concern I have had. It is as though my son joined a fraternal order of boys. Boys generally learn differently from girls, and this all-boy environment is magical. My son thrives at St. Catherine's! This is the best kept secret in Orange County!!!! read more