The Santa Catalina School was founded in 1950 by Sister Margaret Thompson and the Dominicans.

Its hacienda style campus is inspired by the mission schools of Spanish California. The 36 acre campus is home to an all-girl boarding high school and a lower school.

The school utilizes a uniform policy, and seeks to challenge its students mentally and spiritually.

Santa Catalina School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and California Association of Independent Schools.

Santa Catalina is competitive in sports leagues, fielding teams in volleyball, tennis, water polo, field hockey, cross country, golf, basketball, soccer, swimming and diving, track and field, lacrosse, softball, and equestrian. Its students compete in the Mission Trail Athletics League and the CIF, Central Coast Section.

The teacher to student ratio at Santa Catalina is 8:1, with an upper school student body of 258 girls. Tuition is $46,000 for boarding students and $29,900 for day students, and it accepts 66% of its applicants. The school’s mascot is the cougar.