Based on his respect for their teaching abilities, the archbishop invited the Christian Brothers of Ireland to staff the school.

[4] As the flag was raised over the "largest addition to the Archdiocesan school system," tribute was paid to the teaching qualities of the Christian Brothers who constituted the initial Cantwell faculty.

[4] Under the watchful eyes of the Sacred Heart of Mary sisters, the Catholic boys of Cantwell High came no closer to the girls during school hours than a lingering glance through the chain-link fence.

"The sisters were very restrictive," recalled an alumnus whose wife attended Sacred Heart of Mary while he was at Cantwell.

Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, CSHM is a coeducational, college preparatory institution.

With the advent of young women moving to the young men's campus, the Cantwell former school motto for the conjoined schools was changed from the Latin for "Act Manfully", "Viriliter Age", to "Act with the Character of Christ", "Age cum Anima Christi".

[2] CSHM has a very generous financial aid program and, close to a fourth of the students work jobs after school to supplement their tuition.

[2] The co-curricular program encourages students to develop mental and physical skills, a healthy competitive spirit, teamwork, and self-discipline.