After buying the 36-acre campus from a local cattle rancher, Col. Harold Mack, the school opened in the fall of 1950, with Sister Mary Kieran as the first principal.

As principal, Sister Carlotta's goal was to "educate the whole child... by guiding young people toward intellectual attainment and social, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Upper School tuition varies between resident and day students, and both need and merit-based financial aid are offered.

[8] Santa Catalina School aims to "combine a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, modern educational technology, and solid Christian principles" to prepare its students for college and beyond.

[3] The single-sex environment, Catholic background, and college preparatory courses are emphasized to "teach the importance of becoming leaders in our communities by serving others.

"[9] The school attempts to develop each girl's abilities and emphasizes balancing intellectual growth with spiritual awareness.

[1] Santa Catalina also seeks diversity in order to enhance a student's sense of responsibility to her community and herself.

[5] Santa Catalina accepts students on the basis of academic achievement and personal qualification "without regard to race, creed, color, or national and ethnic origins.

[11] Academics are divided among the following departments: Art, Drama, English, Foreign Language (including French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese), History, Math, Music, Religion, and Science.

In addition, the school has an online resource for students called Naviance,[12] which provides further college counseling.

In addition, approximately 65 colleges and universities from within the United States and abroad send representatives to Catalina to discuss their schools with students throughout the academic year.

[1] In 2003 a new outdoor aquatic center was completed, featuring a 25 yard by 30 meter pool that is connected to the gym's locker rooms.

[17] This 10 lane pool is used for physical education classes and the Upper School's swimming and diving and water polo teams.

Located next to the pool, the gym houses basketball and volleyball courts, bleachers, and dressing room facilities.

PE classes and Upper and Lower School basketball and volleyball teams use the facility.

The gym overlooks the pool and a regulation size softball and soccer field, which is encircled by an all-weather track.

Finished in 1967, the library holds about 34,000 volumes, 40 in-house periodicals, 500 media items, online databases, and 30 computers for students and teachers.

[18] Because of the small size of the lockers, the difficulty in reaching them, and the limited number, students prefer open crates under their desks.