Convent of the Sacred Heart High School

This school graduated 2 girls to Harvard for 2011 and this speaks to the faculty and the admissions department who selected strong girls that withstood a huge shift in administration their senior year. The community changed dramatically in 2010-11. Many families were caught off guard as policy's changed and some of the best faculty in the city hung on bravely. The new guidelines for students, such as using a ruler to measure between partners at a school dance, and lowering the hemline of the uniform are now priority items. The last week of school many school students left campus in tears when the secret was let out that a much loved employee was told to go quietly. Students and alum posted with over 700 members on a Facebook page during this crisis over the staff member being let go, but similar to Nero playing the violin when Rome burned, nothing was done to help the students or their parents. I would like to respond to previous post about drug use there. The drug use is present, as is alcohol, but in the type of drugs and frequency of use, it's less than other schools in this category. Now with little emotional sensitively to these young women, not so sure what will happen.
—Submitted by a parent

Although the academics at CSH are above average and ensure access to some of the best Universities, I do agree with one of the previous posts concerning the ethics and conduct of the students. When I attended CSH elementary and high school there was no drug use or cheating; however girls treated each other abominably and the administration did not condemn this kind of behaviour as reprehensible in fact some faculty even mirrored these actions. This was due in a large part to the enormous wealth of many students and the yearly donations made by their parents to the school. Today the Bay Area now offers a wider choice in academic excellence where civility and consideration for others is fully integrated into the curriculum.
—Submitted by a student

Our daughter graduated in 2006 and is now a junior in college. She had struggled in public middle school. At Convent, which she attended by her preference, she got the mentoring she needed to go from academic mediocrity to being a fine student. The breadth and depth of her academic coursework was superior. The setting was inspiring. She took advantage of many extracurricular opportunities. She finds college easy after Convent. Her professors praise her work ethic. She chose her friends wisely. I would not deny the dark side described by the previous poster exists at Convent but I am not aware of any high school that does not have a dark side for those who are drawn to such things. The dark side did not represent the majority in her class.
—Submitted by a parent

Academically I was pleased and surprised by the quality and classicism of the education my daughter received here. She finds college to be easy, her study & writing skills superior, and her general academic knowledge to be comprehensive. But there is a significant and disturbing downside to this school. The ethics and conduct of the students were appalling. With a few exceptions, girls treated each other abominably, engaged in heavy drinking and drug use routinely, cheated on tests and work. The administration is impressive but did not rein this in. The conduct of the students was reprehensible. The enormous wealth of many students seemed to go hand in hand with disinterested if not completely abdicated parenting, ready access to drugs & alcohol, and despite the uniform dress code, out of control focus on designer clothing, jewelry, and accessories.
—Submitted by a parent

A CSH education is invaluable. While other private schools offer a solid education, CSH ensures that its students learn various subjects and are exposed to many extracurricular activities whether it's athletics, arts, student government, campus ministry, or the school paper. As an alumnus, I look back on my years at CSH with pride and affection because there is no place quite like CSH.

My children have attended CSH for well over a decade, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the school. My friends are, frankly, disappointed that they made different choices for their teenagers because they were initially put off by the all-girls environment. The 'brother' school, Stuart Hall High School, provides coed interaction in drama, music and sporting, yet my daughters have not been distracted by boys during the school day, helping them to become highly successful students who were accepted to the colleges of their choices through early admissions. I do not agree with the last comment that the quality of students has diminished as I see the opposite to be true, judging from my daughters' friends and the school's extensive Advanced Placement course offerings. Read the school newspaper. It is not only excellent, but it gives you a good sense of the quality of the students, teachers and program.
—Submitted by a parent

The academic program in this school is excellent and challenging. Girls who have graduated from this school notice how much more general knowledge they have than their peers who also attended private schools. The curriculum is outstanding. This is a wonderful school, great faculty and beautiful campus with breathtaking views. Although it is a single-sex school, there are constant opportunities to be with the boys and girls of the sister schools that share campus facilities. Biggest drawback is the socio-economic and ethnic lack of diversity. The majority of the students come from the best and richest families in the bay area. When the students leave this privileged setting, they might have to face the real world (or they might just move into another sheltered environment with their college selection). I highly recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Convent of the Sacred Heart has always been ahead of the crowd for new methodology in teaching, and available resources.
—Submitted by a former student

The academic program is rigorous. The music program is excellent. The children have art, sports and numerous extracurricular opportunitites. Parent involvement is high.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is excellent academically and has the best leaderships from teachers and administration I have seen in the longest time. The school however, is losing in its quality of students it is accepting, but the quality of teachers and other activities makes Convent High School and well rounded perfect school for any child.
—Submitted by a parent