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Junípero Serra

“Always Forward”

AKA: Serra, Serra High SchoolSan Mateo (Peninsula)Catholic (boys)

Students
~860
Ratio
18:1
Tuition
$31k

Base tuition as published for 2026–27.

Admissions

Applications open
Mid-September
Application due
November 20, 2026
HSPT entrance exam
December 5, 2026
Decisions released
Mid-March
admissions@serrahs.com
Visit admissions site

What makes this school special

  • An all-boys Catholic college prep in San Mateo, opened in 1944 by Archbishop John Mitty, serving about 859 students midway down the Peninsula
  • Two signature pathways — the Design-Led Innovation Program (human-centered design thinking) and the Global Leadership Program — alongside 42 honors and AP courses
  • The Tri-School Consortium with Mercy and Notre Dame Belmont, running since 1988: Serra stays all-boys while sharing co-ed classes, arts, retreats, and social life with the two girls' schools
  • Padre athletics in the West Catholic Athletic League, one of the country's most competitive prep leagues, with an alumni roster that includes Tom Brady

Academics

Curriculum

AP and Honors (42 courses)

World languages

French, Mandarin, Spanish, American Sign Language

Schedule

Block (A/B rotation)

Signature programs

  • Design-Led Innovation Program
  • Global Leadership Program
  • Tri-School Consortium with Mercy and Notre Dame Belmont

College matriculation

Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Duke, Northwestern, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara University, USC

See the full list

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL)

BaseballBasketballCrewCross CountryFootballGolfLacrosseRugbySailingSoccerSwimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWater PoloWrestling

Arts

Visual ArtsMusicDramaFilmmaking

Clubs & activities · 40+

Coding ClubChristian Service and Justice ClubChess and Classic Games ClubCreative Writing ClubAnglers' ClubAudio/Visual ClubBarbecue Club
See all clubs

Life there

Food

Flik dining hall (for purchase)

Learning support

Academic Resource Center (ARC), for diagnosed learning differences

Notable alumni

  • Tom Brady (NFL quarterback, class of 1995)
  • David Bakhtiari (NFL offensive lineman, class of 2009)
  • Matt Dickerson (NFL defensive lineman, class of 2014)

Often on the same list

Archbishop Riordan High School

Catholic (co-ed)

Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

Catholic (co-ed)

Mercy High School, Burlingame

Catholic (girls)

Sources

  1. Serra History and Who We Are — founding, Catholic all-boys identity
  2. Affording Serra — 2026-27 tuition, registration fee, aid reach
  3. Apply — HSPT, deadlines, requirements
  4. Academics — 42 honors/AP courses, signature programs, block schedule
  5. World Languages — languages taught
  6. Padre Athletics — sports roster, WCAL
  7. Clubs & Organizations — clubs
  8. Academic Resource Center — learning support
  9. Tri-School Consortium — Mercy/Notre Dame partnership
  10. Four-Year College Attending List — college matriculation
  11. "Three Alums on National Screen" — named NFL alumni
  12. NCES School Detail (ID 00073148) — enrollment and faculty (not published on the school's own site); student:teacher ratio estimated from this (859 ÷ 47.3 FTE)
  13. Brand Identity Standards — motto ("Always Forward," English side of the school's branded tagline "Always forward, siempre adelante")

Last reviewed July 2026