Directory

Catholic (boys) · San Mateo (Peninsula) · AKA: Serra, Serra High School

Junípero Serra

“Always Forward”

Students
~880
Ratio
18:1
Tuition
$31k

What makes this school special

  • Two signature pathways — the Design-Led Innovation Program (human-centered design thinking) and the Global Leadership Program
  • The Tri-School Consortium with Mercy and Notre Dame Belmont: 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

Honors and college-prep tiers — 42 honors and AP courses combined

Advanced Placement

26 AP courses

See the course list

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

UC admissions

In fall 2025, 104 students applied to the UC system from this school; 76 were admitted to at least one campus, and 20 enrolled.

What these numbers can and can’t tell you

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL)

BaseballBasketballCrewCross CountryFootballGolfLacrosseRugbySailingSoccerSwimmingTennisTrack & 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)

St. Ignatius College Preparatory

Catholic (co-ed)

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) — 2023-24 PSS snapshot of enrollment and faculty (the school publishes neither)
  13. Brand Identity Standards — motto ("Always Forward," English side of the school's branded tagline "Always forward, siempre adelante")
  14. California Private School Affidavit 2025-26 | CDE — enrollment (880, 2025-26 filing) and faculty (43 full-time + 11 part-time); ratio ~18:1 (880 ÷ ≈48.5 FTE) matches the stored estimate.

Details checked August 2026