Directory

Catholic (co-ed) · Atherton (Peninsula) · AKA: SHP

Sacred Heart Prep

“Love. Confidence. Purpose.”

Students
~630
Ratio
16:1
Tuition
$60k

What makes this school special

  • A Catholic, independent, co-ed college prep in Atherton, founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart and part of a global network of about 150 Sacred Heart schools in 41 countries
  • Organized around the five Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education — faith, intellectual values, social awareness, community, and personal growth in wise freedom
  • A deep course catalog with honors across departments, and Creative Inquiry, an interdisciplinary studio for student-driven projects

Academics

Curriculum

Honors coursework across departments

Advanced coursework

29 AP courses · 28 UC-approved honors courses

See the list filed with UC

World languages

French, Mandarin, Spanish, Latin

Schedule

Semester

Signature programs

  • Creative Inquiry (interdisciplinary studio)
  • Global exchange network of Sacred Heart schools
  • Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education

College matriculation

Boston College, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, MIT, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Pomona, Princeton, Stanford, UC Berkeley, USC, Washington University in St. Louis

See the full list

UC admissions · For fall 2025 entry

applied
84
admitted to at least one campus
52
enrolled at a UC
13
What these numbers can and can’t tell you

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · WBAL, WCAL, and PAL

Baseball (boys)BasketballCross CountryFlag Football (girls)Football (boys)GolfLacrosseSoccerSwimmingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyball (girls)Water Polo

Arts

Visual ArtCeramicsDigital ArtPhotographyFilmmakingStained GlassInstrumental MusicChoral MusicDanceTheater

Clubs & activities · 50+

The Heart Beat (newspaper)RoboticsModel United NationsDebate ClubComputer Science ClubInvestment GroupEnvironmental JusticeEsports
See all clubs

Life there

Food

Two on-campus dining halls (Epicurean; farm-to-cafeteria from the school garden)

Learning support

Academic Support Center (ASC), for mild to moderate learning differences

Notable alumni

  • Abby Dahlkemper (USWNT, 2020 Olympics)
  • Tierna Davidson (USWNT, 2020 Olympics)

Often on the same list

Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

Catholic (co-ed)

University High School

Independent

Crystal Springs Uplands School

Independent

Sources

  1. Preparatory (Grades 9-12) — enrollment, ratio, diversity, programs
  2. Admission — Catholic/independent/co-ed identity, Society of the Sacred Heart
  3. Tuition & Affordability — 2026-27 tuition, aid reach
  4. How to Apply — Preparatory — test-free policy, requirements, January deadline
  5. Departments — world languages, AP/honors
  6. SHP Arts — arts disciplines
  7. SHP Sports and Fast Facts — sports, leagues, counts; WCAL standings — golf and tennis seasons by gender
  8. Clubs & Activities — clubs
  9. Learning Support — Academic Support Center
  10. Alumni Athletes — named alumnae
  11. SHP Requirements & Policies — semester schedule, seven-period (A–G) day
  12. Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton homepage — motto ("Love. Confidence. Purpose.," the school's brand tagline)
  13. Commitment to Sustainability — "the dedicated SHS van routing between the Menlo Park train station and campus each morning and afternoon", under the page's "Caltrain and Van Service" accordion. The school publishes no route or stop list and no times
  14. UC A-G course list — Sacred Heart Preparatory — the 2026-27 course list the school files with the University of California: 29 AP courses and 28 UC-approved honors courses beyond AP. The school's department pages count 28 APs; we carry the filed number

Details checked August 2026