FAQs
What are the benefits of a small school?
- You get to be a big fish in a small pond! We offer a very warm, and nurturing environment to our students.
- At St. Bernard you will lead as a Freshman. You will not have to wait your turn to build your legacy as a Viking!
- There are several leadership opportunities available at St. Bernard College Preparatory High School. Any student who is motivated and committed can start/lead a club, run for student government (ASB), or become team captain or team manager.
- 20:1 is the student/teacher ratio.
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We have a very active student body with over 75% participating in co-curricular activities, such as ASB (Associated Student Body), NHS (National Honors Society) Yearbook club, (New) Robotics club, etc.
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We offer multiple co-curricular activities and 13+ Varsity athletic teams. Our athletes compete in various CIF athletic leagues. Girls Golf is our new sport on campus this 2025-2026 school year!
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St. Bernard High school students no longer have to choose between leadership and athletics; our 4x4 University block schedule (80 minute classes-4 classes, instead of 6-each semester) allows for our Vikings to be a part of the numerous clubs and organizations on campus, while also participating in after school arts and athletic programs.
- 99% of graduates attend a Four-year College or University
- 100% 12th grade Graduation rate
- College acceptances to highly competitive universities including:
- Johns Hopkins University
- Pepperdine University
- Howard University
- Louisiana State University (LSU)
- Morehouse University
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, San Diego
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, Long Beach
- University of Southern California
- Yes, our coaches and staff come from the top of their field. Many are veterans in their field and former college and professional players.
- Our coaches bring not only their skill but their life experiences, love of their trade and a true moral compass that drives each of them to deliver the best program to St. Bernard High School.
- Our Athletes compete in various CIF leagues and compete against the top schools across the greater Los Angeles area.
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Our Facilities are under a full renovation and have been re-designed with our students in mind – each space is designed with student comfort and to create an optimal learning environment. Beginning our renovation with our Gymnasium and locker rooms, we replaced all exterior windows over the summer of 2025, and will begin renovating our courtyard/ breezeway area next, where students spend their break times. Over the next two years, with the addition of the huge surrounding sports complex, Lulu's Place and the TGR Learning Center, Los Angeles being built on and around our campus, St. Bernard will have the most access to student sports and learning facilities than any school in the entire nation!
- Our block schedule (80-minute classes) pushes teachers to make learning interactive and engaging for students. Studies show with the increased span of teaching time, longer cooperative learning activities can be completed in one class period. This is also part of our college readiness program/curriculum.
- Our "Authentic Assessment" initiative requires teachers to find new ways to assess student learning. Taking assessments/exams off paper and into a real-time display of the students learning and retention. Assessments can range from a conversation in a foreign language using the weekly vocabulary words to a presentation of a project they have been working on with classmates. We believe in finding new, exciting and engaging ways to assess student learning!
- Our Assessment Retake policy allows our student to retake any exam for a better score, up to 2-weeks before final exams. Our end goal is ensuring student learning, so we make sure our students have every opportunity to gain more understanding and have more dialogue with their instructors, before they move on to the next topic. At SBCP, we ensure our students have the proper foundation to build upon.
- Over 50% of our faculty holds a Master’s Degree.
- $1,000,000+ in recent renovations including: New exterior windows, updated College Center, updated Learning Commons/Library, Main Office, Faculty Lounge and (3) renovated science labs.
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Hours 7:30 am – 4:00 pm – offers the opportunity for students to meet with teachers during office hours, see a counselor and take part in clubs and chosen pathways all in one school day. Going home simply means eating dinner with the family and getting a good night’s rest.
- We do not assign excessive amounts of homework "practice work". We complete most practice work during our 80 minute block periods, and do not calculate practice work (homework) into our students final grades.
- We are 1 mile from the beach with ample opportunity to take a peek at the ocean from our remodeled Learning Commons/library!
- Great location for families who live 1 – 10 miles away. We are an easily accessible 13 acre campus, with close proximity to major highways, freeways and bus lines.
- St. Bernard presents a unique curriculum that offers a challenge to even the most brilliant student. We offer 12 Honors/AP courses
- Our graduates are qualified to enter all major Colleges and Universities. We provide a robust college readiness curriculum that ensures completion of all A-G requirements.
- Offering an average class size of 18-20 students allows for a distinct learning environment, yielding to the ideals of community, responsibility and knowledge.
- As a long standing member of LMU Family of Schools, we have access to on campus tutors before and after school to supplement the academic experience
- College admissions resources are available for juniors and seniors (Summer College & Career bound Academy (Seniors), presented by TGR Foundation)
- Meeting with Professors and admissions counselors regarding application and essay writing
- Financial-aid workshops for parents and college-readiness programs for students
- Professional development for our teachers such as grant writing and literacy
- In-class guest-lecturers (e.g. Faculty from LMU, Industry professionals speak to your students)
- After-school or before-school programs for your students (e.g. One-on-one College counselling, Campus visits from the top colleges across the nation (e.g. Harvard University Presentation and retreats.
- Junior class HBCU college fair field trip!
- No, while 30% of our students are of the Catholic Faith, 70% are of other religious backgrounds.
- All Religious affiliations are welcomed, embraced, and contribute to great discussions in our religion classes.
- We are blessed and inclusive of other traditions, thus adding to greater discussions on campus and in the classroom setting.
- We have a robust Campus Ministry program where over 20% of our student body is involved in the program. Students contribute by Altar serving, Reading scripture at school mass, volunteering on campus and in their local communities and offering morning prayer, each day in the morning over our school-wide P.A. system. Our campus ministry students also help to plan class retreats.
