Junipero Serra High School

Serra High School is an exceptional Catholic college preparatory for boys. Academic excellence is our focus, and spiritual formation is at the heart of all we do. We teach boys to become responsible young men and honorable leaders, as we prepare our Padres to successfully navigate the complex world they will inherit.

Our rich and rigorous academic curriculum, wide range of engaging extracurricular activities, and environment of compassion and mutual respect are all hallmarks of Serra. Classmates become brothers, students find a community where they are known and belong, and teachers become role models in an environment that nurtures and challenges students to grow. Our Padres join an inclusive peer group that lasts a lifetime.

Serra’s legacy spans more than 75 years of excellence in Catholic education and includes more than 13,000 alumni. The school’s location in San Mateo, in the heart of the Peninsula between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, ignites an innovative spirit in the community. We welcome students of all faiths and backgrounds to bring their gifts and talents to our campus and enrich the diversity of our school community.

When Saint Junípero Serra began his bold journey to California more than 200 years ago, he grew in faith and wisdom. He became a leader who made a significant difference in the lives of those he met along the way. A freshman arriving at Serra on his first day begins his own unique journey, one in which he will grow in heart, mind, body and soul and achieve things he never thought possible. Our hope for each Padre is that he will develop into a respectful, compassionate young man of integrity.

In 1944, Serra High School opened its doors with a bold vision—to be the very best possible Catholic college preparatory for young men. Since then, this vision has been realized by more than 12,000 Padres who are proud to call Serra their alma mater. Serra remains faithful to its original vision. It is Serra’s mission to educate men of faith, wisdom and service—leaders who care about their communities and make a difference in the world. Serra prepares its students not only for the rigors of college, but for the challenges and opportunities of adulthood in the 21st century.

Inspired by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and empowered by a faith that is living, conscious and active, Junípero Serra is a Catholic college preparatory dedicated to the holistic formation of our students. Our community supports students in their journey towards becoming men of faith, wisdom, service, community and leadership. We seek to develop the gifts and talents of each student in an environment of excellence and mutual respect.

Empowered by parents, the primary educators of their children, and the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Serra High School is a Catholic school participating in the educational ministry of the Church. Serra High School has the responsibility to provide an integrated ministry through the celebration of Word and Sacrament, the building of community and the promotion of service to the world in which we live.

At Serra, the educational process, grounded in the Catholic tradition, affirms the dignity of the human person. The unique gifts and talents of each Serra student are developed in two complementary ways: First, through the fostering of intellectual capabilities, artistic creativity and physical skills; and secondly, through the nurturing of spiritual, moral, psychological and social growth.

Through an integration of faith, life and culture, each Serra student is encouraged to look critically at the diversity and challenges of our society and to make reasonable choices based on the Gospel values of justice and compassion. Consistent with our mission statement, the Serra community supports students in their journey towards becoming men of faith, wisdom, service, community and leadership. Like our patron Blessed Junípero Serra, we seek to find Christ in and bring Christ to the people with whom we live, work and serve.

Serra’s broad-based, rigorous curriculum serves the needs of a wide range of students. Boys are relational learners who thrive in an active and collaborative learning environment. Our teachers understand how boys learn and incorporate their knowledge and experience into challenging assignments and classroom activities. Technology is thoughtfully and purposefully integrated into the curriculum through the Google School platform. This innovative one-to one technology program prepares Serra students to use technology ethically and prepares them for the university environment.

As a challenging college-preparatory, 99 percent of our graduates exceed the minimum course requirements set for the State Universities and the University of California. In addition, 100 percent of our Serra Padres are accepted to colleges throughout the country. A high percentage of our graduates engage in community service throughout their lives—a testament of the lasting impact of a Serra education.