Private · Roman Catholic (Archdiocese of Los Angeles) · Est. 1959
Bishop García Diego High School
Last updated 2025. How we source this →
Quick facts
- Grades served
- 9-12
- Enrollment
- 282
- Founded
- 1959
- Student–teacher ratio
- 9:1
- Mascot
- Cardinals
- School colors
- Red and white
- Head of school
- Karen Regan, Head of School (2026, bishopdiego.org welcome letter signature — CONFIRMED; the prior 'guess' is correct, and her title is 'Head of School', not 'Principal')
- Phone
- (805) 967-1266
- Website
- www.bishopdiego.org
About
Bishop García Diego High School is Santa Barbara's Catholic, college-preparatory day school for grades 9-12, established under its current name in 1959. Its roots trace back through earlier Santa Barbara Catholic schools (Dolores School in 1914, later Notre Dame High School). It is accredited by WASC and the California Association of Independent Schools and competes athletically in the CIF Southern Section's Tri-County Athletic Association.
Academics & public data
Academic indicators
- Average SAT
- 1136 (2026, PrivateSchoolReview)
- College acceptance rate
- 100% college acceptance (2026, bishopdiego.org)
- Admissions acceptance rate
- 100% (open admission) (2026, PrivateSchoolReview)
- AP/Advanced courses offered
- 10 AP/advanced courses including AP Calculus, AP English Literature, AP US History, AP Spanish, AP Physics (2026, PrivateSchoolReview)
Funding
- Tuition
- ~$22,500 base for highest grade; 'Personalized Tuition Model' (2026, school site/Niche)
- Title I status
- Private (not Title I); private schools do not report CA state academic data
Data as of 2025.
AP & advanced coursework
- AP Calculus
- AP English Literature
- AP US History
- AP Spanish
- AP Physics
PrivateSchoolReview lists 10 AP/advanced courses total; only 5 are named (AP Calculus, AP English Literature, AP US History, AP Spanish, AP Physics) — the remaining ~5 are not enumerated publicly. WASC/NCEA/CAIS-accredited Catholic college-prep; 70% of faculty hold advanced degrees; 98% co-curricular participation; 21 sports, no-cut policy (2026, bishopdiego.org). Average class size 16, student-teacher ratio 9:1.
Athletics
Fall
Football
Boys · Multiple
Competes in the top-tier Marmonte League (vs Oaks Christian, St. Bonaventure, Camarillo); the only Bishop sport not in the TCAA. Reached the 2025 CIF Southern Section playoffs.
Girls Volleyball
Girls · Multiple
Frosh/Soph, JV and Varsity levels; won the Tri-Valley League title undefeated in a recent season.
Boys Water Polo
Boys · Varsity
Cross Country
Coed · Varsity
Boys and girls teams.
Girls Golf
Girls · Varsity
Girls Flag Football
Girls · Varsity
Winter
Boys Basketball
Boys · Multiple
Frosh/Soph, JV and Varsity levels offered; led the Tri-Valley League standings in 2025-26.
Boys Soccer
Boys · Varsity
Girls Soccer
Girls · Varsity
Spring
Baseball
Boys · Varsity
Softball
Girls · Multiple
JV and Varsity levels offered.
Track & Field
Coed · Varsity
Boys and girls teams.
Boys Golf
Boys · Varsity
Beach Volleyball
Girls · Varsity
Year-round
Tennis
Coed · Varsity
Girls tennis in Fall, Boys tennis in Spring.
Intramural sports
No dedicated intramural program is advertised; athletics are interscholastic (CIF, Tri-County / Frontier-area competition). Students may pursue independent/club sports outside school.
Championships & athletic honors
- Standout programs
- A small no-cut Catholic school (~80% of students play a sport) whose football team competes up in the tough Marmonte League; boys basketball and girls volleyball have been recent league front-runners.
- League championships
- Tri-County Athletic Association (Tri-Valley League for most sports; football competes in the Marmonte League). Boys Basketball led the Tri-Valley League (8-0, 1st) in 2025-26. Girls Volleyball won a recent Tri-Valley League title undefeated. Football reached the 2025 CIF-SS playoffs. (data/sports.json, sourced from MaxPreps/school page.)
- CIF Southern Section titles
- No CIF-SS championship years were independently verifiable in this session.
Compare across schools: Water Polo · Volleyball · Football · Basketball · Soccer · Baseball · Softball · Tennis · Track & Field · Cross Country · Golf
Clubs & activities
Academic
Recognizes grade 10-12 students for academic excellence, leadership, service, and character.
How to join: Minimum 3.75 GPA plus demonstrated leadership, service, and character; invitation/selection.
Statewide honor organization recognizing outstanding academic achievement via a semester point system; Sealbearers receive a diploma seal.
How to join: Open to sophomores-seniors; qualify on the CSF point system each semester and apply.
Arts
Provides students opportunities to serve the local community through artistic means.
How to join: Open to interested students; join through the club.
Student music club among the school's varied student activities.
How to join: Open to interested students.
Recognizes grade 10-12 students for accomplishment in the visual arts and service.
How to join: B average overall and A- or higher in art classes, 25 annual service hours, 2 art-related service projects, $10 annual membership fee.
Faith
Senior students serve as faith leaders and role models, planning retreats, liturgies, and spiritual activities for the school community.
How to join: Seniors apply to be selected as Campus Ministry leaders.
Service
Student representatives who host admissions events, give campus tours, and host prospective 8th graders on Shadow Days.
How to join: Apply by contacting Alexis Garcia (alexisgarcia@bishopdiego.org).
Advisor: Alexis Garcia (verify yearly)
Special Interest
Elected student leadership that represents the student body and plans school activities and service events. Representatives attend a daily Student Government class for credit.
How to join: Run in the annual school-wide election for student body president or class representative.
STEM
Honors program for high-achieving students focusing their studies in the STEAM disciplines through rigorous, project-based coursework, peer tutoring, and a senior Symposium Project.
How to join: Open to qualifying students on track in STEAM coursework; requires participation in STEAM events and peer tutoring.
Facilities
- Campus— Sixteen-acre campus at 4000 La Colina Rd
- Weight Room— ~3,128 sq ft facility (renovated 2008) attached to the Athletic Training Room
- Tennis Courts— Three on-campus courts used by boys and girls tennis
- Main Gymnasium— "The Brick House" main gym seats up to ~630 fans; basketball and volleyball courts
- Practice Gymnasium— Newer secondary gym with additional courts
- Sand Volleyball Court— Outdoor court known as "Cardinal Beach"
- Athletic Training Room— On-campus training facility
- Multi-use Athletic Field— Baseball/softball field that converts to football practice/JV football field and soccer field by season
Leadership opportunities
- Associated Student Body (ASB) / Student Government (president and class representatives)
- Campus Ministry student faith leaders (seniors)
- Cardinal Ambassadors
- Club officers / student-founded clubs
- Honor society membership (NHS, CSF, NAHS, STEAM Society)
- STEAM Society peer tutors
College & career support
Bishop Diego provides four-year, one-on-one college counseling beginning freshman year (counselor Dana Coppa), with personalized fit-based guidance. The school reports a 100% college acceptance rate, notes the Class of 2023 earned about $6 million in scholarships and merit awards, and hosts 50+ college/university representatives on campus annually. (Stats change yearly.)
Community
Parent–Teacher Association
No traditional PTA. Parent engagement runs through school parent programs; the athletics-focused parent group is the Cardinal Club (see boosters).
Athletic boosters
The Cardinal Club is a parent/guardian service organization supporting the athletic program: fundraising, the annual football program, sponsor-board ad sales, and game-day services (gate, concessions, transportation).
Tuition
$25,000 (2025-26, PrivateSchoolReview); school uses a 'Personalized Tuition Model' — 70% of students receive a personalized plan (2026, bishopdiego.org)
Frequently asked questions
- What grades does Bishop García Diego High School serve?
- Bishop García Diego High School serves grades 9-12.
- How many students attend Bishop García Diego High School?
- Bishop García Diego High School enrolls approximately 282 students, based on the most recent published figures.
- Is Bishop García Diego High School a public or private school?
- Bishop García Diego High School is a private high school (Roman Catholic (Archdiocese of Los Angeles)).
- What is Bishop García Diego High School's mascot?
- Bishop García Diego High School's mascot is the Cardinals, and its school colors are red and white.
- When was Bishop García Diego High School founded?
- Bishop García Diego High School was founded in 1959.
- What sports does Bishop García Diego High School offer?
- Bishop García Diego High School fields 15 sports teams. See the Athletics section above for the full list by season.
- How much is tuition at Bishop García Diego High School?
- Bishop García Diego High School's tuition is $25,000 (2025-26, PrivateSchoolReview); school uses a 'Personalized Tuition Model' — 70% of students receive a personalized plan (2026, bishopdiego.org). Confirm the current figure and what it includes directly with the school.
- Where is Bishop García Diego High School located?
- Bishop García Diego High School is located at 4000 La Colina Road, Santa Barbara, CA, 93110.
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