Bishop García Diego High School

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

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.

Admissions & key dates

How to apply

Submit the online application and non-refundable application fee, then: (1) schedule the Entrance Placement Test (8th graders) and a personal interview, (2) complete the records-release form and request recommendations from the applicant's English and math teachers plus principal/advisor, and (3) request transcripts after first-trimester/semester grades post. Contact admissions: Alexis Garcia, alexisgarcia@bishopdiego.org. (2026-27 cycle, bishopdiego.org/admissions)

Tuition & aid

Tuition ~$25,000 base for the highest grade (2025-26, PrivateSchoolReview). Bishop uses a 'Personalized Tuition Model' — about 70% of students receive a personalized tuition plan / aid (average grant ~$12,000). Tuition assistance is applied for with admission; confirm the aid deadline with the school. (2026, bishopdiego.org)

Open house / tours

Annual Open House (most recent: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 — open houses recur each fall) plus year-round personal tours (~1 hour, include classroom visits) and Shadow Days for current 8th graders. Schedule via the admissions office. (bishopdiego.org/admissions/admissions-events)

Application deadline

Application opens October 1 and is due January 31 for priority consideration (2026-27 cycle). After the priority deadline, applications are accepted on a rolling basis, space and funds permitting. (bishopdiego.org/admissions/how-to-apply & /application-process)

Athletics

Compare across schools: Water Polo · Volleyball · Football · Basketball · Soccer · Baseball · Softball · Tennis · Track & Field · Cross Country · Golf

Championship history

Every team title we can source for Bishop García Diego High School — CIF State, CIF Southern Section, and league championships — newest first.

1

State titles

8

CIF-SS titles

1. 2026

   • CIF-SSBoys Volleyball — 5 · CIF-SS Division 5 boys volleyball champion; defeated St. Anthony of Long Beach 25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23. First CIF championship in the boys volleyball program's history. Head coach Dillan Bennett (his second CIF volleyball title at Bishop Diego, after the 2021 girls title).(source)

2. 2022

   • CIF-SSBoys Basketball — 3A · CIF-SS Division 3A boys basketball champion; defeated Dana Hills 54-52 on Feb 26, 2022. First CIF title in the boys basketball program's history (the team had lost the title game on a buzzer-beater to Arrowhead Christian two years earlier). Tyler Williams 21 pts, Makaio Morphy 14.(source)

3. 2021

   • CIF-SSGirls Volleyball — 7 · CIF-SS Division 7 girls volleyball champion; swept top-seeded Capistrano Valley 25-12, 25-18, 25-20. First girls CIF volleyball title since 1979. Head coach Dillan Bennett; the Urzua sisters (Alina, Siena, Eliana) starred.(source)

4. 2017

   • CIF StateBoys Football — 3-AA · CIF State Division 3-AA football champion; defeated Shasta 41-6 on Dec 16, 2017 at William Rolland Stadium (Cal Lutheran). Listed as 'Bishop Diego (SS)' in the CIF State All-Time Football Champions table under 2017, Division 3-AA.(source)
   • CIF-SSBoys Football — 3AA · Bishop Diego's first CIF Southern Section football championship; defeated Golden Valley 37-6 in Santa Clarita (semifinal win over Saugus 45-27). 15-1 season, RB John Harris had 2,263 rushing yards and 35 TDs.(source)

5. 1979

   • CIF-SSGirls Volleyball — 2-A · CIF-SS Division 2-A girls volleyball champion. Listed in the CIF-SS All-Time Girls Volleyball Champions table. Frequently cited as the program's last CIF title before the 2021 girls volleyball championship ('first CIF title since 1979').(source)

6. 1978

   • CIF-SSGirls Volleyball — 2-A · CIF-SS Division 2-A girls volleyball champion. Listed in the CIF-SS All-Time Girls Volleyball Champions table.(source)

7. 1977

   • CIF-SSGirls Volleyball — 1-A · CIF-SS Division 1-A girls volleyball champion. Listed in the CIF-SS All-Time Girls Volleyball Champions table.(source)

8. 1975

   • CIF-SSGirls Volleyball — 2-A · CIF-SS Division 2-A girls volleyball champion. Listed in the CIF-SS All-Time Girls Volleyball Champions table.(source)

See every Santa Barbara school’s title history →

Clubs & activities

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.)

College outcomes

Local pipeline

About one-third of grads use the SBCC Promise for two free years at Santa Barbara City College (32% of the Class of 2021, school profile).

Notable colleges

College Acceptances 2017-2021 (counts where multiple) include California Lutheran University (45), Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (26), Chapman University (25), Cal State Channel Islands (18), Colorado State (14), Arizona State (13), Cal State San Marcos (13), Cal State Monterey Bay (12), plus Boston College (4), Brown (2), Columbia, Caltech, Boston University (2), Colgate (2), College of William and Mary (2), Case Western, and many others (2017-2021 School Profile, bishopdiego.org).

Selective admits

Per recent matriculation data, ~10.6% of grads attend top-50 / top-25 U.S. universities and colleges; effectively none to HYPSM (2026, FindingSchool). Treat as a third-party estimate.

College-going rate

97% of the Class of 2021 matriculated to college; the school reports a 100% college-acceptance rate (2021-2022 School Profile, bishopdiego.org).

Four-year vs two-year

75% of the Class of 2021 applied to four-year institutions with a 100% acceptance rate; 32% chose the SBCC (Santa Barbara) Promise to attend a two-year college free of cost (2021-2022 School Profile, bishopdiego.org).

Community

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.