HIGH SCHOOL PROFILE 2024–25
OUR SACRED HEART
MISSION
Convent & Stuart Hall educates mind, heart and body, animating a zeal for discovery, inspiring a passion for justice and nurturing the strength to transform.
STRATEGIC VISION
The school’s strategic thinking and planning centers on aiming at the best for each student — academically, personally and in community. We have devised an immersive environment — inspired by compassionate, talented adults and kind, intelligent peers — where learning is inspired through a pedagogy of space, where curriculum transcends textbooks and the use of technology augments intelligence.
DR. ANN MARIE KREJCAREK President
RACHEL
SIMPSON Head of Convent High School and Chief Academic Officer
TONY FARRELL
Head
of Stuart Hall High School
OUR FOUNDATIONAL STORY
In 1800, in the wake of the French Revolution, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat founded the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Heart and articulated her vision for a Sacred Heart education:
In support of this vision, Convent & Stuart Hall develops in students an ethical and global lens within a purpose-fueled educational model that inspires them to be in service to the world. ...that education within the schools would be profound enough to inspire people to rebuild, renew and transform society, wherever they lived.
THE HEART OF SAN FRANCISCO
Founded in 1887 as the first Sacred Heart Academy west of the Rockies, Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco opened in twin Victorians on Bush Street and moved twice more to accommodate a growing student body. In 1938, the school found a permanent home at 2222 Broadway with a generous gift from Maud Flood to the Religious of the Sacred Heart declaring her wish that her home be “devoted to some useful and worthy purpose.” Nearly 60 years later in 1999, the school acquired the Morning Star Building at the corner of Pine and Octavia streets. The Morning Star Building holds significant importance in the history and culture of San Francisco’s Japantown. Convent & Stuart Hall continues to embrace the spirit of generosity and remembrance rooted in the origin of our San Francisco campuses.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Convent & Stuart Hall is an expansive and inclusive educational community — an independent Catholic school for people of all faiths that seeks to cultivate in each student an ongoing relationship with something greater than oneself.
With an education in mind and Heart, students learn to engage and navigate the world within them and the world around them. Developing a sense of reflective interiority is a hallmark of our education, and each student is invested in the development of their core person and purpose. Through weekly reflections, chapels and assemblies, as well as within their Religion, Theology & Spirituality courses, students learn to ask and respond to life’s “big questions” and know how to navigate their world’s most pressing issues reflectively, ethically and purposefully.
COR UNUM: Equity, Justice and Belonging
Rooted in the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Heart’s foundational principle of “one heart, one mind,” (cor unum et anima una), we work with our students to create a diverse and inclusive culture of conversation and inspire them to foster relationships founded on courage, openness and mutual respect.
Through interactions inspired by deep intellectual sympathy, curiosity and shared humanity, we foster an environment where innately human differences are recognized, honored and celebrated
The Cor Unum Voices Speaker Series
In our commitment to elevating and centering diverse voices, we host an annual “Cor Unum Voices” speaker series recognizing exceptional authors, historians, and thought leaders. In the Spring of 2024, Cor Unum speakers Minh Le, Pico Iyer, and numerous award-winning author, Maxine Hong Kingston guided our exploration and celebrated Asian and Asian American voices. This winter, we will host Jennifer De Leon as our Author In Residence.
Past years’ speakers include extraordinary authors Jason Reynolds, Luis Urrea, Juana Martinez-Neal, Tommy Orange, Angeline Boulley and Kevin Noble Maillard, historian Annette Gordon-Reed, and philosopher/author Teju Cole, among many others.
GLOBAL PLATFORMS
Through Global Platforms, Convent & Stuart Hall prepares students to be responsible and educated global citizens by providing students with opportunities to develop the mindset and skills they need to engage actively and ethically in a global community.
Throughout the curriculum, including the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), faculty educate students to understand their shared humanity while they explore the world and recognize their own and others’ perspectives. We challenge our students to communicate with open dialogue, bridging linguistic, geographical, ideological and cultural differences.
As one of over 150 Sacred Heart Schools around the globe, Convent & Stuart Hall emphasizes experiential learning as an essential component of the curriculum. Students are invited to participate in international and U.S. exchange programs ranging from two to six weeks. Through global exchange opportunities, students step out of their comfort zone and discover what it means to be a high school student in other parts of the world. We offer many international travel opportunities including:
⊲ President’s Annual Sophomore Class Trip: Costa Rica
⊲ Art + Global Politics: Copenhagen/Berlin
⊲ Spanish Language Program: Colombia
⊲ Cor Unum through Service: Philippines
⊲ Art and Culture: Oaxaca
⊲ Cor Unum and Culture: China
⊲ Science and Culture: Germany
⊲ History and Religion: Spain
⊲ Cor Unum and Culture: Japan
⊲ Latin & Ancient History: Rome
STUDENT BODY PROFILE
The 2024–25 enrollment at the high school is:
477 students
248 at Convent
229 at Stuart Hall
Being a robust community is an essential part of who we are as a Sacred Heart School. Each community member is invited to live fully into their gifts — intellectually, spiritually, physically and personally — within an inclusive and welcoming culture.
Financial Assistance
47% of students receive need-based financial assistance with grants ranging from $7,900 to $57,400.
In our desire to create a student body that is inclusive of the Bay Area, we have committed over 14.2 million dollars in financial assistance to our K-12 families. This affirms our continuing charge that our education is attainable for every child.
47 of students receive needbased financial assistance
47%
FACULTY
Our faculty embody our Sacred Heart values, both as experts in their fields and as creative instructors. Committed to excellence and the school’s mission, they create strong student-teacher bonds that enhance education. Among our globally diverse educators, 88% hold advanced degrees and all are dedicated to working alongside students to inspire each student’s educational journey.
Academic Advising to College Counseling
Throughout the four distinct years of high school, a structure of academic guidance is in place to support each student’s academic experience and co-curricular engagement. The Chief Academic Officer and the Director of Admissions and Academic Guidance oversee this four-year system, ensuring that each student is appropriately challenged, championed and supported by the faculty.
GRADES 9 AND 10 ACADEMIC GUIDANCE
In the ninth and tenth grades, students will have a Grade Chair correlated with their year. The Grade Chair relationship helps students navigate the foundational years of their high school program. The partnership with their Grade Chair enables them to design and continually evaluate a plan of study that supports their intellectual and personal development.
GRADES 11 AND 12 ACADEMIC GUIDANCE TO COLLEGE COUNSELING
In the eleventh and twelfth grades, students are fully engaged in our college counseling program, which includes classes and workshops during the academic day. In the fall of junior year, division heads act as the students’ academic adviser. From the spring of junior year and throughout their senior year, students are matched with one of the College Counseling Department’s three full-time college counselors who serve as a guide through the college application process toward college admission.
OUR CURRICULUM
“Convent & Stuart Hall’s emphasis on strong communication skills, critical thinking, intellectual growth and a rigorous academic curriculum will benefit these students long after they graduate.”
GARY L. ROSS Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid Colgate University
The high school curriculum at Convent & Stuart Hall engages and challenges the whole person — in mind, Heart, and body. The freshman and sophomore years provide a foundation of inquiry, discovery, and critical reasoning. Students work on advancing written and presentational communication skills across the humanities, mathematics, sciences, languages, and the arts.
In their junior and senior years, students have the option of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or Advanced Placement, Honors, and College Preparatory courses. For specific course offerings, please see page 16.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year elective course of study offered optionally to all juniors and seniors. The IBDP’s mission “to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people” aligns directly with Convent & Stuart Hall’s commitment to challenge and educate students in “mind, Heart and body”. The school implemented the IBDP as a curricular offering in the 2016–17 school year. Students enrolled in the IBDP take IB courses exclusively.
A signature component of the IBDP is the Extended Essay. Students are challenged to think globally and learn how to revise and refine their writing as they pursue research by selecting their essay topic, crafting research questions, performing research and writing their essays under the supervision of a faculty member. Examples of these wide-ranging Extended Essay topics are sampled here:
SOPHIA M. ’24
Subject Area: Dance
Research Question: To what extent have political ideologies shaped the artistic messages in ballets and the visual portrayals of different cultures?
THOR B. ’24
Subject Area: Global Politics
Research Question: How have global actors such as multinational corporations, international organizations, and foreign governments perpetuated the impacts of neocolonialism in the Congo?
KRISTIN Y. ‘24
Subject Area: Biology
Research Question: What is the optimal dosage of lactase enzyme required to effectively hydrolyze a moderate quantity of lactose? The Role of Lactase Dosage in Mitigating Lactose Intolerance Symptoms via Hydrolysis
COURSE OFFERINGS
ENGLISH
FRESHMAN SOPHOMORE
English I / English I with Honors: Archetype and Transformation
English II / English II with Honors: American Voices and Literary Expression
HISTORY & SOCIAL SCIENCE
FRESHMAN
World History: Power and the Human Story
AP Art History
AP U.S. History
U.S. History: The Unfinished Nation
English III / Honors English III: Literature of Community and the Power of Rhetoric
English IB HL
AP English Literature & Composition
English IV: Global Citizenship and
Shared Humanity
English IB HL
AP Art History
Clashing Ideologies: The Cold War
Global Politics IB SL, HL
History IB SL, HL
The Evolution of Protest in the 20th Century
The Modern Middle East
World Religions IB SL
Native American History
AP Comparative Government
AP U.S. Government & Politics
Global Economics
AP European History
The Evolution of Protest in the 20th Century
Clashing Ideologies: The Cold War
Global Politics IB SL, HL
History IB SL, HL
World Religions IB SL
Native American History
AP Comparative Government
Global Economics
AP U.S. Government & Politics
MATHEMATICS
FRESHMAN
Algebra I
Algebra II
Geometry / Honors Geometry
Algebra II / Honors Algebra II
Geometry / Honors Geometry
Precalculus / Honors Precalculus
AP Statistics
Algebra II / Honors Algebra II
AP Calculus AB, BC
Calculus
Mathematics Analysis IB SL, HL
Mathematics Applications IB SL, HL
Precalculus / Honors Precalculus
AP Statistics
AP Calculus AB, BC
AP Statistics
Calculus
Mathematics Analysis IB SL, HL
Mathematics Applications IB SL, HL Precalculus / Honors Precalculus
LABORATORY SCIENCE
FRESHMAN
Physics / Honors Physics
Chemistry / Honors Chemistry
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
Biology
Biology IB SL, HL
Environmental Systems & Societies IB SL, HL
Physics IB SL, HL
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Sports, Exercise, & Health
Science IB SL
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
Astronomy
Biology IB SL, HL
Chemistry IB SL, HL
Environmental Systems & Societies IB SL, HL
Human Biology
Physics IB SL, HL
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Sports, Exercise, & Health Science IB SL
MODERN & CLASSICAL
LANGUAGE
RELIGION, THEOLOGY, & SPIRITUALITY
Leading the Mind, Body & Spirit through Sport Theory of Knowledge I World Religions IB SL
Beyond Science and Religion: Mysticism in the Ancient, Medieval, & Modern Era
Gender, Power & Ethics
Leading the Mind, Body & Spirit through Sport
Sacred Heart
Goals Seminar
Theory of Knowledge II
World Religions IB SL
Beyond Science and Religion: Mysticism in the Ancient, Medieval, & Modern Era
VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
STUDENT PATHWAYS
Each student’s pathway in the curriculum is a unique expression of individual interests and strengths. Here are examples which show the variety of elective options available and the ways in which students may fulfill graduation requirements and also stretch their academic interests.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
UC BERKELEY
ATHLETICS
Athletics play a significant role in many of our students’ high school experiences. Our diverse programs, spanning all four seasons, aim to foster camaraderie among students through competitive engagement. Through this engagement, our Athletics Department is deeply committed to not only the physical aspect of the sport but the true value of humility, accountability and work ethic, oftentimes teaching lessons that extend beyond the game. At Convent & Stuart Hall our goal is for students to acquire lifelong leadership skills no matter one’s skill level; therefore, we offer opportunities to represent the school at the Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Frosh-Soph levels.
Sports Offered
⊲ Badminton
⊲ Baseball
⊲ Basketball
⊲ Beach Volleyball
⊲ Cross Country
⊲ Fencing
⊲ Field Hockey
⊲ Football
⊲ Golf
Lacrosse
Sailing
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis ⊲ Track & Field
Volleyball ⊲ Wrestling
Performance Lab
Convent & Stuart Hall recognizes that holistic learning is beneficial to the personal growth of our students. By encompassing both health and community through athletics, students are given the resources to begin shaping self-awareness, empathy and balance. The versatile Performance Lab supplements our main gyms, serving teams and individuals, guided by a full-time Strength and Conditioning Coach for conditioning, wellness and equipment maintenance.
THE ARTS
Arts education is essential for our students to freely and creatively express themselves. Visual or performing art is a core requirement for our freshmen and sophomores. Students can elect to continue their studies throughout their junior and senior years in our various programs encompassing drama, music (vocal and instrumental), and visual arts offered at both the IBDP and college prep course levels.
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts Department fosters creativity through diverse mediums such as studio practice, collaborative thinking, portfolio development, critique, exhibitions and installations. The program evaluates students’ creative growth through formative and performative standards, supported by an Artist-in-Residence initiative where students work alongside professionals.
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts Department cultivates instrumental, vocal or theatrical mastery, promoting empathy, self-discovery and compositional appreciation through performance and analysis. This holistic approach nurtures artistic talent and understanding across all disciplines.
SERVICE
Service is foundational to the Convent & Stuart Hall mission. Throughout our students’ high school tenure, they are encouraged to partake in service, with emphasis on cultivating projects aligning with their interests and dedication to global, national or local causes. Service comes in varied forms, from championing youth voting rights to merging sports passion with coaching for equitable access, or maybe fostering education through reading and math tutoring. Our goal is that students see the benefit beyond high school and continue to make a difference in giving to others.
STUDENT CLUBS
Convent & Stuart Hall has clubs and activities to meet most every curiosity and talent. Students have the opportunity to form new organizations and are encouraged to expand their interests. The clubs may reflect personal pursuits or offer a completely new experience. Most students find themselves participating in more than one club or activity.
Current Clubs Offered
Architecture Club
Baking for Change
Black Student Union (BSU)
C-Pop Sustainable Resale
Car Club
Chess Club
Clothing for a Cause
Coding Club
Convent Fitness Club
Cooking Club
Creative Arts Club
Cubs Elections
Cultural Connections Club
Debate Club
Earth Art
Eco Club
Entertainment Club
Fashion Sustainability Club
Finance Club
Gardening Club
Global Women’s Rights Club
Health & Fitness Club (Strength Club)
History Discussion Society
Irish Club
Jewelry Club
Jewish Life Club
Latin Club
Literary Magazine
Lyric Poetry Club
Meditation and Yoga Club
Mock Trial Club
Model UN
Music Production Club
Outdoors Club
People of Color Student Union (POCSU)
Photography Club
Political Engagement Club
Pottery Club
Project Glimmer Club
Red Cross Club
Research Club
Run for Fun Club
Social Justice Literary Club
Sports Broadcasting Club
Sports Medicine Club (Sportsmed)
Stitches for Seals
Students in Action (SIA)
Tabletop Game Club
Teen HEAL
The Art Club
The Arts Club
The Book Club
The Broadview
The Giving Library
The Investment Club
The Roundtable
Unicef Club
Veteran Appreciation Club
Volunteer Club
Women in Business
Yearbook
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES & MATRICULATION
American University
Amherst College
Austin Community College District
Babson College
Barnard College
Bates College
Bellarmine University
Belmont University
Berklee College of Music
Boston College
Boston University
Brandeis University
Brown University
Bucknell University
California College of the Arts
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly Pomona
CSU Long Beach
CSU Monterey Bay
CSU Northridge
Carnegie Mellon University
Chapman University
City College of San Francisco
Colby College
Colgate University
College of San Mateo
College of the Holy Cross
Colorado
Colorado
Duke University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Fairfield University
Fordham University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Gonzaga University
Grinnell College
Hartwick College
Harvard University
Harvey Mudd College
Haverford College
Hofstra University
Howard University
Jacksonville University
Kenyon College
Lehigh University
Lewis & Clark College
Linfield University
Louisiana State University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University New Orleans
Macalester College
Marquette University
McGill University
Michigan State University
Middlebury College
Morehouse College
New Mexico Tech
New York University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
NYU Shanghai
Occidental College
Olin College of Engineering
Parsons Sch. of Design at The New School
Penn State University (University Park)
Pepperdine University
Pitzer College
Pomona College
Pratt Institute
Reed College
Rice University
Rotterdam School of Mgmt., Erasmus Univ.
Saint Mary’s College of California
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
San Jose State University
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Clara University
Sarah Lawrence College
Savannah College of Art and Design
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Sciences Po Paris
Scripps College
Seattle University
Skidmore College
Smith College
Sonoma State University
Southern Methodist University
Stanford University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Syracuse University
The New School
The University of Edinburgh
Trinity College
Tufts University
Tulane University of Louisiana
U.S. Military Academy at West Point
U.S. Naval Academy
Universidad de Navarra
University College London
University of Arizona
University of British Columbia
UC Berkeley
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UCLA
UC Merced
UC Riverside
UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Cruz
University of Chicago
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Denver
University of Georgia
University of Glasgow
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of La Verne
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Notre Dame
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania
University of Portland
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
University of Southern California
University of St Andrews
University of Toronto
University of Vermont
Univ. of Virginia (Main Campus)
Univ. of Washington (Seattle Campus)
University of Wisconsin (Madison)
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Wake Forest University
Washington and Lee University
Washington University in St. Louis
Wellesley College
Western University
Western Washington University
Westminster College
Whittier College Willamette University
