Welcome to the Diocese of Oakland Department of Catholic Schools! We are proud to serve our communities with quality education that develops well-rounded individuals and a lifelong commitment to faith, family, understanding and community. Our Catholic schools educate in many ways, helping to build a child's self esteem, their ability to learn and their connection to the Catholic faith.

Enrolling a child in Catholic education sets a path to success from the strong foundation that our schools provide. Families deserve the best education for their children. Our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Oakland provide that education!

A Catholic Education is an Advantage for Life

As a parent you have many choices for your child’s education. In terms of academics, you can rest assured that Diocese of Oakland Catholic schools adhere to rigorous standards that place ours among the best East Bay area schools, consistently meeting and often exceeding local, state and national averages. Diocese of Oakland Catholic schools also believe that it is your heart and spirit that form your character, so it is our mission to build within our students strong moral compasses. From pre-school through high school, Diocese of Oakland Catholic schools offer numerous opportunities to provide for a well-rounded life experience, and assist in nurturing leadership qualities.

Finally, at the heart of everything we do is our Catholic faith. Understanding God in Christ helps children better understand themselves and navigate the world in which they live.

Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Oakland welcome students of all backgrounds and faiths. There is simply no greater gift you can give your child than an excellent education with Diocese of Oakland Catholic schools that includes the lifelong benefits of character development and faith formation.


    

Benefits of a Catholic education

Academic Excellence – All Oakland Catholic pre-school, elementary, middle and high schools are accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Western Catholic Educators Association (WCEA).
 
Whole Child Development – Characteristic of all top area schools, our programs go far beyond simple academics in bringing out the best in every child.

Structure – With the guidance of caring, effective teachers, Diocese of Oakland Catholic Schools promote self-discipline and respect of self and others.

Safe Environment – All personnel, including volunteers, who come in contact with Diocese of Oakland Catholic school students are rigorously screened and participate in ongoing training in child safety.

Personal Attention to Individuals – Like most of the best schools in the Diocese of Oakland area, our smaller class sizes mean each child gets more one-on-one time with teachers.

Gospel Values – A strong spiritual foundation is developed through daily prayer, religious instruction, Mass and customary Catholic devotions.

Celebration of Individuality – Perhaps more than any other top schools in our area, as Catholics we truly acknowledge and encourage the development of each child’s unique God-given gifts.

Nurturing Environment – Diocese of Oakland Catholic schools know that children are gifts from God and we treat them accordingly.

Service to Others – We don’t just talk about the Golden Rule; we practice it daily and guide our students to live it.

 

What do you want your child to learn?

Focusing on test scores has changed the way many schools teach students these days. In the Catholic schools, we take tests seriously, but we know they are only one measure of success.

Students in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Oakland achieve higher than average scores on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT. Our daily attendance rates are higher than other schools in the same neighborhoods. 

We realize that test scores and awards are important measures of performance, but they can only tell part of the story. We are interested in how individual children are doing, and helping them succeed to the best of their abilities. In order to make sure every child has a chance of success, children have to learn more than facts and figures or how to do the kinds of problems that will appear on the next standardized test. They need to understand the underlying concepts in science and math. They need to be able to read, write, and discuss the ideas in literature and history texts. They need to be able to think about what they’re studying and how it connects to the things they’ve already learned and the world around them so they are prepared to meet the challenges of both today and tomorrow.

In order to make this possible, we have to create the right kind of academic environment. It takes individual attention from caring teachers, the involvement of engaged parents, and the example of other motivated students. If you want your child to learn more than the minimum required to score well on a standardized test, consider our approach to learning and find out more about the academic programs we have in place.
 

What do you want your child to believe?

As children grow, they have many questions… about the world, their own identities, powers greater than themselves, and their relationship with God.

As important as it is to be able to read, write, and understand math and science, many of the ultimate questions – about life, death, and the splendor and diversity of the world we live in – require a different sort of learning and depend on belief.

Catholic schools are faith-based communities where belief in God is part of the everyday environment, and not just in religion classes. There are Christian prayers and attendance at Mass, inspirational words and images throughout the schools, and frequent reminders of the message of Jesus for all the children of the world.
We welcome families and children from various faiths who are searching for an environment that provides academic excellence, spiritual and moral development and opportunities for service learning.

We are convinced it is important and enriching for children to experience religion firsthand. Their experiences give them a chance to understand the beliefs, purposes, issues, and practices of Catholic faith without prejudice or pre-conceived notions.  With a firm sense of their values and faith, children can boldly go out into a world in need of help and make a difference in it.

So whether you are a practicing Catholic, a former Catholic, or a believer in another faith, we urge you to give every aspect of your child’s character an opportunity to learn and grow. Catholic schools educate the whole child, including the mind, the heart, and the spirit.

 

What do you want your child to value?

How do children learn to distinguish right from wrong and how to behave in a world full of troubles and temptations? 

All parents want their children to grow up with a strong sense of values. And many parents do all they can to teach their children what to believe in and what to avoid. But as children grow up and go off to school, parents sometimes have less influence than they would like.

As children become more involved with the wider world of school, outside activities, and friends, the principal and teachers of your child’s school take on a greater role in helping to shape and sustain your child’s values.

Does the school you send your child to have a sense of values consistent with your own? Or is the subject of values, particularly Christian values, something that the school cannot even address openly?

Catholic schools focus on the values of faith, hope, love, and community. We talk openly about values and spend time each day giving children an opportunity to learn, share, and understand the consequences of good and bad behaviors and choices. We believe in Jesus Christ and we have a feeling of grace that comes from our beliefs.

Can the school your child attends teach the sort of lessons that will help your child become a good and compassionate person? Is there a clear expectation that all children will be treated with respect by the teachers and other students?

How a school handles these issues indicates whether the school is capable of reinforcing the values that you and other parents teach at home. Ultimately, we want your child to grow up to be a good and compassionate person, and we will do everything we can to help you raise your child in the right way. 

 

What do you want your child to share?

Sharing hopes, dreams, and experiences is the best way to learn to treat others, as you would like to be treated.

In the Catholic schools, we try very hard to include all children in the life of the school community and encourage them to empathize and build relationships with others. We help them learn to share physical things like toys, school supplies, and snacks. But we also want them to learn to share their feelings, thoughts, experiences, and faith, because the habits of sharing that develop at an early age continue throughout a child’s life.

And we do everything we can to include the families of students in this community of sharing. Because as children grow and families become connected, the bonds that hold the school community together become stronger and stronger.

We also encourage children to share in a sense of mission. Our students make an enormous difference in the lives of others throughout the diocese and around the world. Every year, students and families contribute thousands of hours of service and hundreds of thousands of dollars to those in need in our local and global communities.

According to many families, this sense of community and commitment is one of the most important reasons that they choose to send their children to the Catholic schools.