Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks)

Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks)
Name	Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks)
Established	1947
Type	Private, Catholic, All-girls
Affiliation	Congregation of Holy Cross, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Grades	9–12
Address	13645 Riverside Drive
City	Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles
State	California
Country	United States
Campus	Urban
Colors	Navy and Gold
Mascot	Charger

Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks) is a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls secondary school in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1947. The school operates within the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and serves students from the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, and neighboring communities. Known for college preparatory curricula, campus ministries, and performing arts partnerships, the school maintains ties to local institutions and national programs.

History

Founded in 1947 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the school opened amid post‑World War II expansion in Los Angeles alongside contemporaneous institutions such as Notre Dame High School (Sherkeley, CA) and other Catholic schools established during the era. Early decades saw growth paralleling suburban development in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles and the broader San Fernando Valley, with alumni progressing to universities including University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Pepperdine University, Loyola Marymount University, and Santa Clara University. The school’s governance evolved through the late 20th century with involvement from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and educational associations like the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and California Association of Independent Schools. Notable events include campus expansions during the 1960s and modernization projects linked to philanthropic support from families prominent in Los Angeles civic and cultural life.

Campus and Facilities

The urban campus on Riverside Drive features academic buildings, a chapel, arts spaces, and athletic facilities situated near landmarks such as Van Nuys and Studio City. Facilities over time have included science labs outfitted for partnerships with programs at UCLA and Caltech outreach, a performing arts theater hosting productions linked to Los Angeles theater networks, and a chapel used for liturgies with visiting clergy from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and clergy engaged with Holy Cross ministries. The campus has been upgraded with media centers supporting connections to institutions like USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and has outdoor spaces for community events drawing guests from Warner Bros. Studios, NBCUniversal, and local cultural organizations.

Academics

Notre Dame emphasizes college preparatory programs with Advanced Placement courses aligned to curricula recognized by the College Board, and offers coursework designed for admission to universities including the University of California system, California State University campuses, and private colleges such as USC, UCLA, Stanford University, Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Duke University, Columbia University, New York University, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, Rice University, Johns Hopkins University, Boston University, Emory University, Georgetown University, University of Notre Dame, Villanova University, Boston College, Fordham University, Santa Clara University, Pepperdine University, Loyola Marymount University, Occidental College, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, Pitzer College, Pomona College, Irvine Valley College, Santa Monica College, Pasadena City College, Biola University, Whittier College, Hastings College, Cal Lutheran, Chapman University, University of San Diego, Gonzaga University, Seattle University, Marquette University, Villanova University School of Law, Georgetown Law, USC Gould School of Law, UCLA School of Law. The curriculum integrates humanities, STEM, visual arts, and language studies with service learning components connected to organizations like Catholic Charities USA, Habitat for Humanity, and local non‑profits. Counseling and college guidance services coordinate with national testing providers and scholarship programs administered by foundations and civic groups across Los Angeles County.

Student Life and Extracurriculars

Student life includes campus ministry programs, student government, and clubs spanning science, debate, robotics, and arts with extracurricular ties to entities such as FIRST Robotics Competition, Model United Nations, and regional chapters of National Honor Society. Performing arts ensembles collaborate with community theaters and arts organizations like Los Angeles Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, The Music Center, and conservatories including Colburn School and Julliard School outreach initiatives. Service and civic engagement activities link students to agencies including United Way, American Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, and local food banks. Publications and media clubs produce yearbooks and newspapers aligned with programs from the National Scholastic Press Association.

Athletics

Athletic teams, known as the Chargers, compete in leagues under the oversight of the California Interscholastic Federation and face neighboring schools from the Los Angeles area. Sports offerings include volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, cross country, track and field, tennis, and swimming, with student‑athletes pursuing collegiate athletics at institutions such as UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans, Stanford Cardinal, Cal Bears, Pepperdine Waves, Loyola Marymount Lions, Santa Clara Broncos, San Diego Toreros, Gonzaga Bulldogs, BYU Cougars, UC Irvine Anteaters, UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, UC Davis Aggies, Cal Poly Mustangs, CSUN Matadors, Westmont Warriors, Redlands Bulldogs, Occidental Tigers, Claremont Colleges Athenas, and other NCAA and NAIA programs.

Notable Alumni

Alumni have entered fields including entertainment, law, medicine, athletics, and public service, with graduates who pursued careers at organizations such as Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Disney, NBCUniversal, Fox Broadcasting Company, Netflix, HBO, CBS, ABC, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Creative Artists Agency, William Morris Endeavor, United States Congress, California State Legislature, Los Angeles City Council, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, UCLA Medical Center, and academic appointments at institutions including UCLA, USC, Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine, Mayo Clinic. Specific alumnae have achieved visibility in film, television, music, law, and athletics, contributing to cultural and civic life in Los Angeles and beyond.

Category:Catholic secondary schools in California Category:Girls' schools in California Category:High schools in the San Fernando Valley