Bishop Garcia Diego High School

What Bishop Garcia Diego High School does

Bishop Garcia Diego High School is an independent, co-educational Catholic college-preparatory high school located on a 16-acre campus at 4000 La Colina Road in Santa Barbara, California. Founded in 1914 as Dolores School and operating under its current name since 1959, the school became an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2005 under a local Board of Trustees, having separated from Archdiocese of Los Angeles sponsorship. It serves 281 students in grades 9-12 with a 36-member faculty (70% holding advanced degrees) at a 9:1 student-teacher ratio and an average class size of 16.

The academic core is a college-preparatory curriculum exceeding UC/CSU requirements, supplemented by 16 AP courses (89% school-wide pass rate in 2025 across 179 exams taken by 95 students), the Pier & Margo Gherini Center for Multimedia Arts & Technology (opened 2014), the STEAM Society, and a J-Term enrichment block launched in January 2025. Co-curricular infrastructure includes 21 sports under a no-cut policy with approximately 80% student participation, 98% co-curricular engagement, the Fall 2024 House System, and Campus Ministry rooted in Catholic faith formation. Support services span academic counseling, a Resource Program for learning differences, personal counseling, and four-year college counseling that yields a 100% college acceptance rate (Class of 2023 earned $6M in scholarships and merit awards).

The business model is tuition-driven under a Personalized Tuition Model in which approximately 70% of students receive income-based subsidies — $2.6M was awarded in 2024-25 alone. Revenue is supplemented by the Annual Fund, Cardinal Club corporate sponsorships, and major fundraising events including the Annual Auction & Gala and the 54th Annual Golf Tournament. Marketing and admissions are event- and community-led, supported by bilingual weekly newsletters, BDTV student-produced media, a Cardinal Ambassador referral layer, and rolling admissions with an international applicant track. Triple accreditation (WASC, WCEA, CAIS) and full WASC/WCEA terms through June 2029 anchor regulatory standing.

Name

Bishop Garcia Diego High School

Legal name

Bishop Garcia Diego High School

Website

https://bishopdiego.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bishop Garcia Diego High School is an independent Catholic co-educational college-preparatory high school in Santa Barbara, California, serving 281 students in grades 9-12 with a 9:1 teacher ratio, 100% college acceptance, and a Personalized Tuition Model subsidizing approximately 70% of families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Barbara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Annual tuition payments from families. Bishop offers a Personalized Tuition Model with subsidies tailored to family income levels. For 2024-25, over $2.6 million in personalized tuition subsidies were awarded.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fund donations, endowment gifts, and directed giving to specific programs or departments. The Fund for Bishop Diego, Adopt-A-Student program, and endowment contributions.
3. Major Events Revenue: Annual Auction & Gala at El Paseo Restaurant, 54th Annual Golf Tournament at Glen Annie Golf Club, and Cardinal Event celebrating athletics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bishop Garcia Diego High School delivers a private, Catholic, co-educational college-preparatory program for students in grades 9-12 on a 16-acre Santa Barbara campus. The school combines rigorous academics (including 16 AP courses), spiritual formation, athletics (21 sports with no-cut policy), and college counseling that yields a 100% college acceptance rate, supported by a Personalized Tuition Model in which approximately 70% of students receive income-based subsidies.

Product overview

Bishop Garcia Diego High School offers a comprehensive private Catholic college-preparatory education as a single unified program serving 281 students in grades 9-12. The core academic program is enhanced by specialized offerings including the AP Program (16 courses, 89% pass rate), the Pier & Margo Gherini Center for Multimedia Arts & Technology, the STEAM Society, and the J-Term enrichment program. Co-curricular programs include 20+ athletic teams and extensive student clubs. Support services encompass academic counseling, college counseling (100% acceptance rate), a resource program for students with learning differences, and Campus Ministry. Financial accessibility is supported through a Personalized Tuition Model serving approximately 70-80% of the student body.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College Preparatory Curriculum Rigorous college-preparatory academic program exceeding UC/CSU entrance requirements, with personalized counseling and support services for grades 9-12 students and their families.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Program College-level AP coursework with 16 AP courses offered; achieved an 89% pass rate in 2025 with 179 exams administered to 95 students.
• Pier & Margo Gherini Center for Multimedia Arts & Technology State-of-the-art multimedia facility opened in August 2014 offering courses in Computer Science, Graphic Arts & Technology, Television/Broadcast Production, and Sound Design for Bishop Diego students.
• STEAM Society Honor society for students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics, featuring a rigorous curriculum of 20+ STEAM-related courses with community service requirements.
• J-Term (January Term) Two-week January enrichment term featuring courses like pilates, cooking, photography, surfing, and financial literacy, plus internships, service projects, and study abroad opportunities for Bishop Diego students.
• Athletics Program Comprehensive athletic program with 20+ athletic teams, a no-cut policy, and approximately 80% student participation across 21 sports competing in the Tri County Athletic Association.
• Academic Counseling & Student Services Comprehensive counseling service including academic planning, personal counseling, resource program for students with learning disabilities, and college counseling from freshman year through senior year.
• College Counseling Program Individualized four-year college counseling program supporting a 100% college acceptance rate, with the Class of 2023 earning $6 million in scholarships and merit awards.
• Spiritual Life & Campus Ministry Catholic faith formation program including daily theology classes, retreat program (Freshman through Senior Kairos), Campus Ministry leadership, monthly Masses, and service opportunities.
• Student Government & Clubs Active student government, Campus Ministry, Cardinal Ambassadors, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, and interest-based clubs, supplemented by the House System launched in Fall 2024.
• Resource Program Support services for students with documented learning disabilities, providing tools and accommodations for academic achievement.
• Personalized Tuition Model Income-based tuition subsidies tailored to family circumstances; approximately 70-80% of students receive financial aid; over $2.6 million in subsidies awarded for the 2024-25 school year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% AP test pass rate (2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Glen Annie Golf ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the 54th Annual Bishop Diego Golf Tournament (Jim Stovesand Memorial). Provides 18 holes of golf, lunch, dinner, drinks, and event space for school fundraising.
• El Paseo RestaurantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Annual Auction & Gala. Elegant setting for major school fundraising event.
• TilecominorOthersCardinal Club sponsor and athletic program supporter.
• Montecito Bank & TrustminorOthersCardinal Club sponsor and athletic program supporter.
• Keith Berry Real EstateminorOthersCardinal Club sponsor and athletic program supporter.
• Architectural MillworkminorOthersCardinal Club sponsor and athletic program supporter.
• MarBorg IndustriesminorOthersCardinal Club sponsor and Red Bird sponsor for Golf Tournament. Major supporter of school athletics.
• The Gherini Family (Pier & Margo Gherini)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNamed donors for the Gherini Center for Multimedia Arts & Technology, a state-of-the-art facility opened in 2014. Major benefactors supporting technology education.
• Najera-Schmidt FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorial donors for the Najera-Schmidt Memorial Weight Room, renovated in 2008. One of the best-equipped high school weight rooms in Santa Barbara.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Saint Mary's College High School: Catholic, De La Salle, college-preparatory high school in Berkeley, CA. Comparable as a CAIS-member Catholic college-prep serving a diverse student body with strong athletics and AP programming.
• Louisville High School: Catholic, college-preparatory girls' high school in Woodland Hills, CA. Comparable as a WCEA-accredited Catholic college-prep focused on STEM, arts, and 100% college placement.
• Bellarmine College Preparatory: Catholic, Jesuit, college-preparatory boys' high school in San Jose, CA and a CAIS member. Directly comparable as a California Catholic college-prep with rigorous AP offerings, athletics, and 100% college placement focus.
• Mater Dei High School: Catholic, college-preparatory co-ed high school in Santa Ana, CA. Comparable as a large-scale Catholic college-prep with nationally recognized athletics and strong college placement.
• Villanova Preparatory School: Independent Catholic Augustinian college-prep school in Ojai, California, similar in mission, size, and tuition model. Closely comparable as a private Catholic boarding/day college-prep school in Southern California with a values-based, college-preparatory focus.
• Junipero Serra High School: Catholic, college-preparatory high school in San Mateo, CA. Comparable as a WCEA-accredited Catholic college-prep with a robust college-counseling function and 21+ athletic programs.
• Cathedral Catholic High School: Catholic, college-preparatory co-ed high school in San Diego, CA. Comparable as a WCEA/WASC-accredited Catholic college-prep in Southern California with extensive athletics and college-counseling programs.
• Servite High School: Catholic, Dominican, college-preparatory boys' high school in Anaheim, CA. Comparable as a WCEA-accredited Catholic college-prep with extensive AP offerings and athletics.

Broad incumbents

• Thacher School: Highly selective independent boarding school in Ojai, CA, in the same Southern California region. Comparable as a private college-prep with strong college placement, though boarding and substantially more expensive.
• Flintridge Preparatory School: Independent, non-religious college-prep school in La Cañada Flintridge, CA. Comparable as a CAIS-member private college-prep with high college placement, though not Catholic and slightly larger.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BishopDiegoHS
• Instagraminstagram.com/bdhscardinals
• Xx.com/BishopDiego
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bishop-garcia-diego-high-school

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bishop Garcia Diego High School