Garces Memorial High School
Garces Memorial High School is a private Catholic co-educational college-preparatory high school in Bakersfield, California, founded in 1947, serving grades 9-12 with AP, Dual Enrollment, and PLTW STEM curricula, 98% college placement, and tuition-funded operations supported by community fundraising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersBakersfield, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Garces Memorial High School does
Garces Memorial High School is a private Catholic co-educational college-preparatory high school in Bakersfield, California, founded on September 10, 1947, by the Christian Brothers and Dominican Sisters of St. Thomas of Aquinas. The school operates a 40-acre campus in the La Cresta residential area, serving grades 9-12 with a curriculum approved by the University of California and California State University systems and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA). Academic offerings include AP courses, a Dual Enrollment partnership with Bakersfield College (HIST B1/B2 and HIST B17A/B17B), and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) STEM coursework. The institution reports a 98% college acceptance rate and supports a comprehensive athletics program of more than 20 sports, with 136 CIF team championships and 500+ league championships accumulated over 75+ years.
The school's revenue model rests on recurring annual tuition (set at $15,500 per student for the 2025-2026 school year) bridged by a substantial fundraising apparatus. The disclosed cost-to-educate of $17,991 per student creates a $2,491 per-student gap funded primarily through the Annual Fund, the Garces Gala (47th annual in 2026), the Monsignor Leddy Golf Classic (52nd annual in 2026), Holy Smoke BBQ ticket/sponsorship revenue, and memorial scholarship programs. Distribution is direct via an on-campus admissions office, with go-to-market anchored on Open House events, Shadow Days, "Ram for a Day" prospect days, alumni referrals, and word-of-mouth within the Kern County community. Supporting product modules include Campus Ministry and faith formation (40 service hours, retreats, weekly Mass), an FFA agricultural program, performing and visual arts, an Honor Societies track (CSF, NHS), robotics and engineering clubs, and a Summer School program that extends into youth/middle-school camps.
Technology touches include a 1:1 iPad program (in place since 2013-2014 and recognized as Apple Distinguished School), and standard education SaaS integrations: FACTS Family Portal for tuition and grade management, RenWeb for admissions inquiries, Naviance for college and career planning, GoFan for athletic ticketing, and SportsNet for athletic registration. The school is governed by an independent Board of Directors under the Diocese of Fresno (formerly Monterey-Fresno) following the 1970 withdrawal of the Christian Brothers; the Bakersfield Catholic Education Foundation (founded 1989) manages supplemental donor funds. Leadership transitioned back to a President/Principal model in 2022-2023 with Kent Hickey as Transitional President and Myka Chambers as Principal, alongside a Director of Development, an Admissions Director, and supporting development associates.
Garces Memorial High School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Garces Memorial High School
- Legal name
- Garces Memorial High School
- Website
- https://garces.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Garces Memorial High School is a private Catholic co-educational college-preparatory high school in Bakersfield, California, founded in 1947, serving grades 9-12 with AP, Dual Enrollment, and PLTW STEM curricula, 98% college placement, and tuition-funded operations supported by community fundraising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Garces Memorial High School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Catholic Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education Funding Planning (College/529) (FSAEAAAF), Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM)
Keywords
Where Garces Memorial High School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bakersfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Garces Memorial High School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition: Primary revenue stream from student tuition. For 2025-2026 school year, tuition is $15,500 per student, while the cost to educate is $17,991, creating a per-student gap of $2,491 that is bridged through fundraising.
- Annual Fund / Fundraising: The Annual Fund bridges the gap between tuition and actual cost of education. Donations support teachers, staff, student life programs, and tuition assistance.
- Gala Events: Annual Garces Gala (47th annual in 2026) serves as major fundraising event with sponsorships and ticket sales.
- Golf Tournament: Monsignor Leddy Golf Classic (52nd annual in 2026) is a major community fundraising event.
- Holy Smoke BBQ: Annual fall BBQ event as fundraising activity with ticket sales and sponsorships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Tuition 2025-2026 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Garces Memorial High School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Garces Memorial High School is a Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school in Bakersfield, California, founded in 1947 by the Christian Brothers and Dominican Sisters of St. Thomas of Aquinas. The school delivers grades 9-12 instruction meeting California State Standards with UC/CSU approval, complemented by AP, Dual Enrollment, athletics, performing arts, FFA agricultural education, campus ministry, and summer/credit recovery programs. Educational services are billed primarily through annual tuition ($15,500 per student for 2025-2026) with a per-student gap of $2,491 bridged by fundraising.
Product overview
Garces Memorial High School is a Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school offering a comprehensive educational program. The core product is its college preparatory academic curriculum meeting California State Standards and UC/CSU approval. Supporting programs include athletics (20+ sports), summer school (credit recovery and acceleration), FFA agricultural program, performing and visual arts, college counseling services, student clubs, Campus Ministry, and Project Lead the Way STEM courses. The school also offers youth programs and camps for middle school students. The institution operates on a 1:1 iPad program integrated into teaching and learning.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Garces Memorial High School (Grades 9-12) Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school offering grades 9-12 instruction meeting California State Standards with UC/CSU approval, plus AP and Dual Enrollment programs. Includes faith formation, athletics, arts, FFA, clubs, and campus ministry on a 40-acre Bakersfield campus for students and families in Kern County.
- Summer School Program Summer school program offering 10-unit credit courses for high school students, dual enrollment courses with local colleges, academic non-credit courses, and youth/middle school courses plus sports camps. Designed for current Garces students seeking credit recovery or acceleration and prospective middle school students exploring the school.
- Youth and Middle School Programs Summer camps and academic programs for students entering grades 5-8, including academic courses (Reading Lab, Writing Lab, Math), STEM (Robotics), Arts (Art, Cooking), and sports camps (Rugby, Basketball, Soccer, Dance, Swimming, Water Polo, Tennis, Volleyball, Football, Baseball). Targeted at prospective Garces families and the broader Kern County community.
Companies that use Garces Memorial High School
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Garces Memorial High School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature1 record
Garces Memorial High School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Gino Colombo Memorial ScholarshipcoreScholarship program started in 2007 honoring Gino Colombo. Multiple scholarships totaling over $155,395 have been awarded to deserving students for Catholic college preparatory education.
- Bakersfield Catholic Education FoundationcoreFormerly known as Garces Memorial High School Foundation, Inc., established in 1989. A nonprofit governed by an independent Board of Directors with all funds held locally for the benefit of Garces Memorial High School. Provides additional means for friends of the school to participate in preserving the school's unique place in the community.
- CIF Central SectioncoreGarces competes in CIF Central Section athletics. The school is ranked fourth all-time in CIF Central Section history with 136 team championships and over 500 league championships.
- FACTS Family PortalmajorOnline portal used by families for tuition management, grade viewing, and school communication.
- NaviancemajorCollege and career readiness platform used for college applications, scholarship searches, and student tracking.
- Project Lead the Way (PLTW)majorSTEM curriculum partnership offering Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, and Civil Engineering and Architecture courses.
- Bakersfield CollegecoreDual enrollment partnership allowing Garces students to earn college credits through HIST B1/B2 World History and HIST B17A/B17B US History courses.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Garces Memorial High School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Jesuit High School Sacramento: Catholic college-prep high school in Northern California with rigorous academics, athletics, and faith formation. Comparable in mission, college-prep positioning, and tuition-driven nonprofit model, though larger scale and broader draw.
- Cathedral Catholic High School: Private Catholic co-educational college-prep high school in San Diego with comprehensive athletics, AP curriculum, and faith formation. Comparable in programming structure and college-prep outcomes; serves a different Southern California market.
- Mater Dei High School: Catholic co-educational college-prep high school in Santa Ana, CA. Comparable mission, dual enrollment pathways, and elite CIF athletics pedigree, but operates in a denser, more competitive Southern California market.
- Bakersfield Christian High School: Private Christian college-prep high school in Bakersfield, CA. Most direct local competitor to Garces for tuition-paying families seeking a faith-based secondary education in Kern County.
- Bishop Kelly High School: Catholic college-prep high school in Boise, Idaho with comparable scale, tuition model, and faith-based mission. Useful benchmark for a similarly sized Catholic secondary school with strong athletics and AP/Dual Enrollment pathways.
- Servite High School: Private Catholic all-boys college-prep high school in Anaheim, CA with strong athletics and faith formation. Comparable in mission and fundraising-driven nonprofit model; regional peer rather than direct Kern County competitor.
Others
- FACTS (FACTS Management): Family portal and tuition management platform used by Garces for grades, attendance, and online payments. Relevant as ecosystem enabler for K-12 private school operations rather than as a peer competitor.
Regional players
- Buchanan High School: Top public high school in Clovis, CA (near Fresno) that competes with Garces for college-prep families in the broader Central Valley region. Public-school alternative with strong athletics and AP offerings; not a tuition competitor but a regional enrollment substitute.
- Stockdale High School: Highly ranked Kern County public high school located in Bakersfield. Competes with Garces for college-prep students within the same metro, particularly families unwilling or unable to pay private tuition.
Broad incumbents
- Bellarmine College Preparatory: Larger Jesuit Catholic college-prep high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. Comparable in curriculum (AP, college counseling, faith formation) and competitive athletics, operating at materially larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Garces Memorial High School social profiles
Digital presenceGarces Memorial High School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Garces Memorial High School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Garces Memorial High School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Garces Memorial High School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Garces Memorial High School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Garces Memorial High School
What does Garces Memorial High School do?
Garces Memorial High School is a Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school in Bakersfield, California, founded in 1947 by the Christian Brothers and Dominican Sisters of St. Thomas of Aquinas. The school delivers grades 9-12 instruction meeting California State Standards with UC/CSU approval, complemented by AP, Dual Enrollment, athletics, performing arts, FFA agricultural education, campus ministry, and summer/credit recovery programs. Educational services are billed primarily through annual tuition ($15,500 per student for 2025-2026) with a per-student gap of $2,491 bridged by fundraising.
Is Garces Memorial High School a public or private company?
Garces Memorial High School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Garces Memorial High School founded?
Garces Memorial High School was founded in 1947. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Garces Memorial High School based?
Garces Memorial High School is headquartered in Bakersfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does Garces Memorial High School make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tuition is the primary driver. The others are annual Fund / Fundraising, gala Events, golf Tournament and holy Smoke BBQ.
Who are Garces Memorial High School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Jesuit High School Sacramento, Cathedral Catholic High School, Mater Dei High School, Bakersfield Christian High School, Bishop Kelly High School and Servite High School. FACTS (FACTS Management) is listed as an others. Regional players are Buchanan High School and Stockdale High School. Bellarmine College Preparatory is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Garces Memorial High School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Garces Memorial High School.
What industry is Garces Memorial High School in?
Garces Memorial High School's product category is Private Catholic Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAJ, Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools, with a secondary code of FSAEAAAF, Education Funding Planning (College/529). Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.