Urban
Landscape
A Notre Dame education extends well beyond the footprint of our downtown San Jose campus, out into the tenth largest city in the United States and the thriving center of Silicon Valley. Classes regularly visit local art installations, historic landmarks, civic and political organizations, and culturally-rich communities representative of the diversity of our students — all within walking distance of the Notre Dame campus. From modern language culture walks to social studies field trips to the Martin Luther King Jr. Library and the San Jose Museum of Art, classroom learning is applied in a realworld context. Themes of global citizenship, geography, advocacy and history are woven with classroom learning and encourage students to think critically and creatively about the world around them. Through regular interaction with the city as a classroom, students develop an understanding of the complexities and interdependencies of an urban environment and learn to navigate confidently in a microcosm of the global community.
PARTICIPATION
100
%
CITY AS A CLASSROOM
Under the guidance of teachers, every student experiences hands-on, real-world learning through the cultural and educational resources available within walking distance of campus.
INTERNSHIPS
Students intern at local businesses during the school year and summer. Whether through an internship at City Hall or the Tech Museum, students benefit from an understanding of, and readiness for, a variety of careers.
PARTNERSHIPS Through an exclusive arrangement with San Jose State University, our students can take full advantage of resources typically available only to college students.
CONFIDENCE
Students navigate and explore the city and its abundant resources through a variety of experiences. The outcome is a young woman with life-skills and self-confidence.
ND DOWNTOWN MURAL
30 8 78 140 & 1
STUDENTS PLYWOOD CANS OF PAINT PANELS
WORKING HOURS
AMAZING ART TEACHER
"One of my favorite things about Notre Dame is that it is located downtown. I love exploring the different restaurants with my friends, people watching and learning new things every time I go downtown. I've learned to be independent — from how I budget my spending money to when I walk with my friends without an adult."
Alexia '19
19
326
32
downtown locations
downtown doors feature ND student artwork
3 museums & galleries 12 places of worship 14 professional theaters
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE
walking field trips
carpool to campus
Families easily access campus from
58
ZIP CODES
54 16
families
"I have made so many wonderful memories downtown, but my favorite has to be the trip to the San Jose Museum of Art. To see how people express their feelings through art is an amazing experience! I was moved by the pieces and have since been there multiple times to visit the other exhibits. My favorite thing about these field trips is that it provides an opportunity to learn and create a closer bond with other students and the teacher outside of the classroom."
Sanjana '20
19