You are on the cusp of an unforgettable journey! Notre Dame High School is a community that cultivates young women during their most exhilarating, formative high school years. Our mission is clear; our passion is fervent: We strive to ensure that every young woman who enters our historic Second Street gates becomes a lifelong learner, spiritual seeker, justice advocate and community leader. We boldly established this framework in 1851 and we have refined it ever since.
Our distinguished campus is nestled in the SoFa District of Downtown San Jose, California. Our robust and innovative coursework prepares students for competitive colleges and careers. Our infusion with the city exposes them to innovative art and culture, world class businesses, an interactive political platform and evolving technological advances.
When you visit campus, you will bear witness to an inclusive faith community guided by the unique Hallmarks that define our Notre Dame de Namur learning community. In this nurturing space, students engage in spiritual growth and learn to appreciate themselves, their peers and the complex world around them. They ask astute questions, they zealously serve their community and they unapologetically advance our world each day.
Our vision of excellence honors the legacy upon which we were founded and inspires leaders right now, in this moment, to forge an indelible legacy of their own. Thank you for exploring our community. I look forward to engaging with your family soon!
Ashley Rae Mathis HEAD OF SCHOOL
We strive to ensure that every young woman who enters our historic Second Street gates becomes a lifelong learner, spiritual seeker, justice advocate and community leader.”
• ASHLEY RAE MATHIS •
24 31 90%
average class size AP/Honors courses
1:11 FACULTY to STUDENT ratio
#1
11
CULTURAL CLUBS
362 students in 2023 took nearly 820 AP EXAMS
courses offered of students taking at least one HONORS or AP CLASS
MOST DIVERSE Catholic High School in Santa Clara County (Niche)
30 second languages spoken by students
675 student body (on average)
24% of students receive tuition assistance
125 18+
religious traditions celebrated middle schools
have access to college, career and life counseling
100% of students
17,569 SERVICE HOURS completed by the student body
have access to teachers during the school day for support
participate in social emotional learning through community circles participate in our big/little sister program
have a designated guidance counselor for four years
6
100% participate in Spirit Week
33
410
133 STUDENTS participated in the spring musical co-curricular programs student clubs & interest groups elected & selected leadership positions
Notre Dame is proud of our history and tradition as the oldest all-girls school in the western United States. In 1851, our school emerged as a designated space to educate and empower young women at a time when their social and educational options were limited. While the educational landscape for women has expanded, the evolution of professional and leadership opportunities has grown more slowly. For example, women remain under-represented in positions of leadership in corporate and political spaces, as well as across STEM fields.
Women-centric spaces, like the one cultivated at NDSJ, disrupt limitations women faced by promoting empowerment, cultivating confidence, providing representation and enabling broad access to skill-building, free from stereotypes of what is, or is not, possible for women.
As we continue this legacy of centering women, our learning community is also actively engaged in expansive thinking about gender identity and expression alongside our mission of inclusivity.
A Place Where Women Thrive
SIGNATURE EVENTS
THE MARY BETH RILEY CENTER FOR WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
of students agree that they are encouraged to be their best self at Notre Dame
96% of students say they lead with integrity and confidence
of students say they honor the legacy of women’s leadership
2023 graduating senior survey data
At the Young Women’s Advocacy Summit, attended by local politicians and community members, seniors advocate on behalf of the organizations they served through their Senior Service Learning Project.
ND truly does its best to foster leadership in women
• CERISA ‘26 •
Women-Centric ENVIRONMENT www.ndsj.org | 10
Students have access to 18+ teams across 11 sports, as well as year-long strength and conditioning.
All students participate in community service, student-led liturgies and have the opportunity to attend grade-level retreats. There are many ways for students to deepen their faith and explore their spirituality through the campus ministry program.
With the support of two coaches and 15 mentors, The Janksters, also known as FRC Team 1967, work in a state-of-the-art engineering lab to construct a student-built robot that competes locally and nationally. The team is made up of four committees: electronics, business, mechanical and programming, allowing students to explore a variety of facets of engineering and business.
Students participate in 15 competitive events across more than 30 tournaments hosted locally, regionally and nationally. In 2022, students placed first at the State Championship.
The program includes over 400 elected and selected positions of leadership, as well as formal leadership training for all students in their sophomore year. Student leaders have specifically-allocated time in their weekly schedule to develop their skills.
Students in drama, choir, music, dance and technical theater participate in more than 50 performances and exhibits on and off campus. They design, direct, conduct and choreograph, developing their skills as artists and leaders.
I began to understand the importance of putting myself out there and did so by involving myself in a sport that I had not played in a competitive space. Last year, I challenged myself with the caliber of tennis players around me and I was able to understand taking charge of my own fitness and passion for the sport.”
Joining the tennis team allowed me to find an identity within women’s leadership.
• DHYANA ‘24 •
Notre Dame de Namur’s foundress, Saint Julie Billiart, directed her community to, “Teach them what they need to know for life.” At Notre Dame San Jose, we embrace this as our mission and inspire a love of learning that reflects the values of our Notre Dame identity while leveraging the unique resources available to our students.
Our instructional model centers inquiry and growth within a culture of innovation, which ensures a Notre Dame education remains relevant in a rapidly changing landscape.
Our size and relational focus promote personalization and support. Time is designated in our weekly academic schedule to support direct access to teachers outside of the classroom, as well as collaboration among educators to share best practices and develop as professionals. As a result, ours is truly a learning community where students and faculty embrace the journey of life-long learning together.
Notre Dame’s instructional model emphasizes meaningful and relevant content, application of best practices to support student learning and ongoing feedback to develop mastery. We focus on continuous growth rather than time-bound memorization and performance. Our approach to teaching and learning includes:
• Ongoing skill and content-based assessments in all classes rather than a high-stakes final exam at the end of the course.
• Homework policies to maximize access to learning with the teacher as a resource and minimize impact beyond the academic day.
• Flexibility to allow for the process of ongoing learning and student needs.
Weekly academic collaboration time is dedicated for faculty and students to work together to support students on their academic journey. It is designed to allow for activities in support of student learning, including:
• Time to demonstrate mastery by retaking and revising assessments.
• Study time, whether individually or in a group.
• Work time, whether individually or in a group.
• Time for seeking out resources to support learning, including meetings with teachers and other sources of academic support.
It’s never stagnant, but rather it changes and evolves based on the needs of the learner and societal context in which the learning is happening.”
• MR. JOHNSON, VISUAL ARTS TEACHER •
that sparks creativity, energy and passion and always pushes
to improve and keep learning. It combines academic rigor with the need for sustainable time management skills.”
• SOPHIA ‘25 •
98% of students believe that they have peers to connect with for shared interests and activities
97% of students use critical thinking to build perspective and knowledge
RACE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION: We commit to a learning community that is inclusive and equitable. This commitment is articulated in our educational equity belief statement, reinforced in ongoing professional development for our employees and experienced by students through our culture and curriculum that honors identity while amplifying diverse voices and experiences. To learn more about our commitment to equity in education please visit our website: www.ndsj.org/about-us/equity
My World History AP class is a unique environment
me
Notre Dame’s focus on hands-on experiential learning, along with our resource-rich location, empowers us to take learning beyond the walls of a traditional classroom out into the world around us.
Curriculum and course offerings are audited and updated regularly to ensure diverse voices are represented across the curriculum and that students are learning what they need to know for life. Students are invited to connect personally to the content and to think critically. To prepare students for a changing world, Ethnic Studies and Data Science were recently added as course offerings.
A diverse selection of community partners and content experts provide students with examples of the working application of topics learned in class as well as reflections on their personal experience. ND Reads and other authors, college admissions deans and STEM speakers regularly meet with our students.
English, Social Studies, Modern Language and Religious Studies teachers collaborate so that topics are studied through multiple lenses, fostering increased comprehension and a broader perspective on issues. For example, as part of a class-wide, cross-curricular study of the American experience and to further their discussion around inclusion and exclusion, each year the entire junior class visits Japantown to study Japanese American history and culture.
Notre Dame’s Independent Science Research Program provides students with an opportunity to conduct in-depth research into the topic of their choice and present their findings at local and national conferences. Students have received scholarships, been invited to conferences around the country and been to the White House to share their research.
Students benefit from state-of-the-art technology and equipment including 3-D printers, gel electrophoresis equipment, 3-D bioprinters and a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) thermocycler and more.
An experience that has impacted me as a life-long learner was how integrated humanities is with STEM. I am a student who is drawn to humanities and English rather than math and science. At Notre Dame I was exposed to how cool STEM could be and how much of an impact I could make by connecting humanities to STEM fields. So now I love my Chinese, AP World History and English classes and also thoroughly enjoy Chemistry, Algebra and Computer Science.”
• MEGAN ‘24 •
In close partnership with College Counseling, Notre Dame’s Career & Life Success Program prepares students for college and beyond by empowering them to identify and nurture their individual gifts and talents as they explore opportunities for future career and life success. The three pillars of the program are: self-awareness, skill-development and career exploration.
Self-awareness includes having a clear perception of one’s own personality, including unique talents, strengths, sense of purpose, core values, beliefs, goals and desires. Students build self-awareness in 9th and 10th grade through exploratory workshops and social emotional learning.
Strengths and skills are great predictors of career trajectory. In 9th grade, students take a skills assessment, followed by a career assessment in 10th grade. These assessments help students better articulate skills, strengths, talents and interests. Additionally, students develop skills in: resume and professional email writing, interviewing and networking with peers, community partners and alum. Further, the Career and Life Success program pairs students with internships, both on and off campus.
Career development and networking opportunities allow students to learn about companies, industries and careers in a personal setting. Students visit local companies and engage with industry professionals, building their network while exploring career options. Students participate in job shadowing and guest speakers in a variety of professions visit campus. The Notre Dame Career Corner is an online hub where internships, jobs and enrichment opportunities are posted. The Career Corner also includes information about pre-college programs on college campuses.
The Career and Life Success Program empowers students to forge their own success stories by offering opportunities that blend passion and dedication. Engaging in the financial literacy workshop exposed me to valuable life skills and sparked my interest in finance. Through interactive activities, I connected with peers who share similar interests and deepened my understanding of making wise financial decisions.
Notre Dame has an on-campus internship program through which there are 40+ opportunities for students to develop professional skills alongside faculty and staff.
130 Career Corner off-campus opportunities last school year.
of students have opportunities to meet alums through: 100% COLLEGE PANELS CAREER GUEST SPEAKERS NETWORKING EVENTS
• TANIA ‘25 •
Our college counseling philosophy mirrors the spiritual legacy of our foundress, Saint Julie Billiart, embracing the gift of God’s goodness to support the personal journey of each student. Through the college counseling process, students are invited to discover who they are and what they think. We explore the full range of college options and help them find one that challenges them academically and aligns with their values, interests and career goals. The college counseling program is holistic and includes 1:1 meetings, group meetings, class-level meetings, parent education events and more.
1:1
college counseling support for all juniors and seniors and their families
69
college representatives visited campus virtually or in person last year
20 students in the Class of 2023 were First Scholars to College
MORE THAN
$18m
in scholarships was awarded to 160 students in the Class of 2023
MOST POPULAR MAJORS FOR THE CLASS OF 2023:
• Business, Marketing
• Biological Sciences
• Engineering
• Psychology & Neuroscience
• Political Science
87% matriculated to one of their top choice schools
CLASS OF 2023 GRADUATES MATRICULATED TO SCHOOLS THAT ARE:
• 47% Private
• 34% UC/CSU
• 10% Out of State Public
• 3% Community College
• 3% International
• < 1% Gap Year
For a complete list of acceptances and matriculations, please scan the QR code below to visit our counseling webpage.
Notre Dame’s First Scholars to College Program provides students who will be the first in their family to attend college, and their families, assistance in navigating the road to a college education and helps students explore career possibilities.
www.ndsj.org/academics/ college-counseling
Guided by the wisdom of Saint Julie Billiart, foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, we have provided a Catholic education in this valley for more than 170 years.
Because we are Catholic, our experience includes prayer, discernment and service for each student. We also affirm the dignity of all people and seek solidarity with all faith traditions represented among our students and their families. Within our inclusive, multifaith learning community, students can grow in their ability to dialogue with others while also deepening their own sense of spirituality and self.
Under the direction of the religious studies and campus ministry team, students engage in their journey through theological inquiry and spiritual practice. More than 100 student leaders help plan and implement Catholic liturgies as well as opportunities for meditation, reflection and prayer for students of all faiths. All students take religious studies courses, participate in grade-level retreats and serve at local agencies in the community.
As we seek to authentically express our Catholic identity, we look to the future as well as the past. Ahead, we see a need to engage with the world around us in critical conversations and actions that promote justice and the goodness of God. Because of our rich history and tradition, we have the courage and the conviction to do this work.
The Hallmarks are the essential characteristics, values and activities shared by all Notre Dame de Namur learning communities.
1 We proclaim by our lives even more than by our words that God is good. We honor the dignity and sacredness of each person.
We educate for and act on behalf of justice and peace in the world.
We commit ourselves to community service.
We embrace the gift of diversity.
We create community among those with whom we work and with those we serve.
We develop holistic learning communities which educate for life.
Be like the sunflower that follows every movement of sun, and keep your eyes always turned towards our good God.”
What I like most about Notre Dame is the diversity because you get to explore and learn about so many different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs. Knowing there are a lot of people that share your same story gives you a sense of comfort and belonging.”
Notre Dame has 12 interfaith partnerships in the local community.
• SAINT JULIE BILLIART •
• CELESTE ‘23 •
At Notre Dame, we are developing women leaders who will create a more just world. Our Education for Justice & Leadership initiative defines the distinctive curriculum that forms students for compassionate and socially-just leadership. This commitment to educate towards goals of personal engagement and responsibility, solidarity, stewardship and advocacy requires purposeful integration of academic study, direct experience, thoughtful service and reflection.
Through our program, students develop a strong sense of self as well as their own voice and perspective on social issues. As people of service and impact, they take their place in the community, standing with, and speaking up for, vulnerable populations. They graduate with strong voices and the knowledge and tools to bring intelligent compassion to our local, national and global communities.
The goal of the Education for Justice and Leadership program is to ensure that every student at Notre Dame has the opportunity to develop their own skills and perspectives as a justice advocate and community leader. The program includes an integrated humanities curriculum, created in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves, grade-level interdisciplinary field trips, annual guest speakers and community events.
9TH 11TH
Environment Matters: Stewardship, Community and You Guadalupe River Park Conservancy
Identity Matters: Membership, Responsibility and Historical Stewardship
Japantown
10TH 12TH
Each year Notre Dame selects a book to read and discuss as a community of students, faculty, alums, family and friends. Books are selected that explore and deepen a core theme in the Education for Justice and Leadership initiative. The author comes to campus to engage our community in academic scholarship and intentional dialogue that reflects our Catholic identity. For the 2023-2024 school year the novel is A Dream Called Home by Reyna Grande.
Art Matters: Culture, Creativity and Society de Young Museum
Democracy Matters: Choices, Advocacy and Action Downtown agencies serving marginalized communities
ND is a Catholic learning community in a way I feel is unique and unexpected. In our religion classes, we combine spirituality with justice and service. In Peace & Social Justice this year, there were elements of the Catholic faith as we analyzed scripture and learned about Catholic faith traditions, and we did so in a way that uplifts and emphasizes everyone’s human dignity. We learned that the Catholic faith embraces all people regardless of their identity, and does not stand for injustice. I was given the opportunity to grow as both a spiritual seeker and justice advocate.”
• ELYSSE ‘23 •
Our ND Reads author talk is open to the public. Please visit our website for more information and to register for our 17th annual ND Reads event: www.ndsj.org/nd-reads
Hallmarks* three and four call us to work for justice and peace in the world through justice advocacy and direct service. All students commit to community service and develop their own pathways as people of service and impact in the world.
* The Hallmarks of a Notre Dame Learning Community can be found on page 25.
GRADE-LEVEL COMMUNITY SERVICE
9TH serving women and children
10TH serving marginalized or vulnerable populations
11TH serving our local communities
12TH students select issues to address and communities to serve
The Senior Service Learning Project integrates a Notre Dame student’s curricular and co-curricular learning across four years. Through this project, students gain an understanding that service is transformational for the community served as well as the student.
196
local agencies supported by the Class of 2023 through their service learning projects.
Notre Dame uses service as a way to not only help the community and to ‘care for God’s creation,’ but also to provide students with new experiences. The experiences we gain through service opportunities help us empathize with those in our community who are experiencing hardships, while also helping them.”
The story of Notre Dame High School in San Jose began with a vision in France to establish an order of religious women with global impact, and continued with a group of committed Sisters traveling by ship from Belgium to the west coast of what is now known as the United States of America. This global perspective continues today in the student experience. In an increasingly globalized society, we must develop global citizens.
The following examples illustrate how our program includes guided travel opportunities to local, domestic and international destinations to expand student experience and perspective.
Increase environmental justice awareness, rebuild communities and teach students the skills to advocate for change — locations have included the California central coast and Washington D.C.
Combine social justice and urbanism — locations have included Silicon Valley, East Los Angeles, New Orleans and the San Francisco Tenderloin.
Combines cultural and language immersion for deeper understanding — trips have included El Salvador, Tanzania, Costa Rica, Italy and Greece.
Cultivates relationships with other Notre Dame communities and interfaith partners with opportunities for students to attend a national conference — trips have included Boston, New Mexico and Notre Dame Seishin in Japan.
Being a global citizen is important because we think critically about what is equitable and minimizes harm to our world. We become more skilled in evaluating ethics and the impact of our decisions.”
• EMMA ‘23 •
A Notre Dame education extends beyond the footprint of our downtown campus, out into the tenth largest city in the United States and the thriving center of Silicon Valley.
Classroom learning across the curriculum is applied in real-world contexts through visits to our local neighbors. Classes regularly visit historic landmarks, civic and political organizations, art museums and culturally-rich communities within walking distance of campus including the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, the Tech Interactive, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, the San Jose Museum of Art and San Jose State University, including the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. library. These are just a few of the resources that provide opportunities for faculty to empower students to think critically and creatively about the world around them.
Students navigate and explore the city and its abundant resources through a variety of experiences. On a daily basis, downtown becomes a destination for walking field trips with classes, a space for social outings and cultural engagement, a network of accessible jobs and internships and more. The city becomes a lab for learning and empowerment.
Under the guidance of teachers, every student experiences handson, real-world learning through the cultural and educational resources available within walking distance of campus. The outcomes for students include:
• Concrete experiences of applied learning.
• Familiarity with cultural and civic resources.
• Development of spatial awareness.
• An asset-based appreciation of diverse communities.
• Best practices for navigating urban spaces.
• Increased self-confidence.
DID YOU KNOW?
I really enjoy ND’s placement in downtown San Jose and all the opportunities that come along with it. Having places within walking distance allowed me to easily connect with my classmates and teammates and really allowed me to be immersed in the ND community. One specific instance that I hold close to my heart was visiting Nirvana Soul with one of my friends. It was there that we first bonded over our experience in sports and it was hanging out there together that cemented one of my first friendships at ND.”
37 museums & galleries
Downtown Doors have featured Notre Dame student art
Murals, as public art, are found throughout the SoFA district. One of the murals was designed and painted by a group of Notre Dame students!
3 professional theaters
12 14 places of worship
TO
ON AVERAGE 84 classes 13 downtown destinations
facilities support our athletics programon and off campus 10
DID YOU KNOW?
Student athletes benefit from our location through access to venues including the Bellarmine facilities and Del Monte Field, for practice and competition spaces.
Notre Dame’s local network includes more than 200 Individual Program Partners and Community Partner Organizations to support student learning.
Being located blocks from a university has distinct advantages for a college-preparatory school. Recent field trips have included touring social justice monuments on campus, visiting the Dia de los Muertos exhibit at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, orchestra students observing a college-level orchestra class and ARISE students with documented learning differences learning how to advocate for themselves in a college setting.
In addition to hosting landmarks that serve as field trip destinations, we are able to leverage academic benefit through course dual enrollment in classes like Statistics and Environmental Science. Additionally, students grow in confidence when they are able to preview the college experience.
This eight-story public and university library is an academic resource for Notre Dame students. Notre Dame students are issued a library card to access all the San Jose Public Library e-Resources, extensive archives and check out books. Students can also reserve individual study rooms. Local art and history exhibits at the library serve as field trip destinations.
Our location in the SoFA district provides students with easy access to the art and culture center of San Jose. Within a five-minute walk, students can access the San Jose Museum of Contemporary Art, Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana, City Lights Theater and The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, which is one of five textile museums in all of North America.
327 families carpool to campus
I-280
is located seconds from campus
4 ND shuttles run daily to/from Diridon Station & campus
Notre Dame commits to the health and well-being of students and that commitment begins with the admissions process. Our admissions process strives to understand the whole person — their academic strengths, character, values and interests. We evaluate applicants on academic readiness and mission alignment and understand that a student is more than a collection of data points.
To get to know our prospective students we offer choice within the application requirements through our test-optional admissions process. This means that students have the choice either to take the High School Placement Test (HSPT) or to submit an academic sample of work that they feel demonstrates their academic strengths and readiness for high school.
As part of the application process in Ravenna, each applicant will submit a collection of items across three categories:
I truly feel like I belong at Notre Dame and I attribute that to the culture Notre Dame encourages. That shines through everyday in the way students interact with others.”
• ROSE ‘25 •
ACADEMIC PERSONAL FAMILY components to demonstrate academic strengths readiness for high school
components that provides insight into the student’s character, interests and values
components that recognizes families as partners in their student’s education
I love the sense of community that Notre Dame San Jose has provided. ND helps students discover and express who they are. There will always be a place for you at Notre Dame.”
• LUCE ‘23 •
To provide opportunities for students and their families to get to know us, we offer different ways of engaging with Notre Dame. To learn more about our fall events, application process and the Notre Dame experience:
Address service requested
www.ndsj.org | @notredamesj
For 8th graders from September through December OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, October 21, 2023
8th GRADE DAY
Friday, November 10, 2023
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
7th GRADE PREVIEW
Monday, April 22, 2024
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: www.ndsj.org/admissions
Notre Dame High School, in the heart of downtown San Jose since 1851, provides young women an exemplary Catholic, college-preparatory education to become life-long learners, spiritual seekers, justice advocates and community leaders. We are inspired by Saint Julie Billiart and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. We empower young women and “teach them what they need to know for life.”
