ages 14-18
grades 9-12
Kennedy Catholic High School
since 1966
GYMNASIUM
FOOTBALL FIELD
B-WING
CHAPEL
CAFETERIA
MAIN ENTRY
C-WING
BOYS DORM BASEBALL FIELD
Life in Seattle
Home to the world-famous Space Needle, Seattle Waterfront, and Pike Place Market, Seattle,Washington is a place of wonder, excitement, and beauty.
Explore this thriving city by catching a Mariners game at T-Mobile Park, exploring art museums, or riding the 1962 World’s Fair monorail – it’s all here for you to experience.
Perched on the expansive Puget Sound, the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest is world-renowned and one of the biggest draws for visitors.
Travel the Puget Sound via ferry or cruise ship
Explore the Cascade and Olympic mountains
Visit the world-renowned Pike Place Market
Discover the Space Needle, the Seattle Great Wheel & more
Hello Burien
from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and the downtown Seattle metropolitan area.
Burien offers the best of the Pacific Northwest, including stunning views of the Puget Sound. With a small-town vibe, Burien offers plenty of great choices for shopping, dining, and family activities.
SE AT TLE
Where You Belong
School Mission
It is the mission of Kennedy Catholic High School to cultivate a diverse community of learners who encounter Christ, pursue excellence, and lead with love.
880 Students
10% International Students
20 Acre Campus
12:1
100% Graduation Rate
$22 Million in Offered College Scholarships
96%
Student-Teacher Ratio Largest
60+ Athletics, Clubs & Activities
Student Participation in Athletics, Clubs & Activities
Band Program in the Region
Experience Kennedy Catholic
The Lancer
The Kennedy Catholic school mascot is a Lancer, which is a cavalry-armed soldier with a lance. A mascot is a symbolic figure meant to bring good luck. Students who attend our school are often called “Lancers” and the school community is called the “Lancer Family.”
The student section cheering the football team to victory on a Friday night.
Why Kennedy Catholic High School?
Because we are a family who strives for excellence in all we do, serves each other and our community, and values the diversity of our student body.
A top private high school in the Pacific Northwest, Kennedy Catholic offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum with award-winning Fine Arts and Athletic programs.
• Personalized academic and college admission advising
• English as a Second Language (ESL) support classes available for international students as necessary
• University credits available through numerous dual-credit courses
• Easy access to airport and downtown Seattle
• Safe and convenient location
The International Education Program is designed for international students with at least an intermediate level of English proficiency, and combines intensive language coursework with academic, credit-bearing coursework.
Campus Life
Life on the Kennedy Catholic campus is vibrant and exciting. The school and boys’ dormitory sit on a 20-acre campus with up-todate facilities including a $2.4 million athletic field, renovated science laboratories, updated classrooms, and the new IMADE Center with state-of-the-art technology.
At the heart of the school is the Chapel, as well as the Little Theatre, the Goodwin Gymnasium, and the Jim Paynton Music Room. The campus is easy to reach, whether by school bus, Metro, or driving.
Academics
With over 160 courses offered, Lancers develop their fullest potential with the support of committed and caring faculty and staff. We meet students where they are at and offer them a variety of academic pathways to support their different learning styles and intellectual curiosities.
Advanced Learning
Lancers develop their fullest potential with curriculum purposefully designed to prepare students for admission to top universities. For students seeking advanced academic challenges and wanting to earn college credit, we offer the Aquinas Honors Program:
• Dual-credit, Advanced Placement (AP), and advanced courses
• Earn college credit through Seattle-area universities
• Honors classes begin freshman year
College Readiness
We offer a dedicated counseling team to assist students in finding the best fit to support their academic and career goals, and navigate the college admissions process.
Service & Retreats
Lancers volunteer over 16,000+ hours annually. Students may also attend annual retreats coordinated by Campus Ministry that foster connection to God, each other, and themselves.
Sports Seasons
Fall | September - November
GIRLS
Cheer
Cross
Soccer
Swim
Volleyball
Winter | November - February
GIRLS
Spring | March - May
GIRLS
Athletics & Activities
The Kennedy Catholic High School experience extends far beyond the school day. With 60+ clubs, activities, and athletic teams, everyone finds a place at Kennedy Catholic.
Water
Track
A Day in the Life of a Lancer
MORNING
6:30am 8am 8:05am 9:35am 11:10am 12:30pm 1:10pm 2:30pm 2:35pm 3pm 6pm 7:30pm 10pm
AFTERNOON
Wake up
Classes begin with morning prayer
AP US History
Community Period
UW Honors Chemistry
Eat lunch and catch up with friends
Honors English
Final school bell rings
Sign up for the SEARCH Retreat
Tennis practice
EVENING
Dinner with host family Study for Calculus test
Go to bed
Lancer
Futures
Lancers are attending college and universities from around the world. Some notable institutions include:
Boston University
Cornell University
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Georgetown University
John Hopkins University
New York University
Northwestern University
Stanford University
Parsons School of Design
U.S. Air Force Academy
University of British Columbia (Canada)
University of California - Berkeley
University of California - Los Angeles
University of Massachusetts
University of Notre Dame
University of Southern California
University of Washington - Seattle
Plus various international universities in Europe, Asia, and Australia. To learn more about our college acceptances, visit our website.
Seniors graduating at the ShoWare Center Arena in Kent, Washington.
Min Jae Kim ‘23
KOREA
Attending: Cornell University
Time at Kennedy Catholic: 2.5 years
Major: Environment & Sustainability
“The Korean education system was a burden to me. No matter how hard I worked, I was disregarded. In America, I was very surprised. The harder I worked, the more I got recognized. I love when I show my passion for studying to my teachers and I get more respect from them.”
Sibo Zhang ‘23
CHINA
Attending: University of Washington, Seattle, College of Engineering
Time at Kennedy Catholic: 2 years
Major: Engineering
“Kennedy Catholic is such a special place because the community is so accepting and loving. Everyone encourages one another to do better and thrive for the best, giving everyone the best chance to succeed.”
Min Seo Kwon ‘23
KOREA
Attending: University of California, Berkeley
Time at Kennedy Catholic: 3 years
Major: Microbial Biology
“My experience at Kennedy Catholic was enriching and academically fulfilling. The class that particularly prepared me for admission to Berkeley was Biotechnology, which ignited my interest in the subject through various lab experiments and guided me toward my major in Microbial Biology.”
Living in America
Kennedy Catholic will enjoy the opportunity to experience life as an American teenager.
Whether living in St. Edward’s Hall boys-only dormitory, St. Bernadette’s girls-only dormitory, or with a Homestay family, students will form life-long friendships, enjoy outings, and receive the support needed to be successful during their time at Kennedy Catholic.
Student picking fresh vegetables for dinner with her host family.
Homestay
There is no better way to fully experience American culture than by living with a host family. The host family plays an important part in the student’s life including helping with English skills, cooking and eating meals together, and supporting school studies. Host families support students by:
• Helping them adapt to American culture
• Providing warm, nutritious meals
• Providing a bedroom, internet, and study space
• Encouraging their academic journey
• Strengthening their English skills
• Showing them around their new area
• Providing and/or arranging reasonable transportation
• Becoming a second family!
Linh T. VIETNAM
“I’m thankful that my parents allowed me to come to the United States and study at Kennedy Catholic. I’m grateful to the teachers for their dedication and enthusiasm in teaching and providing me a wonderful learning environment. I also appreciate my host family for loving and caring for me. Their warmth makes me feel like this is my second home.”
Safety
Safety is our #1 priority for our students. Anyone who volunteers to be a host family is thoroughly vetted prior to placing our students in the home. This includes:
• A comprehensive application
• A background check for every adult in the home
• An interview with our Director of International Education and the International Education team
• An in-person visit to the home by an international team member
• A matching of student interests to their homestay family to ensure a good fit for both the student and the host
Boys Dormitory
Male students have the option to reside in our supervised, on-campus dormitory just steps from Kennedy Catholic. Life in the dormitory includes:
• A live-in dormitory supervisor
• Single rooms complete with bed, closet, study table, and sink
• Breakfast and dinner served daily by the dorm’s personal chef
• Common rooms for studying, playing games, and meeting friends
• Assistance with homework
• Organized outings to experience Seattle, WA
Leo Paulo J. PHILIPPINES
“The best part about living at the dorms is its location. Walking to school couldn’t be easier and attending different school events that are just a few minutes away makes it very convenient. If I leave something, going back to the dorms to retrieve them is also easy. The dorm parents are also very helpful and make sure that we are doing our best at school.”
Doyun K. KOREA
“I like living in the dorm because I can live with my friends and get to see them every day. The dorm activities are fun. One of my most memorable experiences was Go Kart racing.”
Girls Dormitory
The new all-girl residence hall is located off campus five minutes from Kennedy Catholic. Girls will enjoy a happy, safe, and homelike environment led by a female-only, in-house staff. Benefits of dorm life include:
• 24/7 on-site supervision and access to an International Housing Coordinator
• Lounge and outdoor spaces to study, and hang out with friends
• High-speed WiFi
• State-of-the-art security system
• Professionally staffed kitchen
• Organized outings to experience Seattle, WA
Alumni Profile
Mun Sek Kim, PhD ‘10
KOREA
Kennedy Catholic: 2006-2010
University of California, Berkeley: Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Cornell University: Master of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Stanford University: Doctorate in Chemical Engineering
Mun Sek Kim is a research scientist who works to create efficient and sophisticated energy storage systems, technologies, and materials. Mun’s favorite memories of Kennedy Catholic were the dedicated teachers, vibrant dormitory life, and engaging religion classes. “Studying at Kennedy Catholic nurtures you to be an independent student and helps you achieve your goals.”
The Office of International Education
The Office of International
Education
and the entire Lancer Family are ready to welcome you to Kennedy Catholic High School.
At Kennedy Catholic, international students receive comprehensive support and resources throughout the transition to student life abroad. The Office of International Education offers professional, in-country advisors and support in multiple languages including Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, and Korean. The Office of International Education provides a fully supportive experience.
ARRIVAL & ONGOING SUPPORT
• Application guidance: Tuition and registration
• Arrivals and orientation management
• Insurance and emergency assistance
• Transportation services
• English language foundation (ESL)
• Experience America
HOUSING
• Host family management
• Dormitory management
ACADEMICS
• Academic registration
• Textbook purchasing assistance
• Grade reporting
• Peer mentor and tutoring services
COLLEGE & CAREER
• College and Academic advising
• Alumni network
Experience
America offers students the opportunity to explore life and culture in the Pacific Northwest.
Outings are coordinated by the Office of International Education and offer a wide variety of activities and excursions. From the top of the Space Needle to a hike in one of our beautiful forests, these are just some of the amazing ways to experience American culture in Seattle and the surrounding areas.
Students dressed and ready for the Homecoming dance
Experiencing a local pumpkin patch to celebrate Halloween
Students enjoy fair rides at the annual Washington State Fair.
