Sacred Heart Preparatory (Atherton, California)

Sacred Heart Schools Atherton, formerly known as Sacred Heart Preparatory, Sacred Heart Prep, or, more colloquially, SHP, is an independent private, Society of the Sacred Heart affiliated college preparatory school in Atherton, California, USA. It was established in 1898 and is located at 150 Valparaiso Avenue across the street from Menlo Park.

It has a student population of approximately 550 in Grades 9 through 12. There are currently about 100 faculty and staff with the vast majority of staff holding advanced degrees.

Mission and The Five Goals

Sacred Heart's mission is "to educate the whole child to be a leader who loves God and serves others." Despite the school's Catholic foundation, it welcomes students and faculty of all religious denominations.

Sacred Heart Schools Atherton, as well as all other schools within the Society of the Sacred Heart, strives to instill in its students its five goals for education:

GOAL I: A personal and active faith in God

GOAL II: A deep respect for intellectual values

GOAL III: A social awareness which impels to action

GOAL IV: The building of community as a Christian value

GOAL V: Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom

Each year, during the graduation of the senior class, traditional "light blue ribbons" are awarded to ten graduates, one male and one female per goal, who embody each individual goal, as voted upon by the student body and faculty. Also, during this same ceremony, two seniors, one male and one female,...
Read More