Holy Names High School

«Holy Names High School, a small, Catholic school for young women, provides an academically challenging college preparatory education in a vibrant learning environment. Our diverse community nurtures spirituality, encourages artistic expression, and promotes justice, preparing the next generation for leadership and service.» –HNHS Mission Statement
(I can’t believe I still remember it by heart!)
If the school’s mission statement isn’t enough to persuade you to have your daughter take a look at this high school, then hopefully, this review will.
I’m a proud alumna of HNHS (class of 2009). I was leaning toward attending an all girls high school rather than a coed high school, because my main objective was to really focus on my studies. As prissy and prudish as it may sound, I didn’t want to deal with easily distracted boys in class or overly competitive girls about social status, boys, fashion, etc. HNHS had the perfect environment to focus on each individual’s priorities.
Aesthetically, Holy Names has a nice campus with beautiful architecture. My favorite place was the auditorium; the ambiance was elegant and almost made me forget I was in a school. Overall, the whole school had some sort of dated, old-​fashioned feel to it, which I enjoyed.
The education I received was amazing, and until this day, I feel very privileged to have had the teachers who taught me. I’ve learned lifelong lessons from quite a few of them. In fact, I still keep in touch with some. I really did feel like the teachers’ lesson plans were preparing us for college, especially the honors and AP courses. In addition, there were plenty of extra-​curricular activities to participate in. I was personally involved with volleyball, the Ambassadors, student council, ASB, and the Multi-​Cultural Club. HNHS made it possible for me to balance my activities and school work, and I believe that that was imperative to becoming a well-​rounded, young woman. The school is also well known for Midsession, a week of enrichment courses and trips, which was something I looked forward to every year.
With all this said, I highly encourage you to have your daughter attend an open house as well as shadow a student for the day. A shadow day is a great opportunity to understand Holy Names’ dynamics. Go Monarchs!

Holy Names High is tucked away high up in the East Oakland Hills in a nice neighborhood. This all girls Catholic High School is the only single sex school in Alameda county, there is no all boys equivalent.
The school has a long history starting on the shores of Lake Merritt (next door to where the gorgeous Cathedral of Light now is).
What you’ll find is a small all girls school on the same grounds as the Holy Names Convent. The school feels like a tight knit family of life long friends. You should check out the school by having your daughter shadow and have her see for herself. The tuition is $ 15k, but they work with families on financial assistance as needed.

I am a proud alumni of HNHS and would recommend those looking for a good education with a solid foundation take a look at Holy Names.
I still wear my class ring just about everyday and love whenever I get a chance to go back for a play, the crab feed, or a luncheon. I do have a few lifelong friends that I made there and am happy to have chosen to go there.
I lived in Hercules and would commute via yellow school bus (when they had a bus route and offered this service) leaving at 6:30 in the morning and getting home around 4:30 in the afternoon from school. The challenge for me was participating in extra curricular activities. Living so far away, there weren’t many ways for me to «get a ride» or participate as much as I had wanted to. Most of my participation was being a part of on-​campus groups like Campus Ministry.
Go Monarchs! :D

my youngest daughter graduated from holy names. good school, good strong academics. She has made lifelong friends. recommended highly.

When I went there is was pretty kool. oF COURSE i didn’t like school school, but i made really good lifelong friends at this school. I loved some of the teachers I had when i went there. i loved spirit week, my favorite time of year. I think is has gone down hill since some of the great teachers have left.
It is a small school, private, all girls, we had to wear uniforms. Nothing really borthered me, I just hated going to mass sometimes and if you forgot to wear white they would write you up? that was kinda dumb. I learned a lot there, made great friends, and made a lot of great memories.
I would say make your daughter go on a shadow day with a holy names student and see if they like it, trust me the first day they will get the feel of it, if it is for them or not.

I’m a proud Alum of HNHS go Monarchs!!!
Some of my best memories are from my 4 years and Holy Names and if anyone is looking for a great high school for your daughter take a look at HNHS.