Mater Dei High School is located in Santa Ana in Orange County. It is a coeducational college-preparatory high school operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and was founded in 1950. According to the 2025-2026 School Profile, the school enrolled 1,851 students that year from 216 ZIP codes in 5 Southern California counties, and 33% of them are not Catholic. The school’s most distinctive features are the size of its curriculum and its weighting rules: the University of California (UC) A-G course list for the 2026-27 school year registers 183 courses for the school, 66 of which are UC-approved honors courses, while a number of courses the school itself designates as honors and weights on its transcript are treated by UC as regular courses. This page does not rate the school. It answers two questions: how to gain admission to the school, and how to plan the four years after enrolling.
UC A-G refers to the 7 subject areas (a through g) that the University of California and California State University require of high school students; only courses on a school’s A-G list are recognized by UC. AP refers to the College Board’s Advanced Placement courses, and honors courses are advanced courses designed by the school itself.
How Mater Dei High School Is Structured for College Preparation
The school’s published data point to four characteristics.
First, the classes are large. In the 2025-26 school year, the four grades had 493, 416, 487 and 455 students, and the Class of 2026 had 452 graduates. The school has 10 full-time counselors responsible for academic, college and career planning. Large classes mean more competition for the same honors or AP course, and prerequisites are spelled out in detail.
Second, there are many honors courses, but UC recognizes only some of them. The School Profile lists 59 honors courses and 21 AP courses, all weighted at the school. According to the UC 2026-27 A-G list, the school has 66 UC-approved honors courses, including 25 AP courses and 41 UC-certified honors courses. Honors Algebra I, Honors Geometry and Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry in math, as well as Honors English I in grade 9, are not on UC’s honors list.
Third, most graduates attend four-year universities. The school’s published statistics for the Class of 2026 show that 99% of graduates went on to college, 89% enrolled at four-year universities and 14% enrolled at Catholic universities. Official UC data show that in fall 2025, 261 students applied to the University of California and 171 were admitted to at least one campus, including 19 admitted to UC Berkeley. Of the 452 graduates, 191 had GPAs of 4.0 or higher, and the average GPA was 3.82. In the Class of 2025, 209 students took the SAT, with an average score of 1184, and 117 students took the ACT, with an average composite score of 26.0.
Fourth, religion and service are firm graduation requirements. Graduation requires 260 credits, of which Religious Studies accounts for 40, tied with English for the largest share; students must also complete 80 hours of Christian service. The required religion courses in grades 9 to 11 are mostly not on the UC A-G list, while three of the four grade 12 religion electives are approved by UC as g-category electives; the A-G status of the grade 11 ethics course should be confirmed with the school.
How to Apply
The main entry point to Mater Dei High School is grade 9. The steps below follow the school’s published calendar for entry in the 2027-28 school year (Class of 2031).
Steps for grade 9 admission
- Beginning September 1, 2026, create an account in the school's admissions system and submit the application; the tuition assistance application opens the same day and is submitted separately through FACTS
- Attend school events in the fall: Shadow Day on September 4, the Fall Open House on October 7 and the prospective parent information evening on November 3; campus tours may also be scheduled
- Submit all Early Acceptance materials by December 7, 2026; tuition assistance and the three scholarships that require an application are also due that day
- Choose one of three HSPT dates: January 16, 21 or 30, 2027; students who need extended testing time register for the January 30 session
- Registration opens on January 22, 2027, and families who completed the tuition assistance application on time begin receiving the first round of aid notifications that day, with further notifications on a rolling basis
- In the spring, take the English, math and world languages qualifying exams to seek a higher grade 9 placement; finally, sign the tuition agreement through FACTS and complete registration
| Entrance exam | The HSPT (High School Placement Test, the entrance exam used by Catholic high schools) covers reading, language, and mathematics. All questions are multiple choice, and calculators are not permitted. Scores are used both for admission and for grade 9 placement in English, mathematics, and science, and they determine whether incoming freshmen can enter honors courses directly |
|---|---|
| Test schedule | Admission for the 2027-28 school year (Class of 2031): the admission application and the tuition assistance application open on September 1, 2026. Students choose one of three HSPT dates: January 16, 2027 (Saturday, 7:45 a.m.), January 21 (Thursday, 3:00 p.m.), or January 30 (Saturday, 7:45 a.m.). Registration opens and the first tuition assistance notifications are sent on January 22 |
| Testing at another school | Students may also take the HSPT at another school; they only need to take it once, and the testing school forwards the scores to Mater Dei High School. The school recommends testing at the student's first-choice school |
| Extended testing time | Students who need extended testing time must submit a complete psychoeducational evaluation from the past three years to the Learning Center for review at least two weeks before the test; a 504 plan, IEP, or physician's note cannot substitute for the evaluation. The school requires these students to register for the January 30 test |
| School test preparation course | The school offers an HSPT prep course for grade 8 students for $75: register by September 4, 2026; online practice runs in the fall (a diagnostic test, math and English modules, and three practice tests), and on November 18 students return to campus for a review led by the mathematics department chair and an assistant principal. Grade 7 students may take an HSPT practice test on May 8, 2027, at 8:00 a.m. |
| Application materials | Application form; $80 application fee (includes the HSPT testing fee); Parent Letter; Student Letter; One teacher recommendation (an electronic form sent through the application system); Unofficial grade 7 transcript; Grade 8 first-quarter, trimester, or semester transcript; Standardized test scores from grades 7 and 8; Before enrollment, a birth certificate and immunization records are also required; Catholic students also submit a baptismal certificate |
| Interview | The school's grade 9 application page does not list an interview. Transfer students are interviewed once their files are complete, and international students are interviewed through Amerigo Education |
| Tuition and fees (2026-27) | $21,150 per year for Catholic families and $22,800 per year for non-Catholic families; plus a technology fee of $1,100 per year (covering an iPad, keyboard case, warranty plan, and all e-textbooks; the iPad remains school property); a registration fee of $700, $800, or $900 depending on when it is paid; and a $400 senior class fee for grade 12. Academic fees, materials, and athletic and extracurricular fees are charged separately. The school notes that all rates are subject to diocesan and budget approval |
| Payment options | Payments are made through FACTS, with annual, semiannual, ten-month, and monthly plans. Annual payment in full by April 30 receives a $175 discount, and payment in full between May 1 and June 30 receives a $150 discount; the semiannual plan receives a total discount of $75. The late fee is $25 and the returned-payment fee is $30. Grade 12 tuition must be paid in full by May 1 each year |
| Tuition assistance | Tuition assistance is awarded on the basis of family financial need. FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment conducts the financial evaluation, and the school's Financial Review Committee determines the award amount. Applications for the 2027-28 school year open on September 1, 2026, and close on December 7, 2026; materials must be verified by FACTS before the deadline, and FACTS verification can take up to two weeks. Families who complete the process on time are notified in January 2027; late applications are reviewed after January 22 based on the remaining budget. Current students must reapply every year |
| Documents required for aid | 2025 federal tax return with all schedules, 2025 W-2 forms for all parents, the most recent pay stubs, rent or mortgage statements, and other proof of income |
| Conditions for receiving aid | Students receiving assistance must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher, have no major disciplinary violations, complete service hours each semester, and meet attendance requirements; otherwise the assistance may be revoked |
| Religious requirements | Religious Studies is required all four years for a total of 40 credits, tied with English as the subject with the highest credit requirement. Students must also complete 80 hours of Christian Service, at least 40 of them direct service; in grade 12, after submitting their hours, students write a reflection essay or take part in a small-group discussion |
| Transfer students | Transfer students do not take the HSPT and are admitted on a rolling basis as space allows. A GPA of 2.0 or higher and no F grades on the transcript are required, and D grades affect admission; the school generally does not admit students into grade 12. Materials include the grade 8 transcript, the high school transcript and a current progress report, one electronic recommendation from a current teacher, counselor, or principal, and a disciplinary record verification; an interview is scheduled once the file is complete |
| International students | The International Student Program is operated exclusively in partnership with Amerigo Education and offers three housing options: homestay, student residence, or independent arrangements. Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis as space allows. Applicants must submit original transcripts with certified English translations, English proficiency test scores, and a copy of their passport; Amerigo schedules an interview after the application is submitted. International Student Program, beginning fall 2026: tuition only, $46,400; tuition plus homestay, $70,100; tuition plus student residence, $92,400; none of these include add-on programs or required contingency fees |
The four scholarships and grants for the Class of 2031 are listed below. All amounts are paid over four years, and students must first be admitted.
| Program | Amount and conditions |
|---|---|
| Principal's Scholarship | $10,000, awarded as $2,500 per year for four years; given to the incoming freshmen with the highest HSPT national composite scores, with the number of recipients varying; no application required; students must take one of the three January tests at Mater Dei High School or submit scores by February 1, 2027 |
| President's Scholarship | $12,000, awarded as $3,000 per year for four years; 5 incoming freshmen; based on leadership in faith, community, and school; application required, due December 7, 2026 |
| Heart of Santa Ana Scholarship | $20,000, awarded as $5,000 per year for four years; 2 incoming freshmen; applicants must be Santa Ana residents; application required, due December 7, 2026 |
| Alumni Heritage Fund Grant | Amount varies; applicants must qualify for tuition assistance and have a parent or grandparent who attended Mater Dei High School; due December 7, 2026 |
Below are the school’s published application dates for the 2027-28 school year, followed by the EDUBUS advisors’ review of applying to the school.
Application TimelinePublished on the school website
- Applications and tuition assistance applications open (2027-28 school year, Class of 2031)Opens
- Fall Rally Shadow Day
- Future Monarch Football Tailgate
- Fall Open House
- Prospective Parent Social Night
- Deadline for Early Acceptance, tuition assistance and the three scholarships that require an applicationDeadline
- Winter Open House
- HSPT, first sitting (Saturday, 7:45 a.m.)
- HSPT, second sitting (Thursday, 3:00 p.m.)
- Registration opens; first tuition assistance notifications go to families who applied on timeOpens
- HSPT, third sitting (Saturday, 7:45 a.m.); students approved for extended time take this sitting
Year-by-Year UC Data: Applicants, Admission Rates and GPA
The following data come from UC Infocenter, published by the University of California Office of the President. They are reported by source high school, with the school type set to California private high schools, and are updated annually. The data answer two questions: how many Mater Dei High School students apply to and are admitted by UC each year, and what GPAs admitted students hold. The GPA is the UC weighted, capped GPA, which counts only courses from grades 10 and 11. UC does not publish categories with fewer than 5 applicants or fewer than 3 admitted or enrolled students; these appear as “—” in the tables.
The ten lines are hard to tell apart where they overlap. Hover over any campus name below to highlight that campus’s trend; click to keep it highlighted, and click again to clear it.Tap any campus name below to highlight that campus’s trend; tap again to clear it.
Official UC data · By high school of origin · 2014–2025
Year-by-year data for the top six UC campuses
Parents focus most on six campuses: Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Irvine and Davis. The table lists, by year, the number of Mater Dei High School students who applied to, were admitted by and enrolled at each campus, along with average GPA. Use the buttons to switch metrics. Cells shown as a dash are data that UC did not publish because the counts were too small.
From 2014 to 2025, the admit rate for Mater Dei High School applicants to UC Los Angeles fell from 17% to 8%, and to UC Berkeley rose from 14% to 15%; the rate at UC Irvine held steady (27% to 27%).
This table has five data views. Use the buttons below to view admits, applicants, enrollees, admit GPA, and applicant GPA; the button for the current view is highlighted in yellow.
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 19 (15%) | 17 (8%) | 35 (20%) | 44 (26%) | 43 (27%) | 29 (37%) |
| 2024 | 10 (10%) | 17 (10%) | 30 (19%) | 34 (24%) | 37 (26%) | 22 (34%) |
| 2023 | 7 (5%) | 18 (9%) | 40 (23%) | 29 (17%) | 45 (29%) | 32 (33%) |
| 2022 | 7 (4%) | 18 (8%) | 28 (14%) | 31 (16%) | 39 (23%) | 29 (30%) |
| 2021 | 20 (14%) | 18 (9%) | 49 (27%) | 30 (18%) | 83 (48%) | 32 (37%) |
| 2020 | 9 (8%) | 23 (14%) | 44 (31%) | 38 (28%) | 33 (23%) | 32 (45%) |
| 2019 | 19 (15%) | 22 (12%) | 44 (26%) | 38 (23%) | 54 (35%) | 31 (33%) |
| 2018 | 10 (9%) | 27 (15%) | 43 (30%) | 35 (24%) | 46 (30%) | 41 (48%) |
| 2017 | 18 (14%) | 20 (12%) | 41 (32%) | 29 (22%) | 47 (34%) | 28 (39%) |
| 2016 | 18 (16%) | 26 (17%) | 27 (26%) | 35 (28%) | 49 (40%) | 32 (42%) |
| 2015 | 17 (20%) | 19 (13%) | 31 (28%) | 20 (19%) | 30 (27%) | 16 (28%) |
| 2014 | 11 (14%) | 23 (17%) | 23 (21%) | 30 (27%) | 27 (27%) | 21 (37%) |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 14% → 15% | ▼ 17% → 8% | ▼ 21% → 20% | ▼ 27% → 26% | ▲ 27% → 27% | ▼ 37% → 37% |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 125 | 201 | 176 | 168 | 157 | 79 |
| 2024 | 100 | 174 | 159 | 143 | 144 | 64 |
| 2023 | 132 | 197 | 176 | 173 | 153 | 96 |
| 2022 | 161 | 239 | 194 | 195 | 173 | 96 |
| 2021 | 146 | 211 | 180 | 166 | 172 | 86 |
| 2020 | 110 | 161 | 144 | 137 | 146 | 71 |
| 2019 | 130 | 180 | 169 | 162 | 156 | 94 |
| 2018 | 115 | 176 | 141 | 144 | 154 | 85 |
| 2017 | 129 | 161 | 130 | 133 | 139 | 72 |
| 2016 | 113 | 151 | 105 | 126 | 123 | 76 |
| 2015 | 84 | 149 | 112 | 106 | 110 | 57 |
| 2014 | 80 | 137 | 108 | 112 | 99 | 57 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 80 → 125 | ▲ 137 → 201 | ▲ 108 → 176 | ▲ 112 → 168 | ▲ 99 → 157 | ▲ 57 → 79 |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 6 | 15 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 6 |
| 2024 | 4 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 15 | 4 |
| 2023 | 6 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 21 | — |
| 2022 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 19 | 7 |
| 2021 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 36 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 5 |
| 2019 | 9 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 3 |
| 2018 | — | 20 | 12 | 3 | 22 | 3 |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 6 |
| 2016 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 6 |
| 2015 | 8 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 |
| 2014 | 7 | 15 | — | 6 | — | — |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▼ 7 → 6 | 15 → 15 | — | ▲ 6 → 9 | — | — |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 4.08 | 4.30 | 4.26 | 4.23 | 4.16 | 4.17 |
| 2024 | 4.19 | 4.23 | 4.23 | 4.26 | 4.15 | 4.09 |
| 2023 | 4.12 | 4.20 | 4.19 | 4.27 | 4.21 | 4.23 |
| 2022 | 3.91 | 4.29 | 4.26 | 4.28 | 4.21 | 4.20 |
| 2021 | 4.16 | 4.20 | 4.24 | 4.28 | 4.16 | 4.17 |
| 2020 | 4.23 | 4.15 | 4.21 | 4.21 | 4.11 | 4.15 |
| 2019 | 4.17 | 4.24 | 4.19 | 4.13 | 4.06 | 4.13 |
| 2018 | 4.19 | 4.21 | 4.18 | 4.20 | 4.11 | 4.11 |
| 2017 | 4.05 | 4.18 | 4.20 | 4.17 | 4.19 | 4.08 |
| 2016 | 4.12 | 4.22 | 4.14 | 4.08 | 4.10 | 4.11 |
| 2015 | 4.05 | 4.14 | 4.16 | 4.06 | 4.05 | 4.08 |
| 2014 | 3.78 | 4.10 | 4.12 | 4.00 | 4.10 | 3.98 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 3.78 → 4.08 | ▲ 4.10 → 4.30 | ▲ 4.12 → 4.26 | ▲ 4.00 → 4.23 | ▲ 4.10 → 4.16 | ▲ 3.98 → 4.17 |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 3.97 | 3.95 | 3.87 | 3.90 | 3.85 | 3.86 |
| 2024 | 3.93 | 3.90 | 3.86 | 3.87 | 3.83 | 3.83 |
| 2023 | 3.94 | 3.92 | 3.89 | 3.86 | 3.86 | 3.87 |
| 2022 | 3.97 | 3.97 | 3.91 | 3.93 | 3.89 | 3.92 |
| 2021 | 3.95 | 3.93 | 3.89 | 3.92 | 3.88 | 3.86 |
| 2020 | 4.02 | 3.93 | 3.89 | 3.89 | 3.87 | 3.89 |
| 2019 | 3.89 | 3.85 | 3.80 | 3.76 | 3.73 | 3.76 |
| 2018 | 3.98 | 3.89 | 3.75 | 3.79 | 3.72 | 3.78 |
| 2017 | 3.89 | 3.85 | 3.78 | 3.72 | 3.70 | 3.75 |
| 2016 | 3.85 | 3.78 | 3.71 | 3.63 | 3.68 | 3.72 |
| 2015 | 3.84 | 3.73 | 3.69 | 3.57 | 3.58 | 3.62 |
| 2014 | 3.71 | 3.69 | 3.64 | 3.56 | 3.60 | 3.66 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 3.71 → 3.97 | ▲ 3.69 → 3.95 | ▲ 3.64 → 3.87 | ▲ 3.56 → 3.90 | ▲ 3.60 → 3.85 | ▲ 3.66 → 3.86 |
Applications and Admissions by Campus, Most Recent Year
| UC campus (fall 2025) | Applicants | Admits | Admit rate | Enrollees | Admit GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | 125 | 19 | 15% | 6 | 4.08 |
| UC Los Angeles | 201 | 17 | 8% | 15 | 4.30 |
| UC San Diego | 176 | 35 | 20% | 7 | 4.26 |
| UC Davis | 79 | 29 | 37% | 6 | 4.17 |
| UC Irvine | 157 | 43 | 27% | 11 | 4.16 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 168 | 44 | 26% | 9 | 4.23 |
| UC Merced | 34 | 31 | 91% | — | 3.72 |
| UC Riverside | 75 | 60 | 80% | 5 | 3.89 |
| UC Santa Cruz | 67 | 45 | 67% | — | 3.99 |
College Destinations Published by the School
All content in this section comes from the Class of 2026 college statistics page published by Mater Dei High School. It differs from the official UC data above in three ways: the school compiles it itself; it covers the Class of 2026, while the most recent year of official UC data covers applicants for fall 2025 entry; and it covers all colleges, not only UC. Note the scope: the school lists institutions that admitted its students, not the institutions where students ultimately enrolled, and it does not give the number of students at each institution.
ScopeThe list for the Class of 2026 (452 graduates) shows colleges that admitted students, not the colleges students ultimately enrolled in; the school lists only college names and does not publish the number of admits at each college. Source: Class of 2026 College Enrollment Statistics ↗
Class of 2026 statistics reported by the school
- 452 graduates, 191 of them with a GPA of 4.0 or higher
- 99% went on to college
- 89% enrolled at four-year universities and 11% at two-year community colleges
- 14% enrolled at Catholic universities
- $25,561,631 in total scholarship offers
Admitting colleges the school marks as US News top 50
- Stanford University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Brown University
- Cornell University
- Rice University
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Michigan
- University of Virginia
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Southern California
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- New York University
- Tufts University
- Boston College
- Boston University
- Northeastern University
- Case Western Reserve University
- Villanova University
Catholic universities on the admissions list (partial)
- University of Notre Dame
- Boston College
- Villanova University
- Loyola Marymount University
- Santa Clara University
- University of San Diego
- Gonzaga University
- Fordham University
- Creighton University
- Marquette University
- Saint Mary's College of California
- University of Portland
The value of this list lies beyond UC: among the admitting institutions the school marks as US News top 50, private universities such as Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, Cornell University, Rice University and the University of Notre Dame make up the majority. These are admission outcomes and cannot be used to infer the number of admits or the admission rate at any single university. For UC applications, admissions and enrollment, the official UC data above are the authoritative source.
GPA Weighting: School Method and UC Method
This section addresses the question parents most often get wrong: how the school and UC each weight the same transcript. The school’s rules come first.
| School grading and weighting | The school grades on a 4.0 scale without plus or minus marks: A is 90-100, B is 80-89, C is 70-79, and D is 60-69. AP and Honors courses are weighted: A counts as 5.0, B as 4.0, C as 3.0, D as 1.0, and F as 0 |
|---|---|
| Weighted courses | All AP courses (21 published by the school); All school honors courses (the School Profile lists 59, with Hn or Honors in the course name) |
| Handling of D and F grades | The school's academic counseling page states that Honors and AP courses add 1 grade point only for A, B, and C grades; D and F grades receive no additional points |
| Class rank | The school does not rank students (School Profile: Mater Dei High School does NOT rank students) |
| Honor roll | Principal's Honor Roll, GPA 4.0 or higher; First Honors, 3.5 to 3.99; Second Honors, 3.0 to 3.49 |
| Class-wide GPA | Of the 452 graduates in the Class of 2026, 191 had a GPA of 4.0 or higher, with a mean GPA of 3.82 and a median of 3.89; of the 511 graduates in the Class of 2025, 228 had 4.0 or higher, with a mean of 3.81 and a median of 3.90 (the school does not state whether these are weighted GPAs) |
| UC weighting rules | UC adds honors points only for courses marked as honors on the A-G list: AP courses and UC-certified honors courses. The calculation covers the summer after grade 9 through the summer after grade 11, with at most 1 point per honors course per semester and a combined maximum of 8 points for grades 10 and 11, of which no more than 4 may come from grade 10 |
| UC-approved honors courses at this school | On the UC 2026-27 A-G list, the school has 66 UC-approved honors courses: 25 AP courses and 41 UC-certified honors courses |
A course-by-course check against the official UC A-G list shows that the following courses are weighted as honors at Mater Dei High School but are not on the list of UC-approved honors courses, so they count as regular courses in a UC application.
| School honors course | Subject and notes |
|---|---|
| Hn English I | Grade 9 English |
| Hn Algebra I | Mathematics |
| Hn Geometry | Mathematics |
| Hn Algebra 2/Trigonometry | Mathematics |
| Hn Anatomy & Physiology | Science |
| Cultural Geography MUN I Honors | Grade 9 social studies |
| Hn Spanish I, Hn Spanish II, Hn Bilingual Spanish | World languages |
| Hn French II | World languages |
| Hn Latin I, Hn Latin II | World languages |
| Hn Chinese I, Hn Chinese II | World languages |
| Hn Wind Ensemble | Arts |
| Honors Orchestra | Arts; the school catalog states that UC approval is under review, and the course is not yet on the list |
| AP Music Theory | Arts; not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list |
The practical effect of this list on UC applications falls in grades 10 and 11. UC does not count grade 9 grades, so Honors English I, Honors Algebra I and Cultural Geography MUN I Honors do not affect the UC GPA. The courses that require attention are those common in grade 10, such as Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry, Honors Geometry and Honors Anatomy and Physiology, as well as the lower-level honors world language courses: they raise the school GPA but add nothing to the UC GPA. EDUBUS recommends that grade 10 students give priority to UC-approved honors courses, such as Honors English II, Honors World History MUN, Honors Chemistry or AP World History. In grade 10, UC counts at most 4 honors points, which equals two year-long honors courses; additional honors courses do not raise the UC GPA further.
Four-Year Timeline
Grade 8: Applying
- By September 4Register for the school's HSPT prep course ($75); the admission application and tuition assistance application open on September 1
- September to NovemberShadow Day (September 4), Fall Open House (October 7), prospective parent information night (November 3); on November 18, the prep course review session on campus
- December 7Deadline for Early Acceptance, tuition assistance (FACTS verification must be complete), the President's Scholarship, and the Heart of Santa Ana Scholarship
- JanuaryWinter Open House (January 13); choose one of three HSPT dates: January 16, 21, or 30; registration opens and the first tuition assistance notifications are sent on January 22
- Spring to summerQualifying exams in the English, mathematics, and world languages departments determine final placement; in the summer, students may take freshman preparation courses, the Geometry Readiness course, or Art I online
Grade 9
- AugustView the class schedule in Aeries before school starts; the 80 service hours must be completed in stages before grade 12
- Grades 9-10Students may apply to the STEM Distinction Program; to move into honors in English, mathematics, or world languages, students need an A in both semesters this year
- Late February to early MarchConfirm grade 10 course requests in Aeries (February 23 to March 6 in 2026) and take placement tests in any subject where a move up is sought
- June to JulySummer school offers advancement in Geometry, Algebra 2/Trigonometry, Chemistry, Physics, or Spanish III and IV (prerequisites apply)
Grade 10
- Full yearThe UC GPA calculation begins with the summer after grade 9; UC counts at most 4 honors points from this year
- SpringStudents who want AP US History in grade 11 need a cumulative GPA of 3.6, qualifying grades in World History and English, and a passing score on the AP qualifying exam (70% on both parts)
- Before the end of the spring semesterSTEM Distinction Program students complete at least one STEM practical experience
- June to JulySummer school offers advancement in PreCalculus (pre-approval required) or one-semester Trigonometry
Grade 11
- Full yearThe last school year counted in the UC GPA; most AP courses open this year
- SpringBefore summer break, ask grade 11 core subject teachers in person for recommendation letters; students interested in serving as a religion course aide apply and interview
- MayTake the exams for AP courses taken
- SummerPrepare college application essays and the activities list
Grade 12
- FallComplete the Counselor Brag Sheet and manage applications in Naviance; UC and CSU applications are submitted in the fall
- Full yearTake two grade 12 religion electives; after submitting the 80 service hours, complete the reflection essay or small-group discussion
- April 1Deadline for the $400 senior class fee
- May 1Grade 12 tuition must be paid in full; AP exams take place in May
Three points determine the student’s trajectory. The first is the HSPT in January of grade 8 and the qualifying exams in the spring, which determine the level of English, math and science courses a student enters in grade 9 and whether the student receives the Principal’s Scholarship. The second is course selection in the spring of grade 9: a regular-course student who wants to move up to honors or AP in grade 10 must earn an A in both semesters of the current year and pass a placement exam. The third is the spring of grade 10: AP United States History requires a cumulative GPA of 3.6, qualifying grades in world history and English, and a passing score on a qualifying exam; this step sets the rigor of the grade 11 schedule, and grade 11 is the last year counted in the UC GPA.
Clubs and Academic Competitions
The Mater Dei High School clubs page lists more than 85 active clubs, each of which must have a faculty or staff advisor. Academic and career-related clubs and honor societies include:
- Math Club
- Science Club
- Aviation Club
- Financial Literacy Club
- Investment and Trading Club
- Free Speech Society
- Geography Club
- Sociology and Psychology Club
- Diplomacy Club
- Chess Club
- Writing Club
- Chinese Culture Club
- Student Publications Club
- CSF (California Scholarship Federation)
- NHS (National Honor Society)
- NCHS (National Chinese Honor Society)
- Tri-M Music Honor Society
- NAHS (National Art Honor Society)
The school also has six academic teams led by head coaches that train regularly and compete (as described in the School Profile).
- Academic Decathlon: competes in the Southern California private school region; team members take the UC-certified Honors Academic Decathlon course
- Mock Trial: competes in the competition hosted by the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County, with attorney coaches leading the team
- Model United Nations (MUN): has a competitive team and is also connected to the four-year MUN course sequence
- Robotics: Team 4141 competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
- Speech & Debate: the school offers a Competitive Speech and Debate course, which requires a written application
- Junior State of America (JSA): one of the six academic teams listed in the School Profile
The school’s published list of clubs and academic teams includes a math club, but no team for science competitions based on individual results, such as the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC). Students who want to demonstrate ability in math, physics or computer science through competition results need systematic training outside school.
Signature Programs
- Four-year Model United Nations (MUN) sequence: AP Human Geography/MUN in grade 9, Honors World History MUN in grade 10, Honors US History MUN in grade 11, and AP Comparative Government/MUN in grade 12. Outstanding students may receive the Distinction of International Diplomacy Award. Each April the school hosts the Monarch Invitational Model United Nations conference for students in grades 5 through 8; the 2027 conference is scheduled for April 24
- STEM Distinction Program: Students apply to join in grade 9 or 10. Requirements include at least one math course and one science course each year, all with a B or higher; a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher; one designated STEM elective; a B or higher in at least two AP STEM courses; attendance at 8 STEM lectures over four years; and 4 STEM practical experiences. Students who complete the program receive a special designation on their final transcript
- Biotechnology Certificate: The school has articulation agreements with Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College. Students who complete the school's designated combination of Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, or AP Biology and then take the community college's Biology 191 (4 units) can earn the Biotechnology Certificate of Proficiency, which qualifies them to work in a biotechnology lab after graduation
- Robotics team: Team 4141: The team competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Fall is preseason training, and the competition season runs from January to April, with practices after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Saturdays during the season. The school also offers Robotics and Engineering and Honors Robotics and Engineering 2 (using the PLTW engineering curriculum)
- Learning support: The Learning Center is staffed by a licensed clinical and pediatric neuropsychologist and 3 learning specialists (2025-2026 School Profile). For students with diagnosed learning or attention differences, the school offers the fee-based MAPS program and support courses such as Bridge and SOAR
- Apple Distinguished School and 1:1 iPad: The school has been an Apple Distinguished School since 2012; every student uses a school-issued iPad, and the technology fee covers all e-textbooks
- Arts and media: The School Profile lists 82 visual and performing arts courses, with 44% of students participating; film and media courses include filmmaking, television production, sports broadcasting, and Monarch Television, the daily student television program
School Selection: Total Tuition, Commute and Campus Visits
This section answers five questions parents commonly ask when choosing a school: what kind of family the school suits, how much tuition will cost in total, how a student gets to school from Irvine, what to ask during a visit, and which nearby schools are worth comparing.
Which Families the School Suits
Total Tuition Through Graduation
Tuition for the 2026-27 school year has two rates: $21,150 per year for Catholic families and $22,800 per year for non-Catholic families. At current rates, 4 years of attendance from grade 9 through grade 12 total $84,600 and $91,200, respectively. There is also a technology fee of $1,100 per year, a registration fee of $700, $800 or $900 depending on when it is paid, and a $400 senior class fee in grade 12. The school notes that all rates are subject to approval by the diocese and the budget and may change each year. Academic fees, textbooks, athletics and extracurricular activities are charged separately. For need-based tuition assistance and the four scholarships for incoming freshmen, see the “How to Apply” section of this page.
Commuting from Irvine
Mater Dei High School is on Edinger Avenue in Santa Ana, northwest of Irvine. The table below shows the straight-line distance from several Irvine neighborhoods with large Chinese American communities to the school, measured by EDUBUS from each neighborhood’s center point to the school address; actual driving times depend on navigation.
| Starting neighborhood | Straight-line distance to school |
|---|---|
| Northwood | About 6.9 miles |
| Turtle Rock | About 7.4 miles |
| Woodbury | About 8.3 miles |
| Portola Springs | About 9.9 miles |
The school website has no bus or transportation page. The course selection guidelines state that parents who need a carpool arrangement may tell the counselor during course selection, and the school will note it. EDUBUS recommends driving the route once at the morning arrival time on the day of a campus visit.
Questions to Confirm During a Campus Visit
The school’s public pages do not give clear answers to the following questions. Families should confirm them in person during a visit or meeting.
- Average class size and student-teacher ratio: the 2025-26 School Profile does not publish them.
- Whether grade 9 applicants are interviewed and when admission decisions are released: the website states only that registration opens on January 22, 2027, when the first round of aid notifications is sent.
- The difference between school honors courses and UC-approved honors courses: which grade 9 and 10 honors courses UC treats as regular courses, and how that affects the student’s course selection.
- Who issues the I-20 for international students and how the visa process works: the website states only that the international student program is operated by Amerigo Education.
- Costs beyond tuition: the actual amounts for academic fees, textbooks, athletics and extracurricular activities.
Comparison with Similar Schools
The main private high schools in Orange County that also serve grades 9 to 12 and are relatively close to Mater Dei High School are listed below; they differ mainly in religious affiliation, whether they are coeducational and their entrance exams.
- Servite High School: in Anaheim; a Catholic school for boys; admission requires the HSPT and an on-campus interview with the student and parents.
- Rosary Academy: in Fullerton; a Catholic school for girls; admission requires the HSPT.
- Santa Margarita Catholic High School: in Rancho Santa Margarita; a coeducational Catholic school; admission requires the HSPT; offers the IB Diploma Programme.
- Orange Lutheran High School: in the city of Orange; a Lutheran school; no entrance exam required.
- Pacifica Christian High School, Orange County: in Newport Beach; a Christian school; admission requires the ISEE.
- Cristo Rey Orange County High School: also in Santa Ana; a Catholic school; admission uses an on-campus assessment.
For each school’s tuition, application calendar and courses, select the school name to view its page.
Schools to CompareNearby private high schools, nearest first
Pacific Academy (Irvine Campus)Irvine · 7-12
Pacifica Christian High School, Orange CountyNewport Beach · 9-12
Orange Lutheran High School (Lutheran High School of Orange County)Orange · 9-12
Sage Hill SchoolNewport Beach · 7-12
Cristo Rey Orange County High SchoolSanta Ana · 9-12
Calvary Chapel SchoolsSanta Ana · K-12
Using the School’s College Counseling
This section describes what the school’s counseling team provides and when to use each service.
| Counseling team | The School Profile lists 10 full-time school counselors responsible for academic, college and career planning, and social-emotional support; the counseling team includes a director of college counseling, a director of international student affairs, and an academic admissions counselor who also serves as NCAA and AP coordinator |
|---|---|
| College planning platform | The college planning platform is Naviance; college admissions representatives schedule campus visits through RepVisits. Students can find their counselor on the Demographics page in Aeries |
| Meeting schedule | Students can schedule meetings with counselors each year from February to March and from summer through August, covering graduation progress, electives, the course request process, and getting started with Naviance |
| Recommendation letters | The school recommends that students ask teachers for recommendation letters in person during the spring of grade 11, before summer break, giving priority to core subject teachers from grade 11; before asking, students complete a Teacher Brag Sheet. Students who need a counselor recommendation must complete a Counselor Brag Sheet. The school notes that most UC and CSU campuses do not require recommendation letters |
| Transcripts | Official transcripts are sent through Parchment, electronically or by mail in paper form; orders placed at the end of a semester can be held until final grades are posted (hold for grades) |
| Financial aid applications | The school holds a FAFSA workshop once a year; for eligible grade 12 students, the school electronically submits GPA verification to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) for the Cal Grant |
Naviance is a college planning platform used by many American high schools, where students build college lists, search for scholarships and manage recommendation letters. For the grade levels and prerequisites of each course, see Courses and Course Selection; for math pathways, see Math Pathway; and for AP courses and prerequisites, see AP Courses and Strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What entrance exam do Irvine families need for Mater Dei High School?
Applicants take the HSPT (High School Placement Test), the entrance exam used by Catholic high schools. Mater Dei High School uses only the reading, language and math sections, all multiple choice, and calculators are not allowed. For entry in the 2027-28 school year, the three test dates are January 16, 2027 (Saturday, 7:45 a.m.), January 21 (Thursday, 3:00 p.m.) and January 30 (Saturday, 7:45 a.m.); applicants choose one. The $80 application fee includes the test fee. Students who have taken the HSPT at another Catholic high school do not need to retake it; the host school forwards the scores to Mater Dei High School. Transfer students do not take the HSPT.
How much does it cost per year for an Irvine family to send a student to Mater Dei High School?
Tuition at Mater Dei High School for the 2026-27 school year is $21,150 per year for Catholic families and $22,800 per year for non-Catholic families. There is also a technology fee of $1,100 per year (including an iPad and all e-textbooks), a registration fee of $700, $800 or $900 depending on when it is paid, and a $400 senior class fee in grade 12. The school offers need-based tuition assistance, with an application deadline of December 7, 2026 for the 2027-28 school year, as well as three scholarships for incoming freshmen ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 (paid over four years) and one legacy grant of varying amount.
How does school bus transportation work for Irvine students attending Mater Dei High School?
The Mater Dei High School website has no bus or transportation page, and the school has not published any bus routes, so families commuting from Irvine need to drive or carpool. The school's course selection guidelines state that parents who need a carpool arrangement may tell the counselor during course selection, and the school will note it; requests for specific teachers or periods are not accepted. Families should time the commute during school hours on the day of a campus visit.
Irvine families often ask: are all honors courses at Mater Dei High School weighted for UC admission?
No. Mater Dei High School weights AP and all honors courses on its own transcript, with an A earning 5 points. UC adds weight only to courses designated as honors on the A-G list: the school has 66 such courses for the 2026-27 school year, including 25 AP courses and 41 UC-certified honors courses. Honors English I, Honors Algebra I, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, and the lower-level honors courses in Spanish, French, Latin and Chinese are weighted at the school but count as regular courses in a UC application.
Can non-Catholic Irvine families apply to Mater Dei High School, and how are religion courses handled?
Yes. According to the 2025-2026 School Profile, 33% of Mater Dei High School students are not Catholic. However, Religious Studies is a four-year graduation requirement for all students, totaling 40 credits, and students must also complete 80 hours of Christian service. Tuition for non-Catholic families is $22,800 per year, $1,650 more than for Catholic families. Among the four grade 12 religion electives, Comparative Religion, Peace and Justice and Philosophy are UC-approved g-category electives.
Irvine families want to know: which colleges do Mater Dei High School graduates attend?
According to statistics Mater Dei High School published for the Class of 2026, 99% of the 452 graduates went on to college, 89% to four-year universities and 11% to two-year community colleges. The admissions list includes Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, Cornell University, Rice University, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California. The school publishes only the names of admitting institutions, not the number of admits at each. UC admission counts appear in official University of California data by source high school: for fall 2025, 261 Mater Dei High School students applied to the University of California and 171 were admitted to at least one campus, including 19 admitted to UC Berkeley and 17 to UCLA.
Irvine families ask: what GPA does a Mater Dei High School student need for UC admission?
According to official data from the University of California Office of the President by source high school, the average weighted GPAs of Mater Dei High School students admitted for fall 2025 were: UCLA 4.30, UC San Diego 4.26, UC Santa Barbara 4.23, UC Davis 4.17, UC Irvine 4.16 and UC Berkeley 4.08. These are UC weighted, capped GPAs for grades 10 and 11, with extra points only for UC-approved honors courses, and they are calculated differently from the weighted GPA the school publishes. Year-by-year data appear in the UC data section of this page.
When should Irvine families start preparing to apply to Mater Dei High School?
EDUBUS recommends starting in the second semester of grade 7. Mater Dei High School holds a practice HSPT for grade 7 students, scheduled for 8 a.m. on May 8, 2027; in the fall of grade 8, the school offers a $75 HSPT preparation course that requires registration in early September. The key dates in grade 8 are: September 1, when the admission and tuition assistance applications open; December 7, the shared deadline for Early Acceptance, tuition assistance and the three scholarships that require an application; and January of the following year, when applicants choose one of three HSPT dates. HSPT scores also determine whether a student can enter honors courses directly in grade 9, so preparation affects more than admission.
