St Lucy’s Priory High School

I hope the negative reviews here are not true. It’s been 3 years since my oldest daughter graduated from St. Lucy’s and she’s now a Junior at UCLA and will graduate on time (2017). It was because of her teachers and counselor at St Lucy’s that she was accepted at UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego. My wife and I plan on enrolling our youngest daughter at St Lucy’s in the fall, so we hope the quality of education is still top notch. My oldest daughter and her friends have nothing but great things to say about their experiences at St Lucy’s, and we hope our youngest daughter will have a great experience there as well.

So upset with this school and the freshman experience. Spanish teacher is causing us to rethink our choice. Spanish teacher is the opposite of what the other teachers are like. I wish we could drop this class and start over in French. This teacher is rude and has No idea how to work together with parents and the girls. My daughter asked for help and was told to hire a tutor. This teacher does not keep her appointments and is quite defensive rather than trying to solve the problem. My daughter has an eye issue and teacher assured me she would be loved to front. Instead left in back row last seat. Excuse was that 5 girls had eye sight problems but really couldn’t she move be her up to row 2? Finally at end of semester she moved her up after doctors note submitted and sent through counselor.

This school is as good as it gets when it comes to private, girls-​all, and Catholic school education. I don’t undestand what other girls are talking about. This school is the best. Anyone who has seen Stomp the Yard, Mean Girls, or A.I. will know what I’m talking about.

Oh my goodness! Such mean things being said about an incredibly excellent school. I want to add my review here because I cannot relate with even one negative thing appearing in these previous reviews! Our dream was that our daughter would attend St. Lucy’s and she did and it was probably the crowning experience of her life to that point. She had an utterly awesome four years there, met lifelong friends, had excellent instruction and continued on to a private university where she graduated with honors. The young women that attend St. Lucy’s are very fortunate because they are receiving a first class education. Whether they choose to pursue a professional career or not really is up to them. Every young woman that I knew who graduated in my daughter’s class were highly encouraged to pursue the utmost of what they could do. Indeed many of these young women are now successfully involved in professional careers today.
When my daughter attended St. Lucy’s the sports program was one of the best in Southern California bar none. It was an incredible experience for her to participate on a CIF level team and helped create such confidence and pride in her and all the young women who participated in sports there.
I would recommend St. Lucy’s unequivocally to any family of a young woman seeking an excellent and rigorous education, which will prepare them for the most prestigious of universities. I would recommend St. Lucy’s to any family of a young woman looking for a nurturing and encouraging social and educational atmosphere, building self confidence and self-​esteem for the future. I would recommend St. Lucy’s for any family of a young woman looking for a school with excellent, well-​trained teachers and staff who care deeply about their students and who are willing to go the extra mile to help them.
The proof is in the pudding so they say. I would encourage any family of a young woman looking for an excellent educational and social setting for their young student to check out the school first hand. Attend their annual open house, visit with the teachers and administrators, and get a feel for the school. I am confident that you will come away with the attitude that St. Lucy’s is the school for your daughter above all others.

Great School all around. The academics are top notch, there are challenging courses, and the curriculum is very thorough. The teachers and staff are dedicated to their work and want to be there. Good diversity. There is a focus on Catholic religious affairs and teachings, but there is a larger focus on general spiritual development such as emphasis on charity, volunteer work, and basic moral values. The extra circulars are enticing and fun. There is a joint relationship with two other private institutions, Damien High School (all-​boys), and Pomona Catholic (all-​girls), in which football games and school dances are shared. Importantly there is a high graduation rate along with a high rate of students continuing onto four-​year universities. The campus is beautiful and deserves a visit.
As a side commentary — There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the dismissal of a certain teacher. In my opinion, I would not hold the school accountable, but the Catholic Church teachings. St. Lucy’s Priory High School is in fact a Catholic school and must uphold those teachings, or discard their Catholic Tradition all-​together.
2009 Alumni.

Graduate of 2013. I have realized with my 1^st quarter of college almost over, that Saint Lucy’s did in fact prepare me for college life. My classes are very easy to me. While I continuously hear my fellow college classmates who are from public schools complain about the work load, I feel my work load is very manageable. Yes, there are not as many AP classes as one would hope to be, but the work you do in just the regular classes alone is great preparation. The 7 class periods is also nice because now people can focus on science classes as well as art classes which is exactly what I enjoyed doing my last year at this school. Personally, I’ve never been bullied at this school. There is the occasional conceited girl looking for a fight but that happens at any school ever, and the only fights I’ve actually heard of happening got broken up within the minute it started and of course the girls involved were sent to Sister Helen’s office. The only time I felt uncomfortable around certain people was when some people (who I barely knew) started asking me very personal questions. I didn’t really see it as bullying though, more of 3 stooges sticking their noses in somewhere they don’t belong. The campus is gorgeous, if you’re lucky you can see the occasional deer or coyote walking across the amphitheater (usually in the early morning). Most of the people I met there were nice, and the Saint Lucy sisters and the Damien brothers that I have met and become friends with will always be lifelong friends to me.
The teachers care about teaching. They do not want their students to fail, and they are always happy to answer a question you have even after class. Go talk to your teachers if you’re having trouble with something, because it’s good practice for college, and your teacher will see that you actually care about your grade.
While I was there, the Drama program was a very welcoming thing. You didn’t have to already know how to do certain things to be apart of it. The head teacher for the program has changed since last year, but from what I’ve heard it has so far remained a strong program. Through Drama I met many of my best friends, and usually Damian’s drama boys help out with the program and visa versa. It was an incredibly fun thing to be apart of, and I would recommend it to anyone.
TL;DR: It prepared me for college. Even the regular classes prepare you. Campus is pretty, and has wildlife. Teachers care about students. Drama program is fun, so check that out.

I’m class of 2010. Wow ladies, some of you are really harsh. The fact that the school offers «limited ap courses» merits one star? Because of the amount of AP courses I took I got credited over 20 units in college. As for the school’s education and curriculum, college is an absolute joke, and I’m attending one of the best four year colleges in California.
Some of you are complaining about the catholic bigotry because they let the girls read Cosmo? These girls are 14 – 18 years old, they’ll get their hands on that stuff regardless and it’s not up to «Catholicism» to ban reading material.
Mean girls are everywhere, especially as teenagers, don’t blame the school for bullying girls.
Lastly, how lame can you be? The majority of the one star reviews are from graduates from the 90s or early millennium. It’s 2013 people! You really think your experience is relevant anymore? In twenty years the last thing I’m gonna do is review my high school experience online.
This school is an excellent place. I attribute a lot of my success in academics to this institution. Like I said, college is a breeze. I wouldn’t change a thing about my experience even if I had quarrels or negative experiences with teachers/​classmates.

Keeping women in their place for decades. Or at least they try to. I will preface this by saying I graduated from this school in 1991. Back then, there was no online review. However, from what I have read and heard, not much has changed.
Education: My opening line was no joke. Lucy’s is part of a tri-​school community (Damien and Pomona Catholic are the brother and sister schools). Where Lucy’s offered it’s students sewing classes and held an annual fashion show, Damien (our brother school) had debate and annual debate competitions. Where other local high schools offered a wide variety of AP classes, we were limited to AP Calc, AP English Lit, AP History, AP Spanish, and perhaps one or two other AP classes. But we always had the opportunity to take typing, death and marriage, and similar important leadership/​career building courses. I took as many rigorous classes as I could, but a class mate of mine took sewing, typing, marriage, and similar classes. I graduated with a 3.5 GPA, she graduated with a 3.8 and honors. I eventually went on to law school and now own my own practice, and educate and train other attorneys, judges, financial and mental health professionals in out-​of-​court conflict resolution processes. I also lecture locally and nationwide on this same topic. My friend: she’s married. While applying to universities, I told my St. Lucy’s guidance counselor that I wanted to be a lawyer and that that was my focus. In the letter of reference she wrote on my behalf for University applications, she stated that I would probably make a decent lawyer, but it would be a tremendous loss to the teaching community. I never said anything about teaching. I love teachers, and respect them greatly. My frustration is how much the school pushes it’s students, young and ambitious women from all walks of life, to take on stereotypical, «traditional» female roles. They do not offer the opportunities that today’s young women NEED.
Teachers: Some truly outstanding teachers while I was there. Charleen Littleton and Anthony Ippolito were the BEST! Many of the teachers really care about the students and really want them to succeed. Unfortunately, as a private school, the teachers do not have to have any formal teaching credentials. In fact, some of my class mates went on to teach at Lucy’s, not because of any formal training or knowledge, but because they were known there.
Religion: The school is very open to all different religions. Mass is required, and all ceremonies are very Catholic. But one of my best friends was Muslim. I never had a sense of any discrimination based on religion towards anyone. And we did learn about various different religions.
Student Life: Girls can be mean. I liked that, as a freshmen, we were assigned a «big sister» senior to show us the ropes. My big sister always made sure that I was remembered on special student days, like when candy grams were sold. Some other students were just down right mean — and the teachers pretty much stayed out of it. Bullying is a reality here, and I do not know if it is on their radar today.
Campus: gorgeous campus. Very ample. A bit drafty in the winter, especially in our uniforms — I would layer pantyhose, with tights, and socks to keep warm (at the time, we only had skirts and shorts to wear with short or long sleeved oxford shirts).
My personal recommendation: take a look at the students the school produces (the universities they attended, the careers they entered) and the academic opportunities they offer. I know many of my class mates went on to become teachers, hair stylists, and stay at home mothers — all noble professions… if it is a choice they made. My experience was that the school staff were pushing me towards such a future, despite my own goals and interests.
For the last reviewer, Tamara H, reviewing a school because of their act in firing a gay teacher is not useful for someone considering this school, certainly not warranting a 5 star rating — you provide absolutely no information about the education, which is what I would think viewers want to read about. The current decision that St. Lucy’s has made, firing a beloved teacher because he married his partner when it became lawful to do so, is not only bigotry and ignorance in it’s purest form, it is a HUGE embarrassment to this former alum and many others. So now, not only is Lucy’s lacking in education opportunities for women, it has shown it’s true ignorance and teachings of hatred towards those within the community. I am truly disappointed in this school — more than before.

My daughter attended St Lucy’s and graduated last year in 2012. She. Just finished her fist semester in college and credits St Lucy’s for preparing her for a very successful start. I feel it prepared her both academically and socially.
Both she and I have made some great friends in the St Lucy’s community that we still keep in touch with. I still help in their yearly «Winter Boutique».

i am looking at two private schools in the area, for academics. st. lucys does not have an ib program. Amat does. I noticed attitude from the girls when i took a tour, it could be because we were dressed very casually when we were there. Either way, we will be going to amat.

Class of ’02. I made a few really REALLY good friends there, but that can happen anywhere.
Crappy AP course selection, no IB courses, mandatory Channel One viewing was totally lame and did not make me interested in nor keep me up on current events. MUST attend for four years to graduate.
A few excellent teachers (Smelser, Belanger, Ms Littleton, Rhonga who’s not there anymore), but also some heinously unqualified biased twits who would specifically pick on those they did not like (no, not me, I was okay because I was quiet and got good grades).
Beautiful campus, stairs are good for your legs, and on a clear day you can see downtown LA in the distance.
Not that Catholic for a Catholic school. It’s good that there is a tolerant attitude toward other religions (and not just other Christian religions), but that doesn’t mean that the Catholic teachings need to be watered down. Also, a lot of the girls would act/​dress slutty, read Cosmo in class, gossip cruelly, etc. and the teachers would turn a blind eye. This is not behavior that should be condoned or ignored in a supposedly Catholic/​Christian school.
Once I saw a skunk.

What an all girls Catholic High School!!! Yup I went to this high school Class of 96′ baby!!!
*will get back to you on this one*