ROOTED IN FAITH, COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

ACADEMIC OVERVIEW

Academic Excellence Rooted in Faith and Innovation

CSHM offers students a diverse and challenging college prep curriculum designed to provide a high school education deeply rooted in the Catholic faith.  The school offers a dynamic blend of required and elective courses developed and presented by faculty members who encourage students to develop their full potential both inside and outside of the classroom.  Our academic requirements are designed to meet or exceed the admission requirements of all public and private four year universities.  A large selection of elective courses are offered in all departments with the largest selection found in the Fine Arts.  CSHM offers an extensive WCEA/WASC accredited program that encourages students to develop and master skills needed to become lifelong learners who live their faith. 

We are responding in a dynamic way to the changing needs of 21st Century education with the incorporation of our 1:1 iPad program, the use of online textbooks, and an increasing emphasis on student engagement in the learning process.  CSHM graduates demonstrate the school's Integral Student Outcomes (ISO's, outlined below):  Our graduates are young men and women of Catholic Character and Christian Values, Social Justice Awareness, Harmonious Healthy Living, and Multiple Academic Skills who practice the CSHM motto, Age Cum Anima Christi (Act with the Character of Christ).

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY
Building a Strong Foundation for College and Career

The PLTW Biomedical Science program engages students in hands-on activities such as suturing practice and building body systems with clay, providing a dynamic and immersive learning experience. Through this approach, students not only gain foundational knowledge in biomedical science but also develop essential, transferable skills like problem solving, critical and creative thinking, communication, and collaboration. The curriculum challenges students to think beyond conventional methods, encouraging innovation and real-world application. Rather than memorizing facts, students actively explore how biological systems function together in practical scenarios. Topics include human physiology, medical history, treatments, and autopsy analysis, all while guiding students through the research process and experimental design to address real biomedical challenges.

DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM AT CSHM
East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Classes

CSHM partners with East Los Angeles College (ELAC) to provide students with a dual (high school-university) enrollment program.   During fall and spring semesters, ELAC offers college classes on the CSHM campus at no cost to CSHM students.  These classes, which are open to all CSHM students, not only allow students the opportunity to earn college credit while still attending high school, but also help increase high school grade point averages.  Classes introduce students to the rigor of college coursework and give them an idea of what full-time college will be like.  When applying to college, admissions officers will see these college classes listed on students' transcripts--this shows admissions' officers that students have the ability to handle difficult college level work.  Additionally, these classes allow students to begin accumulating college credits, which may actually help them graduate from college earlier. 

 

Some ELAC classes offered at CSHM during the last few years include:

  • Abnormal Psychology

  • American Sign Language

  • Art History

  • Chicano Studies

  • Child Development

  • Drawing I

  • Introduction to Criminal Justice

  • Introduction to Engineering

  • Psychology

  • Speech

1:1 iPAD PROGRAM:
Learning Beyond the Classroom

At Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School, our 1:1 iPad program enhances student learning by integrating technology into every aspect of the academic experience. Each student uses an iPad to access coursework, complete assignments, and engage with digital tools that build essential skills like organization, communication, and critical thinking.

This model mirrors the expectations of today’s colleges, where students are often required to manage learning independently. Through platforms like Canvas and Aeries, CSHM students stay connected and prepared—anytime, anywhere. Explore the FAQs below for details on device requirements, digital textbooks, and support.

  • CSHM uses the Apple iPad as a central location for accessing and organizing the learning activities that take place in and outside of the classroom. This has allowed teachers to diversify their instruction to meet the needs of the students. It also gives students the creative ability to showcase their learning in innovative ways. As a result of the use of the iPad, college preparation occurs beyond the classroom, and beyond the hours of the school day. Teachers routinely post their assignments and grades on the online platform Canvas, in order to cater to the asynchronous learning that is expected of today’s university students. These assignments can include online math homework, online quizzes/tests, online discussions, or even viewing teacher lectures and resources. One of our primary goals is to ensure that all CSHM students are prepared to complete the tasks in the same manner they are expected to in higher education. At this point, the iPad is the best and most cost efficient choice for CSHM students to practice online assignments, digital citizenship, organization, time management, and critical communication skills.

  • CSHM utilizes a wide variety of digital resources to enhance the learning process, including, but limited to: apps, videos, websites, wikis, and electronic textbooks. Nearly all required textbooks can be accessed on the iPad, even without an Internet connection. CSHM uses electronic books from the iBooks, Kindle, and Inkling apps. Other electronic books are their own app, or are PDF documents.

  • Currently, the iPad has the highest quality digital textbooks and largest availability of educational apps/resources. In order to give the students the best and most cost efficient college preparatory education and to promote equity amongst all students, the iPad is the only device accepted at this time. We will continue to explore the use of other devices for the future.

  • The wireless network is open and spread out throughout the campus, including all classrooms, the cafeteria, and outdoor areas.

  • All CSHM students will be given: Aeries account to access grades online & a Canvas account to access and submit online assignments.

  • For questions about how the iPads will be used in the classroom, or any additional help contact Mr. Chavez at: jchavez@cshm.org. We truly thank you for supporting our school community in this 1:1 program in order to develop the best and most engaging learning environment for all of our students.

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES

With 98% of graduates going on to college—80% of them accepted to four-year universities and 40% admitted to the University of California system—CSHM High School stands out with an unmatched record of preparing young people for college success in our community.

Alaska Pacific University
American University, Rome
Arizona State University
Azusa Pacific University
Baylor University
Butler University
Biola University
Boston College, MA
Boston University
Cal Poly, Pomona
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
California College of the Arts
California Lutheran University
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, Chico
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Pomona
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, San Bernardino
California State University, San Diego
California State University, San Francisco
California State University, San Jose
California State University, San Luis Obispo
California State University, San Marcos
Catholic University of America
Cane Western Reserve University
Chaminade University, Honolulu
Chapman University
Colorado State University
College of Idaho
College of Mount Saint Vincent
Columbia College, Chicago
Columbus College of Art and Design
Creighton University
Dartmouth University
Drexel University
Fairfield University
Florida Institute of Technology
Fordham University
Gonzaga University
Grand Canyon University
Hawaii Pacific University
Humboldt State University
Iowa State University
Loyola Marymount University
Marquette University
Marymount College
Michigan State University
Mills College
Mount Saint Mary's College
New York University

Northern Arizona University
Oberlin College
Occidental College
Oregon State University
Otis College of Art & Design
Penn State
Pepperdine University
Point Loma Nazarene University
Rutgers University
San Francisco Art Institute
Santa Clara University
Seton Hall University
Seattle University
Seattle Pacific University
St. Catherine’s University
St. Edward’s University
St. John’s University
St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame
St. Mary’s College of California
St. Michael’s College
St. Peter’s College
St. Vincent College
Sonoma State University
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Southern New Hampshire University
Southwestern University
Suffolk University Madrid
Syracuse University, NY
United States Coast Guard Academy
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Merced
University of California, Riverside
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Arizona
University of Colorado
University of Hartford
University of Hawaii, Manoa
University of La Verne
University of Massachusetts
University of Michigan
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania
University of Portland, OR
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
University of Southern California
University of Washington
Westminister College, PA
Wheeling Jesuit University
Whittier College
Willamette University