Mercy High School (San Francisco)

Mercy High School
Address
3250 19th Avenue
San Francisco, California 94132
United States
Coordinates 37°43′46″N 122°28′25″W / 37.729419°N 122.473623°W / 37.729419; -122.473623Coordinates: 37°43′46″N 122°28′25″W / 37.729419°N 122.473623°W / 37.729419; -122.473623
Information
Type Private, All-Female
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic;
Sisters of Mercy
Established 1952
Founder Catherine McAuley
Superintendent Nina Russo
Area trustee Diane Lawrence
Head of school Scott L. McLarty
Faculty 64
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 400 (2016-2017)
Campus size 6 acres (24,000 m2)
Color(s) Red and White         
Athletics conference West Bay Athletic League
Mascot Skipper and Flipper the Dolphin
Team name Skippers
Rival Mercy High School (Burlingame)
Accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges[1]
Publication Legacy (literary magazine)
Tuition $17,800 (2014-2015 Domestic)
Athletic Director Michael Gutierrez
Website http://www.mercyhs.org

Mercy High School, San Francisco is a Catholic all-girls college-preparatory high school located in San Francisco, California. It is a part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, and is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland. The campus is located on 19th Ave., near San Francisco State University, and includes a multipurpose Pavilion, which was built and dedicated to Catherine McAuley in 2001.

History

In 1855, Mother Baptist Russell and the Sisters of Mercy opened a night school for adults on Vallejo Street, San Francisco. The late auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco James T. O'Dowd, who was then the Archdiocesan Superintendent of Schools, requested that the Sisters of Mercy provide a secondary school for the Catholic girls in the Sunset, Lakeside, and Park Merced districts. As a result, Mercy High School was opened on September 3, 1952 with a class of 199 freshmen in a partially completed building. Nearly two years later, the original building was completed in 1954.

On June 11, 1956, a class of 173 seniors received diplomas and became the first graduating class of Mercy High School. The achievement of Mercy's first graduating class placed the high school on the list of secondary schools accredited by the University of California without delay. In 1958, Mercy High School became a charter member among schools accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association. In 1964, Mercy High School was accredited by the newly formed Secondary Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The school is also a member of the National Catholic Educational Association.[2]

Academics

Mercy offers a four-year college preparatory program, which includes advanced placement and honors courses in English, mathematics, science, foreign language, and history. Religious education classes are mandatory and an important component of the curriculum. The fine arts program is one of the most diverse in the Bay Area, and the athletic and speech programs have received state level recognition. Mercy's student government program has also received the highest award from the California Association of Student Councils.[2]

Student activities

Clubs

Anime
California Scholarship Federation
Campus Life Team
Classic Film Club
Community Service
Dance Committee
Dolce (Chorus/Glee Club)
French
Global-Eyes
Green Team
Kaleidoscope (Multicultural Club)
Mercy Athletic Association
Legacy (Literary Magazine)
Math Club
National Honor Society
Performing Arts Association
Photo Club
Science Club
Talking Heads (Speech)
Wav Tech (Technology Club)
Yearbook
Zumba

Athletics

Basketball
Cross Country
Soccer
Softball
Spirit Squad
Swimming
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball

Alma mater

Mercy will keep us ever,
True to the land we honor and love;
Mercy lives on forever;
Honoring the Queen we serve above.
With hands of hearts together,
Through the happy years;
Strong is our chorus!
All lies before us!
Our Mercy spirit we cheer;
Here's to Mercy High,
Lift our banners to the sky!
Daring to do or die,
'Til all of our glory is won!
Proudly we sing to you,
In loyalty cling to you,
With true hearts we bring to you
Our tribute of love fore'ev
Hear our song, loud the call,
Come along, one and all,
Join the marching of the Red and the White
Life will ever be a pledge of loyalty,
Live on to honor thee,
Mercy High, All hail to thee!

Notable alumnae

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ WASC-ACS. "WASC-Accrediting Commission for Schools". Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  2. 1 2 "History". Mercy High School (San Francisco). Retrieved 2011-03-11.
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