Educational experts espouse the value of an affordable quality education on all levels. Bishop García Diego High School in Santa Barbara does its best to live up to this ideal for high school students, especially with its personalized tuition model.
Here is what students and their families can expect from the school.
Diversity
Bishop Diego is known for the diversity of its student body that mirrors the local community, said Emily Diaz, the school’s director of admission.
“We have students with a wide variety of backgrounds, and we reach across socioeconomic status lines,” Diaz said.
“Bishop is a community where all students can find success,” Diaz added. “Our core values of respect, perseverance, and compassion guide the work that we do in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in our daily interactions.”
The school is intentional in its efforts to build relationships within the diverse student body, Diaz said. This leads to students experiencing an educational environment conducive to learning and growing together as a community.
Personalization
Bishop Diego has a variety of courses that serve many different interests.
“We’re big enough for a lot of options for students, but we’re community-based and small enough to personalize,” Diaz said.
The school prepares students for college by providing a rigorous broad-based educational program tailored to individual needs and interests. It offers academic support and college counseling that allows students to chart their own paths and customize their education.
Additionally, every student gets the opportunity to attend a four-year college, though some may choose different options that work for them, and the school has a 100% acceptance rate, Diaz said.
Overall, Bishop Diego focuses on educating the whole student, academically, emotionally, and spiritually. This leads to graduates who not only have outstanding academic achievements but who have developed character, integrity, and a desire to change the world, Diaz said.
Affordability
Bishop Diego helps many students with its personalized tuition model. Thanks to generous donors and community partners, the school works with students and their families to make education accessible.
In fact, about 65% of Bishop Diego students receive some form of financial aid, and the school distributed $2.4 million in personalized tuition subsidies for the 2022-23 academic year alone, Diaz said.
“We have incredibly generous support,” Diaz said. “Without the support we receive, our efforts to provide this opportunity to as many families as we do would be impacted.”
School representatives typically work with each family to establish a rate that works for them, taking income and personal circumstances into account.
“We don’t want to let the cost of education be an obstacle,” Diaz said.
An accessible education is particularly important in an area known for its high cost of living.
“We are all well aware that living in Santa Barbara is extremely expensive,” Diaz said. “For families who desire a Bishop education and are mission fit, we will work hard to find a rate that allows you to attend Bishop and still make ends meet.”
Anyone interested in making a quality education accessible to local students can contribute to Bishop Diego’s tuition assistance funds. For more information, visit the school’s donation page.
“A Bishop Diego education lasts a lifetime,” according to the website. “Your support is an investment in the dreams of those who will build the future.”