Mater Dei High School
Forward in Vision, Rooted in Tradition

About MD
Mater Dei is a distinguished destination of excellence in academics and technology, the arts, faith and service, campus life, and athletics. We are proud to be Orange County’s oldest and largest Catholic high school.
Admissions
Your journey to becoming a Monarch starts here! Tour campus, schedule a shadow day, begin your application, and more. We are excited for you to join the MD family!
Programs
Built on Catholic fellowship and intellectual rigor, our programs in academics, technology, athletics, faith and service, and the arts provide unlimited opportunities for student success. Comprehensive counseling and wellness resources educate and bolster families throughout the high school journey.
Faith in Action
Guided by the articulation of Catholic Social Teachings, Mater Dei prioritizes the faith development of our students with an emphasis on Christian service. We believe this allows our students to grow in their spiritual lives while living our gospel values through giving back to others and truly experiencing the face of God.
Campus Life
Through avenues of leadership, faith, shared interests, and extracurricular activities and events, students can make Mater Dei their own. Get involved today!
Community
Tradition never graduates. Alumni, lifetime parents, grandparents, and friends are a vital and vibrant aspect of our community. Once a Monarch, always a Monarch.
Giving

75 Years of Mater Dei High School

Mater Dei’s 75th anniversary milestone is more than a testament to our longevity—it’s a celebration of seven and a half decades of faith in action, innovation, and community.

In 1950, 150 families took a leap of faith that a brand-new Catholic high school nestled between dairy farms and cabbage fields in the center of Orange County would become a home for their children. Since then, we have grown from a small parish initiative (under what was then the Archdiocese of Los Angeles) into a thriving educational epicenter known for faith formation, academic excellence, artistic achievement, and athletic distinction.

In a world where many Catholic schools struggle or close, Mater Dei is not only existing, we’re thriving. Through it all, we remain firmly grounded in our mission and our core principles of HONOR, GLORY and LOVE, inspired by our Patroness, Mary, Mater Dei, just as those first Monarchs were back in 1950.

During the 2025-2026 school year, we will be celebrating our school and our incredible community ALL YEAR LONG. We cannot wait to welcome you back to campus and have you take part in the all the the3 fun we have in store for you.