and an optional personal recommendation. Non-native English speakers are required to take the TOEFL. Departments Academics are divided among the following departments: Art, Drama, English, Foreign Language (including French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese), History, Math, Music, Religion, and Science. Honors and AP opportunities Santa Catalina School offers 11 AP (Advanced Placement) and 7 Advanced Topics courses. College counseling and acceptance The school has two college counselors on campus who work closely with seniors and assist with students' college applications and SAT and ACT registration. In addition, the school has an online resource for students called Naviance, which provides further college counseling. In addition, approximately 65 colleges and universities from within the United States and abroad send representatives to Catalina to discuss their schools with students throughout the academic year. The average SAT score of students is 1732. 100% of graduates attend college and within the past five years the most-attended colleges were UC Davis (20 students), UCLA (11 students), Boston University (11 students), New York University (9 students), and Loyola Marymount University (9 students). Lower and Middle School academics From kindergarten to fifth grade, students take courses in art, computer studies, language arts, math, music, physical education, religion, science, and social science. Spanish classes are introduced in the 4th grade. In grades 6 – 8, students take classes in art, computer science, English, foreign language (Spanish), history, math, music, physical education, religion, and science. Faculty and administrators Despite the school's religious background, the current administrators are laypeople and not affiliated with a religious order. Head of School - Margaret K. "Meg" Bradley Assistant Head of School - John Aime Assistant Head of School for Mission and Identity - John Murphy, Ph.D. Head of Upper School - Julie Lenherr Edson ’88 Head of Lower and Middle School, PreK–Grade 8 - Christy Pollacci The Upper School is ranked among the top 20 boarding schools for faculty education because a high percentage of the faculty has advanced degrees. Facilities Aquatic center In 2003 a new outdoor aquatic center was completed, featuring a 25 yard by 30 meter pool that is connected to the gym's locker rooms. This 10 lane pool is used for physical education classes and the Upper School's swimming and diving and water polo teams. The pool was renovated beginning in 2018 and was unveiled for the second time in the spring of 2019. It is now fully functional. Bedford Family