Awards & Accreditations
National School of Character
In October 2003, St. Genevieve was the first high school in California — and the first Catholic school in the nation — to be named a “National School of Character” by the Character Education Partnership in Washington, D.C. Faculty. Staff flew to the nation’s Capital to accept the prestigious honor on behalf of the entire school community.
On November 2, 2003, we held an award ceremony here on our campus. It was the grandest celebration in the history of our school. Michael Josephson from Character Counts! and The Josephson Institute of Ethics presented the award. Additionally, we were honored with speeches by state Senator Richard Alarcon, a former Valiant; Bishop Gerald Wilkerson; and our keynote address was from Mrs. Beth Nimmo. Mrs. Nimmo is the mother of Rachel Scott, the first student murdered at Columbine High School. Mrs. Nimmo reminded us of the great need to ensure that character education is a part of every school community.
Our Character Education program was born as a result of the tragic school shooting at Columbine High School on April 29, 1999. The daily reality at St. Genevieve, one with great and mutual love among students and staff, is a living monument to the lives lost at Columbine.
In July, 2013 when our elementary and high schools merged, the newly formed leadership team identified Character Education as a critical component for future success. The vision for the newly united campus would strongly emphasize Character Education in uniting the two campuses and to provide a common foundation for all staff members and families.
Steve Allen “Excellence in Education” Award
In 2004, St. Genevieve was awarded the “Steve Allen Award” for educational excellence and community outreach from the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley. The award recognizes outstanding schools, educators or students who have brought national attention to the region.
The award is named for long-time Valley resident and legendary entertainer Steve Allen, who valued learning and spent much of his later years focused on speaking and writing about the importance of education.
Smart & Good High Schools
St. Genevieve High School was honored to be included in a national study “Integrating Excellence and Ethics for Success in School, Work, and Beyond” conducted by Thomas Lickona, Ph.D. and Matthew Davidson, Ph.D.
Smart & Good High Schools is a national study of American high schools that included site visits to 24 diverse schools, hundreds of interviews, a comprehensive research review, and the input of a National Experts Panel and a National Student Leaders Panel. The report was published in 2005 and offers a vision of educational excellence and nearly 100 promising practices designed to foster human flourishing over a lifetime. The research drew two major conclusions:
- There is national consensus regarding the need for character — doing our best work, doing the right thing, living a life of purpose.
- Smart & Good High Schools educate for character — both performance character and moral character.
St. Genevieve is honored to have some of our successful strategies outlined in this study. Additionally, two graduates sat on the national panel of advisors for the study. They are: Michael Linares and Katrina Galang.
University of Pennsylvania Character Lab Study
For two years, 2014 through 2016, students at St. Genevieve participated in a study conducted by the Character Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. The purpose of the study was to see what effects the on-going and purposeful Practice of Gratitude has on an individual’s happiness quotient.
Two staff members were selected to spend a week for two summers to receive training in order to help conduct the study here on our campus.
Accreditation & Memberships
National Association for College Admission Counseling
Western Catholic Education Association
National Catholic Education Association
Western Association of Schools & Colleges
College Board