Bishop O'Dowd High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory high school founded in 1951 and located in the Oakland Hills of Oakland, California. The school serves approximately 1,250 students drawn from over 100 regional schools and more than 20 zipcodes in the East Bay area, maintaining a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1 and an average class size of 26.
The school offers a holistic academic program that includes 33 Advanced Placement and honors courses. Its educational mission emphasizes nurturing the whole student through academics, co-curricular opportunities, and values-based education. A distinctive feature is its nationally recognized Center for Environmental Studies and four-acre Living Lab.
The school operates within a Catholic community guided by the teachings of Jesus Christ, with a charism of "Finding God in all things." Its mission is to inspire students to discover their best selves and build a more just, joyful, and sustainable world. The institution embraces diversity, honors strength of character, strives for academic excellence, cherishes the earth, and stands for social justice.
