Santa Clara High School (Oxnard, California)


Santa Clara High School is a private, Catholic four-year high school serving grades 9-12 in Oxnard, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Having opened in September 1901, the school is the oldest high school in Ventura County.

History

The school, originally named St. Joseph's Institute, was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet on September 2, 1901. The school moved to the top floor of the Santa Clara Elementary School building on South "E" Street, and in April 1930, the name was changed to Santa Clara High School. Over the next two decades, increasing enrollment necessitated a new facility, and under the leadership of Monsignor Anthony Jacobs, and a generous land grant from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Friedrich, the new Santa Clara High School opened on South Saviers Road in the spring of 1952. In 1964, the high school annexed the adjacent empty junior high school facility, acquiring sixteen new classrooms, office space and a new auditorium, doubling the capacity of the high school.
In 1967, the school became an Archdiocesan high school and operational responsibility of the school shifted to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In 1981, the Sisters of St. Joseph, who kept residences at the school, moved to St. Anthony's Convent and their space was renovated into additional classrooms and office space. In 1986 a new gymnasium, Friedrich Pavilion, was constructed.

Athletics

Santa Clara High School has a long history of success in its sports programs, most notably its basketball program. In its storied history since Coach Lou Cvijanovich took the helm in 1958, the boys' basketball program has won 30 league titles, 15 CIF titles, as well as three California state championships. The program appeared in three straight state championship games, winning in 1989 and 1990 and losing in 1991. In 1999, Lou Cvijanovich announced that after 41 years of coaching the basketball program, he would be retiring at the end of the season. The 1999 team went on to win the state title, winning 30 games and Coach Cvijanovich's record 829th victory in the process.
Santa Clara High School is a member school of the CIF Southern Section. As of 2018, the Saints compete in the Tri-County Athletic Association for all sports except football and in the Citrus Coast League for football.

Notable staff and alumni