Servite High School

Servite High School is a private, Catholic, all-boys college preparatory high school in Anaheim, California. It was founded in 1958 and has grown to enroll around 751 students, with nearly 10,000 graduates. The school is named after the Order of Servants of Mary (OSM), also called the Servite Order, and is run by this group rather than the local church area, known as the Diocese of Orange.

Servite High School is recognized as a good school by groups such as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Western Catholic Educational Association. In sports, the school's teams, called the Friars, compete in the Trinity League under the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF SS). The school colors are black and white, with gold trim.

Academics

Servite High School’s courses are made to help students get ready for college, especially at the University of California or California State University. Students study many subjects such as English, art, languages, health, math, religion, science, and social studies. Some classes are regular, some are more challenging called “Honors Placement,” and others are very hard called “Advanced Placement.”

The school wants to help students grow in their faith and become good leaders. It uses the motto Credo ut Intelligam, meaning “I believe so I may understand.” Students join groups called “Priories” and smaller teams to learn leadership and help others. They also need to spend time doing good deeds, called “Christian service,” to finish their school years.

History

In 1957, leaders from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles asked a group called the Servites to start a school. The school opened in the fall of 1958 with a leader named Fr. Maurice Gillespie. Because the school buildings were not ready, some classes happened at a nearby elementary school. The main building was finished and celebrated in February 1959.

The school became known for its sports, especially football. In 1960, the first football team won a big award. A coach named George Dena started a special football drill that is still done today. The school also joined a group of other schools for sports competitions.

Over the years, the school added new buildings like a gym, theater, classrooms, and science labs. In 2017, a new swimming and water sports building opened, named after a former teacher, Fr. Kevin Fitzpatrick. Later, some former students said he had treated them badly, so the school took his name off the building.

Admissions

Getting into Servite High School depends on how well a student does in school and shows leadership skills. They look at grades from 7th and 8th grade, test scores, interviews with parents and students, and letters of support.

The cost for the school year 2023–24 was $19,995, but there were ways to pay less. The school offers help with paying through financial aid and special awards for students who do well, and more than half of the students get some kind of help paying.

Sister schools

Servite High School has a sister school called Rosary Academy, Fullerton, which is an all-girls Catholic institution. Before Cornelia Connelly High School in Anaheim closed in 2020, it also had a similar relationship with Servite.

Servite also has exchange programs with other Servite schools around the world. These include Collège Notre-Dame des Servites in Ayer's Cliff, Quebec, Servite College in Perth, Western Australia, Blanche de Castille in Villemomble, France, Marian High School in Omaha, Nebraska, San Pelligrino in Misano, Italy, and Mary Star of the Sea in Zululand, South Africa.

Athletics

Servite High School competes in the Trinity League in 13 different sports. These sports include cross country, football, water polo in the fall; basketball, soccer, and wrestling in the winter; and baseball, golf, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball in the spring. The school also offers ice hockey and rugby as club sports.

One of Servite's biggest rivalries is with Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana. They have played each other in football every year since 1961. Some of their top championship years include football wins in 1982, 2009, and 2023, as well as track and field in 2025.

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Servite High School alumni

Servite High School has many successful graduates in different fields. Some are athletes, like Michael Bandy, who plays football for the Denver Broncos, and Patrick Cantlay, a professional golfer. Others have achieved success in business, entertainment, and public service. For example, Brian Lee started several well-known companies, Rex Lee is an actor, and Craig A. Kelly served as an ambassador to Chile. The school has produced many leaders and talented individuals in many areas.