Our Mission

Founded in the Roman Catholic tradition, Carmel Catholic High School calls us to be a Christian community in which students, parents, faculty, and alumni interact in a spirit of Gospel love and freedom. We foster lifelong faith, learning and development of an individual’s talents and skills. These ideals are rooted in the missions of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Order of the Carmelites. Carmel Catholic High School is primarily a college preparatory school, providing a program of excellence for students. In addition to being an academic institution, we are a community that fosters respect for diversity, mutual growth and development. The Carmel community extends the challenge to lead productive lives that reflect religious and civic values.

Our History…Our Heritage

Carmel Catholic High School is jointly sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (B.V.M.) and the Order of the Carmelites (O.Carm.) Early in 1960, the Archdiocese requested that these two religious groups build a co-institutional Catholic High School in Lake County. In September 1962, Carmel High School for Boys opened its doors to a freshman class of 175 students. In September 1963, Carmel High School for Girls began to admit students. In August 1988, the two religious groups decided to bring the two schools together and form a corporation, which owns and operates the school. Today, the school operates at near capacity with over 1,400 students seeking a high-quality Catholic educational experience.

The school occupies a fifty-acre campus with extensive educational and athletic facilities including: 57 academic classrooms, ten science labs, three computer labs, a library with a computer bank, art and music facilities, and premier athletic facilities. The school’s newest addition is a state-of-the-art Science Wing—one of the largest expansion and renovation projects in Carmel’s 44-year history. The new wing includes 10 classroom laboratories as 90 percent of our Carmel students take science classes all four years and 25 percent of our Carmel Catholic High School graduates pursue careers in the fields of Science and Engineering.

Carmel Catholic High School is a three-time recipient (1985, 1996 and 2002) of the prestigious Blue Ribbon School recognition by the U.S. Department of Education. This acknowledgement is a tangible sign of the school’s commitment to maintaining the highest quality academic standards. Across the country, Blue Ribbon Schools are regarded as national models of excellence and the program honors elementary and secondary schools whose students achieve at exceptionally high levels. Carmel Catholic High School was one of only 45 private secondary schools in the nation to receive this prestigious award. In addition to the Blue Ribbon School recognition, The Catholic High School Honor Roll named Carmel Catholic High School one of the “Top 50 Catholic Secondary Schools.” Carmel was selected based on its high scores in the categories of: Academics, Catholicity and Civic Instruction. Carmel also was named to an elite list of 20 high schools in the country that excel in the area of Catholic Identity.

Perhaps the school’s most significant contribution to the community has been its graduates. Thousands of Carmel Catholic High School Alumni reside throughout Lake County and surrounding areas, contributing to the quality of life through their professional and business careers. Many of our 12,000 graduates have been civic and business leaders. Our community continues to be enriched by the contributions of many of our graduates. We also take great pride in the fact that many of our Alumni choose to send their own children to Carmel. In fact, over 20 percent of each graduating class, have parents who are Carmel Alums!

The development of the whole person of the student—spiritually, intellectually, personally, socially, and physically—is the focus of Catholic education. At Carmel Catholic High School we are dedicated to achieving these goals in a supportive Christian community. When you visit Carmel Catholic High School, you will see first-hand, our school is different. It is a great place for our young people to grow up.

Our Commitment

Imparting Knowledge…Instilling Values…Making A Difference

Building a sense of purpose in our students is at the heart of Carmel Catholic High School. Our students reach high levels of academic achievements; they graduate and do well in college and beyond; they are given every opportunity through extracurricular activities and athletic programs to excel as persons. Throughout their Catholic educational experience, they become oriented toward service to others.

We strive to establish a culture in which our students can become more than themselves. We genuinely care for one another and we work at supporting each other—faculty to faculty, student to student and faculty to student. We work hard to help our students feel happy, safe, supported, and appreciated. We make every effort to instill Christian values in our words and actions.
Our Identity

Carmel Catholic High School recently introduced a new logo for the school. The new logo features an enlightened student. The progressive and youthful style of the enlightened student echoes the fresh, warm, welcoming experience of the Carmel Catholic community. The outstretched arms suggest the challenge of the academic environment, while the rays that surround indicate energy and happiness found at the school. The cross at the pinnacle places all in the context of a God-centered Catholic school environment.

The new logo builds on the school’s great tradition. During the last 42 years, the school’s mission has been depicted through the Carmel shield—a symbol of Carmel’s founding religious orders. Carmel Catholic High School remains faithful to the faith-based education ideals and vision of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the priests and brothers of the Order of the Carmelites. This logo was retired in 2004. The new enlightened student logo is intended to develop a strong and consistent identity for the school and to create a new brand identity that positions CCHS clearly apart from all alternatives.

In conjunction with the new enlightened student logo, the school also updated the Corsair mascot/spirit wear logo. The new corsair has a contemporary and custom designed look. The new Corsair is now prominently featured on all athletic uniforms, bookstore spirit wear and in the Baker Football Stadium.

Certainly, the strength of any message lies in the living word—the students, faculty, staff, parents, volunteers and alumni who bear witness to Carmel Catholic High School’s accomplishments. The new logos give the school a consistent brand identity thereby reinforcing Carmel Catholic’s 43-year old mission of providing a college preparatory education in an environment of gospel values.