St. Raphael Catholic School sits at 924 West 70th Street in South Central Los Angeles, sharing a century of story with St. Raphael Parish next door at 942 West 70th Street. The parish was established in 1925, and its school was founded by the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 1947. Together they form a community that serves a predominantly Hispanic/Latino and African American neighborhood, where ninety-three percent of the students qualify for the federal lunch program and every enrolled family receives some form of tuition assistance. The school carries the motto "Where Leaders Emerge," a phrase that captures the way the parish and its classrooms have shaped generations of Los Angeles families.
A Tudor/Gothic church and a hundred-year parish
Reverend William Mullane was appointed the first pastor of St. Raphael by Bishop John Cantwell, and within the first year of the parish history he built the Tudor/Gothic-style church that still stands today. The Swedish Hall, later known as the Mayflower Auditorium, became the center of parish life and hosted dinners, dances, and all manner of community celebrations. The Carmelite Fathers arrived in 1934 to take up the pastoral work, and twelve years later, in June 1946, plans were drawn for the construction of the current grammar school, cafeteria, and auditorium. The plant was built of reinforced concrete and was entirely fireproof, and the Adrian Dominican Nuns were invited to staff the school. The Mount Carmel Center, made possible by a generous grant from the John and Dorothy Shea Foundation, was opened in 2005. Fr. Stan Bosch, S.T. currently provides spiritual leadership and guidance to the parish.
"Raphael," the pastor writes, "which means 'God heals,' is an archangel for the Jews, the Muslims and for us who follow Jesus." He welcomes visitors to "this loving oasis in the midst of the bustling City of Los Angeles," and sees the parish and school as a place that forms "messengers of healing" into the homes and neighborhoods of South Los Angeles.
Mass in English and Spanish
The parish celebrates Mass every day of the week in two languages. In English, Mass is offered on Sundays at 10am and on weekdays at 8am. In Spanish, the Sunday schedule includes three Masses at 8am, 12pm, and 6pm, with another Spanish Mass on weekdays at 8am. On the eve of holy days, a bilingual Mass is celebrated at 7pm. On holy days themselves, Mass is offered at 8am in English and 7pm in Spanish.
The Sacrament of Penance is heard on Saturdays from 4pm to 4:45pm, and confessions can also be arranged by appointment. First Communion is prepared in the second grade, in conjunction with the parish, and parents are required to attend sacramental meetings that focus on faith formation.
A parish school from Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade
St. Raphael Catholic School is a Catholic parish school committed to developing Christian leaders who live by Gospel values. The school welcomes students of all genders, races, religions, and backgrounds, and it provides a strong academic foundation in a safe and caring environment. The curriculum fosters critical thinking, effective communication, and self-direction, and the school places a strong emphasis on technological proficiency so that students are prepared for success in high school and beyond.
More than 250 students attend the school, and the program stretches from Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade. The Transitional Kindergarten program offers a balanced mix of academic exposure and play-based experiences, with technology woven into lessons and Christian values at the center of the classroom. The TK program has a capacity of up to 21 children, with hours of operation from 8:00am to 3:00pm and daycare available both before and after school.
Enrollment begins in January, and families may request enrollment materials by mail or pick them up at the school office. Mrs. Estela Gonzalez leads the TK classroom and serves as the Primary Coordinator and Leadership contact.
A safe and secure campus rooted in Gospel values
St. Raphael provides a safe, nurturing environment rooted in Gospel values and supported by an on-site counseling program that serves both students and families. The campus includes open outdoor playing areas, and the entire plant, built in the late 1940s, was designed to be entirely fireproof.
The faculty and staff include a Vice Principal of Discipline, a Vice Principal of Academics and Leadership, classroom teachers from Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade, instructional aides, a music program that reaches every grade, and a development and marketing team. The school is fully accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA) and co-accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Blended learning in partnership with Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University has partnered with St. Raphael to bring a blended learning model to South Los Angeles through the LMU iDEAL Institute, an Innovation in Digital Education and Leadership program that supports K-8 classrooms. Blended learning was first implemented at St. Raphael in the fall of 2016, and the partnership now provides faculty with ongoing professional development.
Blended learning integrates online learning with traditional student-teacher interaction, giving students some control over their pace, path, and place of learning. The approach is designed to deliver personalized instruction and to prepare students for high school, college, and better career opportunities. All students at St. Raphael have access to Chromebooks and iPads, and adaptive software programs are used to meet the needs of individual learners. Blended learning instruction is aligned to Common Core state standards, and the science curriculum in grades K-8 is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (N.G.S.S.).
Spiritual formation woven through the school week
St. Raphael teachers are committed to ongoing faith formation, both their own and that of their students. School Masses with liturgical instruction from the pastor are part of the rhythm of the week, and students attend Special Masses on Holy Days and gather at church for religious occasions such as the Stations of the Cross and the May Crowning. Student council members guide daily morning and afternoon prayer, and student acolytes serve at the weekly School Mass and at the Monthly Family Mass.
St. Raphael School students, parents, and teachers sponsor a monthly Family Mass where the entire school community is invited to attend and celebrate together. Sacramental preparation is offered in conjunction with the parish, and parents are required to attend sacramental meetings. The 2nd-grade teacher prepares students for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion.
Music, choir, and the performing arts
Music is part of every grade at St. Raphael. The school offers vocal and instrumental music instruction weekly to all students in grades Transitional Kindergarten through 8th, and there is an extra-curricular gospel choir that students may join. The parish school choir includes students from grades 2 through 8 and sings regularly at the weekly school Mass, at the monthly Family Mass on the fourth Sunday of each month, and at family gatherings and school functions. The choir has also been invited to perform at local Long Beach businesses and gatherings.
Every grade participates in the annual Christmas program, and the pageant features Christmas songs and dances from around the world along with original class skits. The school offers a music room equipped with donated keyboards and guitars, and Mr. Peter Scott, who serves as Vice Principal of Discipline and teaches TK-8th music, leads the program.
Athletics and the St. Sebastian Sports Project
St. Raphael is committed to educating the whole child - spiritually, academically, socially, and athletically - and the Vice Principal serves as Athletic Director. The St. Sebastian Sports Project (SSSP) has provided the school with funding for coaching and sports equipment since 2008, and the project also runs coaching clinics and hosts flag football, volleyball, basketball, and soccer tournaments. In 2017, SSSP hosted its first "Leadership Academy" to help prepare outstanding 8th-grade scholar-athletes for the transition to high school. SSSP has partnered with Loyola Marymount University to sponsor sports days that expose students to college opportunities.
Fall sports include varsity and junior varsity football for girls and boys and varsity and junior varsity volleyball for girls. Winter brings varsity and junior varsity basketball for girls and boys. Spring includes boys' volleyball and boys' soccer. Coaches lead practices and games, and parents are encouraged to volunteer as assistant coaches, chaperones, and drivers.
Art and the Art Trek partnership
Art is taught in partnership with Art Trek, a non-profit organization that provides trained staff to deliver sequential, hands-on art lessons in the classroom. Lessons are designed to build rendering, painting, and sculpting skills, and to build student confidence and community ties. Professional Art Trek teachers visit grades 1st through 8th once a month. Lower grade teachers incorporate painting, drawing, coloring, and music into their weekly lessons, and science, social studies, and religious education also include an art component.
The Christian Leadership Council
The Christian Leadership Council (C.L.C.) is the student government at St. Raphael. The council consists of one faculty advisor and student members whose duties include preparing the monthly school calendar board, assisting with School Mass, welcoming new students, organizing the student pep rally during Catholic Schools Week, and delivering the Monday morning prayer assembly. C.L.C. elections are held at the end of each school year, and the council includes a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and three commissioners.
Counseling, tutoring, and academic enrichment
An on-site counseling program provides individual and family counseling for students and their families. Teachers offer after-school tutoring once a week, and students in grades 6 through 8 may attend a study hall three days a week with a different teacher each day. Volunteer mentors assist 8th-grade students in identifying and applying to Catholic, charter, and magnet high schools in Los Angeles. The school also participates in Title 1 services for students who qualify, providing small group instruction in reading and language arts.
Family Mass, parents, and parent volunteers
Parents are invited into every part of school life at St. Raphael. Parents are offered opportunities to volunteer through the Halloween Festival, the Parish Festival, the Spring Sponsor Luncheon, the Christmas Show, fundraisers, and other school functions, activities, and events throughout the year. Each school year, parents are asked to complete twenty-five volunteer hours. The school encourages parents to support students at home through reading, practicing math facts, and developing a relationship with God through prayer.
A monthly Family Mass brings the entire school community together, and the school hosts a variety of family events and celebrations. The school community welcomes parents into parent conferences, Back-to-School Nights, classroom meetings, and Family Mass, and parents serve as chaperones, coaches, office helpers, and traffic volunteers at drop-off and pick-up times.
Open enrollment, tuition, and financial aid
St. Raphael maintains an open enrollment policy throughout the academic year and welcomes all applicants and their families with respect and compassion. In keeping with Catholic values, St. Raphael does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnic background, immigration status, or religion. The admissions process begins with a warm invitation to tour the campus, and the Principal, Vice Principal, and other members of the leadership and faculty are available by appointment to meet with families, answer questions, and conduct admissions assessments.
Tuition for the 2026-2027 school year is $3,596 per student, and a non-refundable registration fee of $350 per student secures enrollment. The registration fee includes curriculum materials and standardized testing costs. Tuition payment plans include a full payment option, a semester plan, and a monthly plan processed through the FACTS Tuition Management system.
Every family receives some form of tuition assistance, and scholarships through the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) and additional need-based financial aid from St. Raphael School are available for qualifying families. Every eligible student who applies to the CEF Tuition Award Program is guaranteed to receive a scholarship. Families may submit recent tax returns or W-2 forms, formal letters of disbursement for unemployment, disability, Social Security, AFDC, Food Stamps, or WIC, or a court order for alimony or child support as part of the financial aid application.
The Development Board and a network of supporters
The St. Raphael School Development Board serves in an advisory capacity and raises more than $100,000 in student scholarships and program support each year. Board members include leaders from law, finance, and philanthropy who partner with the school to obtain access to resources that support financial and educational goals. The school is also supported by a Friends of St. Raphael group of alumni and community members.
Among the foundations and organizations that have provided generous support are the Gogian Foundation, the Ahmanson Foundation, Shea Family Charities, the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation, the William H. Hannon Foundation, the Riordan Foundation, the Kremmer Foundation, the Queen of Angels Foundation, the Barona Band of Mission Indians, the Koch Foundation, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Education Foundation, American Martyrs Catholic Church, and Corpus Christi School. The school is a 501(c)(3) organization, and gifts are tax deductible in the manner and to the extent provided by law.
Getting in touch and joining the community
St. Raphael Parish can be reached by phone at 323-758-7100, with a fax line at 323-758-7134. St. Raphael Catholic School can be reached by phone at 323-751-2774 and by fax at 323-751-1244. The school office is open to schedule visits and admissions appointments, and online giving is available through the school's giving page, including one-time and monthly recurring donations as well as the Sponsor-A-Student program, which pairs individual donors with a child through an annual contribution of $500. Alumni are invited to join the Alumni Association, return for Career Day, and reconnect with the school community.
"St. Raphael School in South Central Los Angeles," writes Mrs. Brenda Lopez-Castellanos, the Director of Marketing and Development, "is a beacon of hope and learning for the children of our community." She notes that the school is committed to providing high-quality education to students, fostering intellectual growth, and instilling Catholic values that will guide them throughout their lives. The school's patron, St. Raphael, is one of seven archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord. His name means "God heals," and his feast day is celebrated on September 29th.