Saint Elizabeth High School has been providing a Catholic secondary education in the Fruitvale District of the City of Oakland, California since 1921.

St. Elizabeth's parish was created in 1892 under the patronage of the Franciscan Friars to serve the Geman-speaking Catholics of Oakland. The following year, the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose (California) opened Saint Elizabeth Elementary School (SEES) with an enrollment of 20 students. Student population increased through the turn of the 20th century. The need for a secondary school to continue the Catholic education of students graduating from the elementary school and neighboring parishes became evident to the pastor of Saint Elizabeth parish, Reverend Ildephonse Moser, O.F.M.  In August 1921, Saint Elizabeth High School was opened.  (Read about St. Elizabeth of Hungary here)

Beginnings

The first student body of the high school consisted of a freshman class of twenty-four members who were temporarily educated in the rear of the old church building. The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, California, staffed the school. Sister M. Bernardina, O.P. was named the first principal, assisted by Sister M. Alacoque Densmore, O.P. and Sister M. Emily Spada, O.P. With the opening of the fall term in 1923, all of the high school classes were conducted in the St. Joseph Sodality Gymnasium – a large frame structure located on 34th Avenue just opposite the main entrance to the present high school. Science courses were added to the academic curriculum that year, and in June of 1924, Saint Elizabeth's commercial department graduated its first class. 

By August of 1924, the new elementary-high school building was near completion and classes on the secondary level were assigned to the upper floor (11 classrooms accommodated the academic and the commercial program). The lower floor housed the elementary school, with the gymnasium in the center. The high school faculty consisted of four Dominican Sisters and three lay teachers who conducted regular classes in English, history, mathematics, foreign languages, business education, sewing, art, and physical education. Religion classes continued to be taught by the assistant pastors. Graduation ceremonies at the close of that school year were conducted in the new Saint Elizabeth parish church, at which seven students – six girls and one boy – received the first academic diplomas conferred by the school.

In the fall of 1925, the enrollment of Saint Elizabeth High School reached ninety-five, and soon after the opening of a new term, the school was recognized by the University of California and listed as an accredited secondary school in the state of California.

Sister Stanislaus Daze, O.P. was appointed principal in 1943 and worked toward creating a stronger curriculum and teaching staff.

A steady increase in numbers brought the enrollment to 342 in 1945. That year, the pastor, Father Victor Bucher, O.F.M., established his parish schools as tuition-free. This policy added impetus to staff the school with as many religious as possible. Father Victor assigned a larger number of associate pastors to the high school. In September of 1945, Father Damien Lyons, O.F.M., was appointed principal.

Expansion 

The new elementary school building on the opposite side of 34th Avenue was ready for occupancy in September of 1959. In 1960, under the direction of Father Emery Tang, O.F.M. (principal from 1959-1961), the present high school building was completely renovated and the office refurbished.

When a new convent building was constructed across 34th Avenue in 1967, the former convent area north of the school building was converted into the Student Park. During this time, there was a growth of student population to 890 students.

The building was again renovated to divide a number of classrooms into two rooms to provide for the additional students. The enrollment dropped to 356 students in the early 1970's; and in 1973, Sister Mary Brennan, O.P., was chosen as principal. During her tenure (1973-1984), renovations to the physical plant were made including the development of computer facilities and the Arches. In the spring of 1982, the Franciscans transferred ownership of the Saint Elizabeth High School property to the Diocese of Oakland.

From 1982-1996 the Marist Brothers assigned members of their congregation to Saint Elizabeth High School. Their purpose was to establish an inner city ministry on the West Coast.

Saint Elizabeth High School was selected by the Exemplary School Recognition Project as one of the top 61 private secondary schools in the nation in 1984. During the mid-1980's, the school formed a Board, Development Council, and a Parent Club. 1989 was the year when Saint Elizabeth’s had the most number of religious (10 of 25) assigned on staff.

In order to better meet the needs of the student body, the school worked on a major fund raising effort under Mr. Barry Breen (principal from 1984 to 1991) and Sister Barbara Larner, O.P., then development director. A capital campaign was launched in the spring of 1991. The goals of the campaign were to upgrade the facility for physical education and science, to insure accessibility for the physically challenged, and to improve seismic safety. The campaign was also committed to the augmentation of an endowment fund for scholarship support.

During the 1998-1999 school year, the goals of the capital campaign were realized. In addition to completing the original projects, the student lunch area (Arches), the gym, the library, classroom floors, the science labs, and second floor classroom ceilings were also renovated. A new fire alarm, heating, public address, and clock systems were also installed.

21st Century 

The current principal, Sister Mary Liam Brock, O.P., was assigned to her post in 1999. In March of 2001, Saint Elizabeth High School was re-accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The following year, the school received a significant facelift when a grant was received to paint the exterior of the building. The interior wiring was also upgraded during the summer of 2002 with monies received from foundation grants.

In 2003, Saint Elizabeth High School received a grant from an anonymous foundation to work with Catholic School Management, Inc., of Madison, Connecticut, to implement a new governance structure (Board of Trustees) and to undergo a strategic planning process.

Summer of 2008 saw major land renovations in the school property after major grants were received for the purpose. These include the installation of a new sprinkler system in the Student Park to improve its irrigation, the re-asphalting of the backyard and parking areas, and the installation of an artificial turf on the athletic field.

In November 2009, the Board of Trustees approved to adopt a Flexible Tuition Program for Saint Elizabeth High School beginning with the school year 2010-2011. The flexible tuition made the school affordable to more families who otherwise cannot afford a Catholic secondary education for their children.

Saint Elizabeth High School continues to provide quality Catholic education to a diverse student population of young men and women from Oakland and the surrounding communities who strive to "achieve academic success and secure the skills necessary for life."