Why This Project Matters

This isn’t just a building. It’s a defining moment for Mercy, and for the young women we serve.

• For 94 years, Mercy has never had a gym or a true gathering space.
  Our students have never had a place on our campus to come together as one community.
• We are the only Catholic high school in the Bay Area without these essential facilities.
  That inequity ends now.
• As the last all-girls Catholic high school closest to San Francisco, our mission has never been more critical.
  We are shaping the next generation of women leaders, and data supports that young women receiving an all-girls' education have a significant advantage in life when compared to those girls who attend co-educational schools. 
• 70% of our students are student-athletes, without a home court or pool.
  Many travel up to 22 miles just to practice and compete.
• 53% of our students rely on financial assistance.
  A Mercy education changes lives and opens doors.
• 36% are first-generation college-bound.
  Mercy is where their future begins.
• 67% of our students come from diverse backgrounds.
  This is a community rooted in opportunity, inclusion, equity, and belonging.

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"No work of charity can be more productive of good to society than the careful instruction of women."  Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy

For nearly a century, Mercy High School, Burlingame has been a place where young women grow, lead, and thrive. Yet in our 94 years, we have never had a gymnasium or a true indoor space to gather as a full community. Today, we remain the only Catholic high school across the Bay Area dioceses without these essential facilities.

As the last remaining traditional all-girls Catholic high school closest to San Francisco, our role is more important than ever. While many all-girls schools have closed due to limited resources, we continue to stand as a vital, inclusive space where young women can access opportunity, build confidence, and prepare for their futures.
But the gap is real. Our students travel miles each day to practice and compete, and we lack the facilities to fully support wellness, safety, and community life on campus.
Expanding our footprint is about equity. It’s about ensuring that Mercy students- today and for generations to come- have the inclusive facilities they deserve to learn, grow, and lead. Without these facilities, equity to all girls education in the Bay Area is at risk. We must lean more now than ever into the words of our Foundress Catherine McAuley, "We can never say it is enough."

If you would like to invest in our Campaign, please contact:

Niki Nielsen
Director of Mission Advancement and Marketing

Natalie Cirigliano Brosnan '02, Ed.D,
Head of School

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