Cornelia Connelly High School

Cornelia Connelly High School, also known as the Cornelia Connelly School of the Holy Child Jesus, was a Catholic college-preparatory high school for girls located in Anaheim, California. It was the only independent school of its kind in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. The school opened its doors in 1961 and served students for nearly six decades.

Throughout its history, Connelly provided a strong education focused on preparing girls for college. By the time it closed in 2020, the school had around 124 students. It was recognized and accredited by groups such as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Western Catholic Educational Association, showing its commitment to high academic standards.

History

The school opened in 1961, founded by the Sisters of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. It was named after Cornelia Connelly, who started this group. Students could join exchange programs to visit other schools in the U.S., England, Ireland, or Ghana.

In October 2019, the school's leaders decided to close it after the 2019–20 school year. They said the reason was that fewer students were joining each year, the school owed money, and they couldn't raise enough funds.

Notable alumnae

Some well-known people went to Cornelia Connelly High School. Nancy Barry, who graduated in 1967, started and leads Women's World Banking. Gihan Ibrahim, from the class of 2005, is an Egyptian journalist and activist. Casey Johnson, class of 2008, swam for the United States at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games and won a bronze medal in the freestyle relay in 2004.

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