The late Monsignor Mateo Sheedy, the pastor of Sacred Heart Church of San José, saw the children of his parish struggle to finish high school, resulting in limited educational and career opportunities. Early adolescence is a critical stage in the lives of young people, and Fr. Mateo envisioned a school that would provide the academic, spiritual, and emotional support needed to break the cycle of poverty through education. Fr. Mateo invited the Jesuits to start a middle school so that the Latino youth of his parish would have a greater opportunity to succeed.  In the early months of 2000, a Jesuit, Fr. Peter Pabst, became available to undertake this project, bringing with him the Nativity model of education.

In early 2001, under the combined guidance of the Jesuits, the Diocese of San José, and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, the task of rehabilitating the 50-year-old Sacred Heart School began. The first sixth grade class of boys began in September of 2001. To complete Fr. Mateo’s dream, Our Lady of Grace Nativity School for Girls was opened in July of 2006.

Our families have an average income of $34,000 and are only asked to pay $100 per month to cover activity fees. Currently, 96% of the youth we serve are Latinx, most are from immigrant families living within the surrounding neighborhood area, and English is likely not the primary language spoken in the home.

The Sacred Heart Nativity Schools transform lives through education by laying the foundation for young students to succeed in college prep high school programs, post-secondary education (college, trade/tech/vocational, military service), and beyond. The Schools provide a Catholic education for students of low-income families with priority given to those of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish community. 

In the Jesuit tradition, Nativity scholars are guided and accompanied as they deepen their relationship with God to become people for others.

We are a Jesuit, faith-based Nativity middle school.  Located in the Washington Gardner neighborhood of San Jose, we support an underserved, urban community within the Sacred Heart Parish.

We believe that everyone is created in the image of God.  To that end, we provide a holistic education that supports the growth and development of a child intellectually, spiritually, physically, and emotionally.  Our Ignatian tradition nurtures each student to grow within our Catholic faith, to act according to our faith, and to develop a lifelong relationship with God.

Our educational program seeks to create youth who are architects of their own lives and contributing members of their communities. We believe that the NativityMiguel school structure is the most effective model in educating, building healthy self-esteem, and empowering our students.  This includes an extended school day and year, ongoing assessment and inquiry, strong partnerships with our families, and support beyond eighth-grade graduation.

We seek partnerships with our families and parish, to build a community that supports our students, preparing them to be forces of courage, compassion, understanding, insight, and moral fortitude in the world.

We instill in our students the Jesuit, faith-based commitments beyond oneself, to become people of competence, conscience, and compassion.