In 1855, Mother Baptist Russell and the Sisters of Mercy opened a night school for adults on Vallejo Street, San Francisco. The late auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco James T. O'Dowd, who was then the Archdiocesan Superintendent of Schools, requested that the Sisters of Mercy provide a secondary school for the Catholic girls in the Sunset, Lakeside, and Park Merced districts. As a result, Mercy High School was opened on September 3, 1952 with a class of 199 freshmen in a partially completed building. Nearly two years later, the original building was completed in 1954.

On June 11, 1956, a class of 173 seniors received diplomas and became the first graduating class of Mercy High School. The achievement of Mercy's first graduating class placed the high school on the list of secondary schools accredited by the University of California

University of California

The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...

 without delay. In 1958, Mercy High School became a charter member among schools accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association

Western Catholic Education Association

Western Catholic Education Association is an educational accreditation agency for Roman Catholic schools in part of the United States. It is based in Fullerton, California.-See also:*History of Catholic education in the United States...

. In 1964, Mercy High School was accredited by the newly formed Secondary Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Western Association of Schools and Colleges

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...

. The school is also a member of the National Catholic Educational Association

National Catholic Educational Association

The National Catholic Educational Association is a private professional educational association of over 200,000 educators in Catholic schools, universities, and religious education programs...

.

Academics

Mercy offers a four-year college preparatory program, which includes advanced placement and honors courses in English, mathematics, science, foreign language, and history. Religious education classes are mandatory and an important component of the curriculum. The fine arts program is one of the most diverse in the Bay Area, and the athletic and speech programs have received state level recognition. Mercy's student government program has also received the highest award from the California Association of Student Councils

California Association of Student Councils

The California Association of Student Councils is a non-profit, student led, student run youth leadership and advocacy organization.- Overview :...

.

Clubs

Amnesty International

Anime

California Scholarship Federation

Campus Life Team

Classic Film Club

Community Service

Dance Committee

Dolce (Chorus/Glee Club)

Global-Eyes

Green Team

Kaleidoscope (Multicultural Club)

Mercy Athletic Association

Legacy (Literary Magazine)

Math Club

National Honor Society

Performing Arts Association

Photo Club

Science Club

Talking Heads (Speech)

Wav Tech (Technology Club)

Yearbook

Alma mater

Mercy will keep us ever,

True to the land we honor and love;

Mercy lives on forever;

Honoring the Queen we serve above.

With hands of hearts together,

Through the happy years;

Strong is our chorus!

All lies before us!

Our Mercy spirit we cheer;

Here's to Mercy High,

Lift our banners to the sky!

Daring to do or die,

'Til all of our glory is won!

Proudly we sing to you,

In loyalty cling to you,

With true hearts we bring to you

Our tribute of love fore'ev

Hear our song, loud the call,

Come along, one and all,

Join the marching of the Red and the White

Life will ever be a pledge of loyalty,

Live on to honor thee,

Mercy High, All hail to thee!

Notable alumni

• Joanne Hayes-White, San Francisco Fire Chief
• Kimberly Guilfoyle
  Kimberly Guilfoyle
  Kimberly Guilfoyle is an American cable news personality and is currently one of the rotating co-hosts on The Five on Fox News Channel at 5 pm EST , as well as the host of an Internet-only crime-related program for Fox News...
  
  , Fox News personality
• Patricia Ziegler
  Patricia Ziegler
  Patricia Ziegler and her husband Mel Ziegler were the founders of the clothing retailer Banana Republic. Along with William Rosenzweig, they also co-founded the Republic of Tea. They eventually sold both companies....
  
  , Founder of Banana Republic