Del Norte High School

An enjoyable learning experience for most students attending

Not for non white students unless your an athlete

I am a freshman that just moved here from the Carlsbad/San Marcos area and I have been attending Del Norte for about 4 months now, and it couldn't be worse. Yes, the academics are off the charts, but it seems as though that is the one area they excell in. The people in 4s Ranch are undeniably the worst people I have come across. A vast majority of students are rude, arrogant, and cocky. A popular pastime among the Nighthawks is gossiping. This school also has a "clique-ish" feel to it and makes it hard to fit in. The athletics is also a considerable weak area within the school. Coaches are not efficient and tend to favor the kids who played for local teams. If you would like your child to have a good time during high school, send them to any school but Del Norte. Some of the better and more welcoming campuses in the county are Torrey Pines, La Costa Canyon, San Marcos, and Carlsbad.

We have 2 kids at Del Norte and have had such a positive experience during our time here. As a military family, we moved here 2 years ago and chose this area of San Diego based on the Poway school district reputation. This is by far the very best school our kids have attended! Both our kids have found it easy to make friends and become a part of the academic and athletic communities. The principal is amazing and inspires these kids to be better citizens. The teachers and coaches are the most professional we have ever dealt with. I couldn't agree more with the reviewer who said that it is like a private school education. Can't say my kids feel there is too much emphasis on money -- our kids have attended schools all across the country and sadly, that is just something that exists in a lot of places these days. Del Norte has a lot of students who come from families that value hard work, integrity and excellence in academics.