San Marcos Senior High School

In three days, my son will graduate from this school and it couldn't be sooner. Yes, some students do thrive here, but most fall through the cracks. There is no sense of community and the parents who run the school explain what it means to be a "Royal." What a joke of a school and our other child chose DP after witnessing the dysfunction of SMHS. Stay away!

My son was beat up by 4 West side gang members after school. The administrators did nothing about it. Because he only knew one of the guys, they did not even try to find out who the others were. I feel like if my son had been a minority and the gang members white, it would have been a different story.The campus police said he didn't want to ruin his rapport with the one boy we did identify. I've never seen anything like this. I had to go above the school to the board and local legislature before anyone took it serious. They tried to make my son, the victim, feel bad, instead of the perpetrators. Kind of like blaming a rape victim for getting raped. His vice principal never would return my calls or emails unless I cc'd the principal. We are from Nashville, and I just had a lot higher expectations out here.

Best kept secret in Santa Barbara. Great teachers and great kids. So happy we transferred districts to be here. The other high schools just don't come close to comparing.

The AAPLE Program is amazing. My daughter is so well prepared for university. Equally as important is that my daughter has loved the program, the school and really enjoys everything about SMHS. I went to SBHS and was a bit sad when my daughter didn't want to follow family tradition, but I feel she got everything that she needed and wanted. She loves going to school each day and loves her teachers (in particular AP Chemistry, AP History, Year Book and Tennis). Nothing is more important to a parent than this balance in education--excellent teachers, administrators, students, program/curriculum and the school grounds are looking so, so good. Way to go SMHS--go Royals. Cheers for the principal, Mr. Behrens and the AAPLE director, Mr. Nielson.