The San Dieguito Union High School District serves students from five districts in North County: Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Cardiff, Solana Beach, and Del Mar. It is also composed of five elementary schools, five middle schools, as well as five North County high schools.
Booming population growth and demographic diversity have characterized North County high schools in the past 15 years. Families from all parts of the world are attracted to its inviting climate and exceptional learning institutions, enriching the schools with a wide variety of languages and cultural backgrounds. From surfers to scientists, this district represents a broad range on the socio-economic spectrum.
Many parents are employed at neighboring institutions such as the University of California, San Diego; the Scripps Institute of Oceanography; the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation; nearby biotechnology firms in Sorrento Valley; and high tech giants like Qualcomm, all of which influence the high standards of education and expectations throughout the San Dieguito Union High School District.
San Dieguito Academy
San Diego Metro
Founded in 1936, San Dieguito Academy started out as the first high school in the district for grades 8-12. It is now one of two academies in San Dieguito Union High School District and was designed to be a “school of choice” for all students in the district. If there aren’t enough spaces for incoming students, the district hosts a lottery.
The schedule is unique in that is operates on a “4×4 block,” in which students take 4 classes each semester that equate to a full year, similar to a college schedule. Because of this, the coursework is very fast paced and academically challenging. The beauty of the 4×4 block is that students can take approximately 10 more classes than they could at a traditional high school and can thus take more elective courses and AP courses to build their college application resume. Although the academics are top notch, the mission and vision of the school is to be a place of inclusion. Walking around campus, you’ll see students from all backgrounds and peer groups. Many students interested in the arts and theater mingle with surfers and National Merit Scholars.
Torrey Pines High School
Times of San Diego
Torrey Pines, the largest school in the district, was named one of the Top 100 High Schools in the country. TPHS boasts a robust Division-1 athletic department and has earned the most CIF championships of any school in the county. Students from Del Mar, Solana Beach and Rancho Santa Fe school districts, with the exception of the area north of Escondido Creek in the Rancho Santa Fe School are eligible to attend. Seventy-eight percent of Torrey Pines graduates plan to attend a 4-year university, while 86% of the students that take AP exams achieving a passing score. TPHS is an excellent option for students who thrive in a large school, enjoy sports, and are passionate about education.
Canyon Crest Academy
CBS8
Canyon Crest, the newest school in the district, is another school of choice on the 4×4 block schedule. Canyon Crest is located at the south end of the district along highway 56. This school boasts the highest academic performance of all four high schools when it comes to test scores, college bound students, and AP exam passing scores. It also offers unique programs that students can participate in such as Envision, a program designed to inspire and train future artists, and Quest where students are engaged in all aspects of science and are given the opportunity to observe and conduct original scientific research. Due to its high achieving students, Canyon Crest is the most competitive of the four North County high schools. However, with many extracurricular activities and unique programs, students can find their niche beyond the textbook.
La Costa Canyon High School
ESPN
La Costa Canyon serves students from Encinitas, La Costa, and north Rancho Santa Fe. It is the second largest of the North County high schools and also has a robust athletics department with many CIF division championships under its belt. Set on a pristine and beautifully landscaped campus, LCC is the most eye pleasing of the schools in the district. They received a grant from NASA last year in order to implement a FIRST Robotics Competition team. LCC also has an excellent speech and debate team, ranking in the top 400 in the nation. Furthermore, LCC features rigorous, college level AP coursework in many disciplines ranging from Calculus to Studio Art. This school is an excellent choice for any student seeking a well-rounded education on a truly state-of-the-art campus setting.
*(Information from http://www.sduhsd.net/About-SDUHSD/index.html)
