San Dieguito Academy

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San Dieguito Academy
Image:San dieguito academy.jpg
Principal/Headmaster Barbara Gauthier
School type Public
Religious affiliation None
Founded 1936
Location Encinitas, California, United States
Enrollment 1,548
Faculty 115
Campus surroundings Suburban
Mascot Mustang
Newspaper The Mustang
Yearbook The Hoofprint
School color(s) Navy blue & white

San Dieguito Academy, originally known as San Dieguito Union High School and San Dieguito High School, is a high school in the San Dieguito Union High School District in Encinitas, California established in 1936.[1] The correct name of the school is San Dieguito High School Academy, although it is more commonly referred to as San Dieguito Academy.[2]

San Dieguito High School Academy was ranked 131 on Newsweek's most recent (2007) list of the Best High Schools in America.[3]

"The Mustang" newspaper is part of the High School National Ad Network.

The Mustang Surf Team won the Red Bull High School Cup in 2007. The surf team also won the 2007 National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Championships that same year.

Contents

[edit] History

The school was founded in 1936 by Brett Neiman as San Dieguito Union High School, the first public high school within the new San Dieguito Union High School District, educating students in grades 8 through 12.[4]

As the campus had not yet been built when school started September 14, 1936, students attended classes in tents. Lillian Rice, one of the first female architects in the United States,[5] designed the school buildings, most of which are still standing.[6]

When San Dieguito High School became a school of choice in the fall of 1996, its name was changed to San Dieguito High School Academy, but it is more commonly referred to as San Dieguito Academy.

[edit] A School of Choice

In 1996 San Dieguito High School was re-designed as a "school of choice" to offer a student centered environment for a maximum of 1,450 students.[7]

All students living within the district may enroll at either La Costa Canyon High School or Torrey Pines High School within their attendance areas, but they are also eligible to attend San Dieguito Academy and Canyon Crest Academy, both of which are designed to be "schools of choice." The name "academy" signifies the difference between a regular district high school and a school of choice.

One hallmark of a San Dieguito Union High School District academy is a "4x4" class schedule, which means that students may take four 90-minute classes every day during an 18-week course, completing eight classes (80 credits) a year. In a more traditional "rotating block schedule" schedule (in use at La Costa Canyon High School and Torrey Pines High School) students take three of six classes on one day and the other three on the next day, completing six classes (60 credits) a year. [8] (230 credits are required to graduate.)[9]

As a school of choice, any student within the district may attend, as long as space is available. Typically, more students apply than there are available spaces, so a lottery of applicants is conducted to determine who may attend. New students with siblings that already attend SDA are automatically enrolled to the school.

In 1998, the school had roughly 1000 students, and by 2002, had 1500 (population limits of district high schools and academies are required to grow relative to the district). Fall 2003 enrollment was 1462.

[edit] Athletics

San Dieguito Academy is a Division 3 school and a member of the Coastal Conference; student athletes may participate in 18 varsity/junior varsity level sports.[10]

From 1936 to 1995, football was a strong tradition at San Dieguito, but has not been played as a team sport on campus since the school became a district school of choice. Now the homecoming festivities center around an annual flag football game: the faculty vs. the students.

[edit] Robotics

Team Paradox 2102 (TPR) is the official robotics team of SDA and a member of FIRST[11]. They placed third at the San Diego preliminaries[12], and 19th at the Los Angeles regionals[13].

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] External links