San Clemente High School

Posted: June 6, 2025

Posted: June 6, 2025

Posted: June 6, 2025

Posted: June 6, 2025

Posted: June 6, 2025

My experience was horrid. I was assaulted many many times and bullied all throughout my 4 years. I had no support and nobody would do anything about my situations so the problems would just keep continuing to happen. The learning was great but could have been expanded more to other cultures that aren’t just about America. I would not recommend this school to shy students and those with mental health struggles. Some teachers were extremely kind and supportive but the situational handling for students is not good.

Posted: June 6, 2025

Posted: June 6, 2025

Posted: June 6, 2025

Posted: August 26, 2020

Different teachers create their own vibe. For example an AP math teacher will give 4 homework assignments out every 3 days while a Science teacher will give out literally not even a 2nd grade level lab that takes 5 minutes per week.

Posted: August 26, 2020

Depends on what teacher you get. You either get the best of the best 70 year old teachers that are about to retire and have great experience even if the class gets boring or a 22 year old who is laid back and really just teaches for their own good.

Posted: August 26, 2020

OFC a bunch of rich entitled kids. Its Orange County. Southern specifically. You'll find that almost all over OC and there is really nothing you can do about it. Make a good set of friends earlier and the better you will be off.

Posted: August 26, 2020

Eh. We have ASB. Freshman year they get involved to at least make it SEEM like they are extremely involved like a fake image. Then it's like you've never even seen an ASB member again.

Posted: August 26, 2020

They try to but some kids are just beyond not caring.

Posted: August 26, 2020

It's run by the students. If someone snitches, you will loose all your friends. Be careful better off trying to be friends with the populars not against them.

Posted: August 26, 2020

Southern Orange County Coastal Feel. You'll survive if you are very careful about what your appearance is, your friends, etc.

Posted: February 26, 2020

I had an issue come up that I wanted to discuss with the principal. He called me back with a confrontational demeanor rather than a consultative one. He relayed the same excuses I had heard from the vice principal an insulted my intelligence by trying to play 'good cop bad cop' with the information he was giving me. He spoke fast and aggressively, interrupted, talked over me and ultimately insulted my kid. Maybe I caught him on a bad day, but my experience prompted this review.

Posted: February 26, 2020

The principal told me himself that parents with struggling kids have come to him asking for a more customized approach. He scoffed at that, saying if they are doing badly in school, they don't deserve special treatment. Not his exact words, but my take away.

Posted: February 26, 2020

My kid has found a teacher that opens her classroom as a safe haven from bullying. It has made all the difference for my kid. This was a teacher. Administration seems to busy with other things to concern themselves with the kids or parents.

Posted: February 26, 2020

Overall my experience with office staff and administration has been very Negative. Teachers are great, but I read another review about the girls soccer coaching staff which I strongly agree with. I brought my concern to the Athletic Director and he deferred to the coaching staff. The coaching leadership is comprised of evaluators, not coaches. I don't see true investment in the development of the character these young ladies. Girls were getting seriously injured in practice scrimmages, and coaches did nothing to discourage the behavior. There are 'favorites' and girls with potential, yearning for a coach, get stepped on, made to feel less than, and pushed out. These are girls that made the team. The amount of great girls that leave the program year of year is alarming but the Athletic director and administration does nothing. San Clemente used to have a nationally ranked, amazing team. It continues to deteriorate year over year, and concerned parents are discouraged from speaking out. In fact they generally feel that if they advocate for the daughter, their daughter will be punished. It's a very discouraging situation.

Posted: February 26, 2020

Guidance doesn't really guide students. May not be this school alone, could be our school system in general. I believe they are doing what they can, but there is a lack of real interest in getting kids the support they need to get to where they want to go. Administration cares less that guidance does. If your kid doesn't fit into the box they 'system' has set up, they are doomed. Administrators become irritated with parents who are trying to advocate for their kids. From the front office to the principal's office my friendly smile is met with short, irritated, annoyed responses. Each time I have had to interact with the school, I have been met with rudeness. I get that office staff and administrators have to deal with many parents, but do you have to be so rude?

Posted: February 26, 2020

My experience with teachers has been really good. Most are responsive to email and will keep communication prompt and effective.

Posted: February 26, 2020

Kids at this school are not inclusive. If you are different in any way, you are in for a really hard time. There is a real problem with bullying and drugs and when the administration treats parents the way they do, nothing will get done.

Posted: September 16, 2019

The teachers try their best to help you succeed and help is offered in every class and we have time dedicated to if you need help with homework.

Posted: September 16, 2019

They all genuinely care and they know that school can be tough but they want to be able to help.

Posted: September 16, 2019

The teachers are inspiring and make us want to do our best. We do our best to impress.

Posted: September 16, 2019

Many people in the student body take a leadership roll at San Clemente High and they promote all sorts of change wether it be helping keep beaches clean or even just to support people. I

Posted: September 16, 2019

Posted: September 16, 2019

Posted: September 16, 2019

I love my school. I always feel like I have someone to talk to if I need help. Definitely 10/10

Posted: April 25, 2019

Posted: April 25, 2019

Most of the teachers could care a less about there students, and the supervisors love to sit in their golf carts terrifying the students and parents.

Posted: April 25, 2019

Posted: April 25, 2019

Posted: April 25, 2019

Posted: April 25, 2019

Posted: April 25, 2019

I had one daughter graduate last year, with a terrible experience and hating going to school everyday. Teachers are mean she said, and kids are very egotistical, and drugs are definetely a big problem. Now, I have a freshman there, who said she will not go back to the school next year, for the same reasons. I Also, would not recommend any girl to play for the girls soccer program. The coaches are not leaders, they act like the high school students with there favorites getting play time and encourage varsity players to haze the freshman and play rough with them.

Posted: January 10, 2019

I’ve seen many fights. The supervisors just sit around driving by in their carts until the fight is done THEN they go and help.

Posted: January 10, 2019

Horrible. It feels like a 2nd grader set up this school. The entire system is bad.

Posted: January 10, 2019

They don’t know how to actually give out homework. In my math class, they teach about the homework and then give you the homework. GOOD. But in all the others they kinda just give you the homework without teaching about it so I end up looking up a lot of it.

Posted: January 10, 2019

All of my teachers except for my Spanish teacher are great. My Spanish teacher is HORRIBLE. Honestly, he should be fired! He gives us worksheet and tells us to finish it without even helping people who don’t understand it. Last time I asked for help during TUTORIAL he just said I should know this by now. He also set up the class where I can barely see where I sit. I told him that and he said that I could see it because I wore glasses. I actually can’t because, one my eye sight is horrible and two there is a glare on the screen.

Posted: January 10, 2019

Almost all kids are stuck up 24/7 and aren’t nice. The teachers being rude doesn’t help.

Posted: January 10, 2019

Some teachers help some others don’t at all.

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: September 16, 2017

Great school! Coming from a small private school to a large public school I was a little worried. I am so impressed with how kind the students are with new students to make them feel welcomed. The staff has been wonderful!

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: January 13, 2017

It's my junior year and I haven't had a single bad experience at this high school. I'm on the waterpolo team and it's a great bond that I share with all of my teammates. I couldn't imagine going to any other school. One town one team!

Posted: January 13, 2017

Posted: January 13, 2017

Posted: January 13, 2017

Posted: January 13, 2017

Posted: January 13, 2017

Posted: January 13, 2017

Posted: November 12, 2016

I graduated from SCHS but was lucky enough to start my freshman year at an excellent high school prior to moving to San Clemente. Most of SCHS graduates don't even get their college degree. There is no push from the school to entice these kids to pursue college. Very little, if any, academic advising for a path to a university. As well as no push to get these kids to aim for the best grades. The culture here is too laid back. Kids are quitting core classes just because they feel like it, not understanding how this will set them back if they do try to move on to college. Little to no career days. It's a high school, so your kids can check that box, but beyond that this establishment needs a major overhaul. These kids won't be exposed to much here.

Posted: April 23, 2016

Just teachers that don't care. Distracted by personal projects, watched a lot of movies even in AP classes.

Posted: April 6, 2015

We moved to San Clemente from NJ (August 2014) and I had many concerns about sending our son to SCHS his freshman year. The large number of students and campus in need of a face lift was quite intimidating. Not to mention we were new to the area and my son can be quite shy. We arrived the week of registration and though the office staff were quite stressed and not friendly they were efficient. We pushed our son to find a few clubs he would enjoy. He audtioned for the choir, signed up for drama, and joined a card club. The staff and students involved in drama and vocal arts were amazing and welcoming. He truly found a home away from home with these groups at SCHS. The school is large but there truly is something for everyone. We have enjoyed watching our son grow socially and emotionally this year. There are some great kids who attend this school and so far the staff have been wonderful.

Posted: January 18, 2015

Not a great HS at all. Needs upgrading and complete overhaul. Overcrowded with many issues.

Posted: August 13, 2014

Overall a terrible school. No conditions for 3000 students;maybe 1500 max! Not even enough bathrooms. All my time at this school was wasted in absurdly long bathroom lines to wait for disgusting and leaking toilets barely fit for use. Most cafeteria food sucks and lack of resources for all these people. The majority of my teachers were nonchalant and uninspiring, assigning copious amounts of busy work. Also, most people at this school are very cliquey, closed-off and rude. Couldn't be happier to get out of this hell hole.

Posted: March 15, 2014

The last review should have 5 stars across the board. Please fix. Hopefully someone at Great Schools can fix it. If read you will notice the review does not match the star rating.

Posted: August 23, 2013

Because our family has had such a positive experience at SCHS, I wanted to submit this review. Our goal for high school for our kids was for them to get the education and experience to be successful in college and in their futures. SCHS has done this. The teachers, school staff and their advisors in particular have all been great. Being on a campus with 3000 students at first was intimidating, but I really feel its a great experience to prepare for college, and once the kids get familiar with the campus, they were fine. I've heard that people say drugs and alcohol use is prevalent at SCHS, but from talking to friends and family, it's prevalent at most high schools across the country. As parents it's our responsibility to know what our kids are doing and address that with them.

Posted: June 20, 2013

I graduated from San Clemente High School ("SCHS") in 2007 and then attended UCLA. I would argue that there are two "tracks," and implicitly two different schools, within SCHS: honors/AP/IB, and everything else. I did the former of the two, so my experience and comments are limited therein. I had an excellent experience at SCHS, particularly in the International Baccalaureate program where deeper thinking, not simply rote learning, was encouraged. Students in the honors/AP/IB track generally know the same kids for four years, and that fosters both a sense of community and one of hard competition (net positive). Nearly every teacher has at least a masters degree in their subject (again in the honors/AP/IB route) and most were outstanding instructors, not just knowledge stores. Students rarely lack extracurricular activity options (orchestra, band, multitudes of sports, dance, theater, etc.) and many of those are nationally and regionally ranked and well-respected. I strongly recommend taking any classes from Kathleen Sigafoos, Patrick Harris, Lisa Kerr, Jeff Kolasa, Jennifer Morris, Rob O'Rear, Allison Schick, Rob Urquidi, Pat Wilsey, and Duncan Wilson.

Posted: May 29, 2013

SCHS is a terrible school! The school is wayy over croweded, the teachers here dont care,very low bugets to do anything and it has a serious drug problem!

Posted: February 2, 2013

SCHS has been a great school for my daughter, who is currently a junior. They offer a variety of classes that other schools may not. From fashion to surfing classes, there are many options for kids who want to explore the courses that may very well turn out to be professions for them one day. As for the drug issue, there are many kids who are involved with it, however, in my opinion it seems more like a county wide problem rather than a school problem. We are a military family and not exactly in the same financial bracket as many of the other parents. I have noticed that much of the problem lies with parents who are so busy making money that they tend to ignore the needs of their kids. Some of these kids are given as much as 6,000 a month to do as they please! Eventually they are going to turn to drugs without parental support and free spending. My daughter has a good head on her shoulders and we don't have that kind of money so she has stayed on the right course. If you stay involved in your kids lives, most likely you will not have an issue.

Posted: January 2, 2013

I attended this school in 2012, and the school may seem nice at a glance. However, there is a SERIOUS drug problem and students can often be found engaging in extremely inappropriate PDA everywhere. Bullying is extremely common, but campus is generally well-maintained . There is an over-emphasis on sports over academics, as well as a low budget and lack of discipline.