San Marcos High School

Posted: October 26, 2025

San Marcos High School is overall a pretty good school, the academics and community are strong, and my son has had mostly positive experiences there. However, I’ve been disappointed with his coach, Alex Turner, who has come across as unprofessional and arrogant in several interactions. His attitude has made it difficult for my son to feel supported and motivated on the team. It’s unfortunate, because with a more respectful and encouraging approach from the coaching staff, the athletic program could be just as impressive as the rest of the school.

Posted: October 26, 2025

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Posted: September 29, 2025

When I went to pick up my brother from school, I encountered the campus supervisor before I reached the main office. Unfortunately, the supervisor questioned me quite thoroughly, almost as if I were under investigation, asking about my purpose on campus. It felt as though I was being singled out, especially since two other individuals passed by without any interruption. This left me with a sense of being targeted based on my appearance, which was disheartening. If the campus supervisor is going to stop people, it would be helpful to have a sign informing visitors that they might be stopped. After all, he’s a campus supervisor and not a police officer, and since I wasn’t going into the campus, it felt unnecessary to be questioned so thoroughly.

Posted: September 29, 2025

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Posted: June 23, 2022

this is a great school, they have many nice traditions, supportive staff and great club and sports programs.
there is a lot of community involvement as well, this school gets a lot of support in the surrounding areas.
there are a lot of kids that go here, but kids will be faced with this at an even grander scale when to go off to college, so this is a great practice ground for that.

Posted: June 23, 2022

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Posted: June 23, 2022

This school has defnitely changed over the years. Since this school was rebuilt, we have seen the academics and sports program just take off. They have a great selection of teachers, their sports programs has really expanded and become very competitive.
All 3 of our kids have gone to this school and we could not be more happy with their opportunities and experiences that this school has provided to them.
Yes there are a LOT of kids that go to this school, but it is a very large school building - and really in a big school it is a fantastic way to prepare your kids of what is to come in college.

Posted: June 23, 2022

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Posted: February 10, 2022

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Posted: February 10, 2022

The school is very overcrowded. Teachers do not have the time to pay attention to the kids who are falling through the cracks. They do not notify you until the problem is way out of control academically. They do not notify you about discipline issues, until the problem is out of control. They do not notify you about attendance issues, until again... the situation is out of control. A few teachers will answer an email, but most of the time your concerns go unanswered in spite of several attempts. Even with the parent portal, you have a hard time catching a problem before it arises.

My son reports fights, at least once a week, police being needed on campus often, bullying, pranks, slurs about other students and staff. disrespect to teachers and staff. You are told the school takes the Covid policies seriously, but when I had to return something to the school library for my son, I personally saw about 75% of the kids without masks on or under their chins. Lunch is a joke, with 3,000 students all trying to get lunch at the same time and no time to eat once you do get through the line.

With all of these issues, it's not that the school doesn't care, it's that there are way too many students for them to handle and the whole issue with kids trying to return to "normal" is difficult. I think schools would benefit greatly if they addressed the social issues going on, that are preventing learning.

If your kid is self-motivated and can learn on their own, then this school would be fine, but if your kid needs help or structure, then they may struggle greatly as there are not enough resources and teachers do not have the time to help. They do provide tutoring, but it isn't effective, again due to too many students. The homework load is crazy, with some teachers assigning 3 or more projects a day in many classes. Homework can take up to 2 hours. It is a lot to handle.

Posted: September 13, 2021

Posted: September 13, 2021

Posted: September 13, 2021

Posted: September 13, 2021

Spoke to a substitute teacher at this school and she mentioned there is certain classes with 50 students per class and no desk available to some. If this school is so crowded why are there more homes being built? Another high school is needed.

Posted: September 13, 2021

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Posted: September 1, 2021

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Posted: September 1, 2021

My experience at school has been consistently up and down. In this school, I have heard people bullying or saying mean things to others. I have also heard people saying racist things towards other students. And I hear homophobic statements being said consistently. I have been able to stand up for myself and others, but to be honest it is annoying how these students can get away with saying things like this. A recent example of these hateful acts would be today, I was walking from school and all I hear is homophobic slurs being screamed at me by some white San Marcos High School male students, I don't know who they are and they don't even know me to know my sexuality, all they see is a rainbow and they assume I am in the LGBTQ community. For the counselors, my first counselor didn't help me with anything, I wanted to transfer and she just kept making it more complicated than it should have been. My counselor this year is pretty amazing this year though, so I guess it's only some counselors that are useless. This community is good or bad depending on who you are. In class, some students decide that bullying people based on their appearance is still cool, I don't know if teachers know about what is being talked about among the students but they should begin to pay attention. For me, school is easy and I consistently get good grades, I learn really well from the teachers that I have gotten, but it's the students that cause me and others trouble. I am writing this review because I am sick of having to stick up for myself and others while the staff don't seem to have an issue with it, but don't worry if I have to keep doing what I'm doing then I will do it.

Posted: April 15, 2021

Posted: April 15, 2021

Posted: April 15, 2021

Yes, it may be overcrowded, but that's a great thing about this school because it is big enough to hold all the kids that attend it. And if a kid ever feels nervous, we have tons of clubs and sports they can join. Another great thing about the school is, FREE LUNCH! It's amazing I don't have to worry about my lunch every day because the school has it covered (and it's not bad rubbery pizza, it's good stuff). If your kid ever needs help with school, there are ways to get easy free tutoring and clubs to help with homework and classes. The staff is great and easy to talk to about anything in general, they are very understanding.

Posted: April 15, 2021

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Posted: September 22, 2019

All of my children are very different students and the counselors, teachers and APs have all supported them differently! One was in a program that gave her extra supports and encouraged her to take an AP class even though she never thought she could! She did amazing in it and that boosted her confidence as a student!

Posted: September 22, 2019

Posted: September 22, 2019

Overall, I wouldn’t want my children to attend any other high school! We moved out to the district recently and got them transferred back in because we believe in SMHS 100%! (Even though the district we moved into is TOP notch, too!)

Posted: September 22, 2019

I have three children at SMHS who all have a balanced homework load. They have different class loads and varying amounts of homework. They have all had struggles with managing their time efficiently but over their time in Hugh school have learned how to do this successfully.

Posted: September 22, 2019

Though there have been an unsupportive teacher here and there, the majority are amazing! The school (and I) encourage the kids to reach out to their teachers with concerns. Every time one of my kids has done so, the teachers have all been extremely helpful. If the teacher doesn’t know there’s a concern, how can they help?

Posted: September 22, 2019

All 3 of my children have blossomed at SMHS and are growing up with amazing character. They have all shared what they learned in class and at assemblies about character and responsibility. SMHS doesn’t hold our kids’ hands, but gives them tools to succeed on their own (which includes a bit of struggles at times).

Posted: September 22, 2019

I have spoken with the counselors, AP’s and principal about a couple of small things and all have been eager to help and support!

Posted: March 23, 2019

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Posted: March 23, 2019

School is definitely over crowded. But, I’ve had two children attend this school and go off to college prepared.. There are plenty of resources available to help students succeed.

Posted: March 23, 2019

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Posted: February 20, 2019

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Posted: February 20, 2019

Posted: February 20, 2019

2 out of 5. Beautiful on the outside, but rotten on the inside. The classes are overcrowded ( over 40 students in each class 1). This school has a serious discipline problem and the administration does not do much about it. Mission Hills High is a better school, don't be fooled by the rating.

Posted: July 21, 2018

I’m seeing all these terrible reviews but our campus is new and absolutely amazing. Yes, it may be overcrowded and it may be a problem for some kids who can’t deal with large crowds but there are so many clubs and classes for everyone’s liking. Staff are amazing and have proper training. They are so nice and easy to talk to. We also have amazing sports teams that are highly competitive but so fun. Id highly recommend this school!!

Posted: April 23, 2018

Pretty decent actually in terms of attempting to lead, maybe not always outside of the class though.

Posted: April 23, 2018

What I said earier about being a different culture. I had to literally outsmart the office on more than one occasion because I’m different but they think classical goo and bad with a modern loberal twist instead of understanding narrow definitions and foreigns ideals.

Posted: April 23, 2018

3/10 thanks to the good students and teachers who barely managed along with me to get me out of situations narrowly when I was beyond innocent.

Posted: April 23, 2018

Not only do they fail to have decent tutors their teachers lose patience to the ADD students who have trouble keeping up with the others in normal classes when they are too good for the special classes but not good enough for the common classroom.

Posted: April 23, 2018

Only the best in each field are decent. Thank you patient teachers who aren’t making this the complete worst.

Posted: May 17, 2017

This is a fantastic school with a solid grip on discipline. Very strict campus rules and great facility with a ton of communication.

Posted: May 17, 2017

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Posted: November 20, 2016

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Posted: November 20, 2016

In would rate the school 4 out of 5. We are still learning how it all works

Posted: February 28, 2016

Great facility that attracts caring teaches. Great environment, huge student rallies, Europe trips, team sports rock!

Posted: February 28, 2016

Great communication via emai, text, or available by phone. After hours efforts are displayed and you can see they care.

Posted: February 28, 2016

For those that said too much, step up to the occasion. Nothing in life is free, work hard for your future

Posted: February 28, 2016

Conservative values that teach respect, honesty, and demand hard work for future development. Brand new facility with great flow, attracts great teachers, expects a lot from students. AP classes and honor classes can be challenging.

Posted: November 22, 2015

Both of my kids have had great teachers, for the most part. There were a few that were mediocre, but that's life!

Posted: November 22, 2015

Personally, I am not a fan of homework. I have read numerous books and articles on the subject, and I honestly feel it is a poor use of time. It creates a great deal of stress for students.

Posted: November 22, 2015

Students are encouraged to be responsible, and the administration does not tolerate bad behavior. Not fun when you're kid is on that end, but I support them!

Posted: November 22, 2015

I have a senior and freshman at this school Not only is it a beautiful campus, but there is a great sense of Knight pride! Both of my sons are active in sports, which has been great. The teachers work VERY hard to provide a rigorous experience for their students. Although classes are big, it is not their fault. They do the best with what they have, and I am SO appreciative!

Posted: August 9, 2015

Like I keep saying, you get what you give. If you engage the teachers, they will engage you.
Choose to go into more rigorous classes and you will find that help will find you even if it is too hard. The teachers respect that.

Posted: August 9, 2015

It honestly depends. I know kids in regular College Prep courses that would skate by with doing near nothing. On the other hand, if you were balancing four AP courses, it could get out of hand. Like everything else, you get out what you put in.

Posted: August 9, 2015

Absolutely. This school has character in its motto. Good character is at the core of what it means to be knight. The Knights of the Round Table and Knights of the Year are not just academically talented, they are well rounded, wholly engaged people.
Of course, it is big enough for kids to slide past, getting by through a mixture of cheating and apathy. This happens everywhere however. San Marcos has a pride that takes hold of kids and instills in them the idea that that pattern of behavior isn't what it is all about.
I was there when we came into the new school. The change I saw was incredible. Students became more alive, more responsive. They were taking ownership in the school. Everyone was part of the movement to boost its character.
Perhaps things have change, but even if its just a thread of that momentum that still exists, San Marcos will be doing okay.

Posted: August 9, 2015

I'll be honest, I had a bit of an exemplary time at this school. I was treated well, and the school worked well for me.
One of the recurring things that I see in the negative reviews from San Marcos is that it is big. This much is true, but it does not mean that you have to be treated like a number. If you make the commitment to get involved, you will find your niche somewhere. Of every school I've visited/heard of/had friends at, this is especially true at San Marcos.
When I graduated, there was no place like San Marcos in North County. No other school could boast the pride that we had. For the most part, this extended as far as every member of the campus, should they want to participate. Of course, there were groups who weren't involved, or who didn't feel included, but we could only do so much as a student body to reach everyone.
Though it seems challenging, the honors and AP programs are incredibly rewarding. For those of you complaining about teachers, the instructors in those programs were some of the most inspiring, engaging and talented individuals I have met in my entire life (lookin' at you, St. John, Pluciennik and Sabato).
That being said, you get what you give. If you treat even the best instructors like you would rather be anywhere else in their class, they will treat you like they want anyone else in their class.
As for the people complaining about the social environment, drugs are a thing these days. They are not going away. Comparative to other schools, what happens at San Marcos is relatively tame. Of course there is pot, and people drink. But long gone are the days of any real hard drug use or destructive substance abuse. In my four years I saw just about every side of the San Marcos night life, and ventured into surrounding cities. I can tell you that Vista, LCC and Mission all have some more serious issues that San Marcos does when it comes to illicit activities. You would be hard pressed to find a more safe environment in a traditional school.
All in all, I have to say that I think San Marcos is one of the best schools in North County. It has serious potential for anyone- all you have to do is take advantage of it. The sports are coming back. Football, basketball and lacrosse are all gaining momentum to become great programs (this does of course mean that they are becoming more competitive). But its good. Probably the best

Posted: July 31, 2015

My son entered in 2014 as a happy, excited freshman. He was looking forward to playing football and basketball for his school. He finished the year a totally different kid. He enjoyed the football season, was played less then 10 times and did not make the basketball team. Out of 60 freshmen they took 14 kids. The high school coach is a coach for a major travel team (something I did not know about, and probably could not afford) most of those kids of course made the team, and then you have other kids who parents work at the school. This was extremely upsetting to my son who got "cut" in the second round after being told he was right on the cusp of making it, (he is 6'1", 155 lbs). When a teenager cannot play the sport he loves and is good at, you can only imagine the self destructing process. This school is VERY overcrowded, 2,400 students last year. They do not have the supportive staff needed for this many teenagers. Drugs are everywhere and very available. The campus staff treats the teens like they are criminals. Our experience is that they have NO experience in how to professionally deal with teenagers. My son stated many times that there is no motivation in most of his classes, that the teachers were not motivating. He had 2 teachers that did a great job, but the rest I give an F. I am a mother of 3 and my 2 older sons graduated from this school 5 years ago with no problems, they played sports and had a good time. However that was when the school consisted of 900 students. This school needs major restructuring on the inside to go with the outside. You cannot run it the same way when you have tippled the amount of students. My son will not be returning here, he will be going to a charter school where he will get more guidance and be treated like a young man and get to play his favorite sport.

Posted: July 31, 2015

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Posted: June 13, 2015

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Posted: June 13, 2015

Just did a search because I was curious and saw the negative reviews. Feeling better because I have had a tough time at San Marcos. Everyone here feels like a number and the teachers and aps are always angry and not interested. School is more interested in bumping up the api score than actualy teaching us anything - and i am in the honors/ap program. Wish I went to LCC or even Mission (and that says something).

Posted: June 9, 2015

Very few are worthy of any kudos. They are quick to inform parents of how they are overworked and the classes overcrowded. This is like an inner-city environment ... high pressure with few resources ... and everyone is very vocal about it.

Posted: June 9, 2015

Posted: June 9, 2015

SMHS encourages anything that avoids open discussion, honesty and integrity. The administrative staff is often bullying and quite rude. We haven't had any personal confrontations, but the stories are endless - and from highly credible sources. I will say that even if you have an honor student, there are no points for personal credibility in any situation.

Posted: June 9, 2015

Explore other area schools before signing on the dotted line for this one. Our family moved into the district, because we'd heard great things ... but that appears to be more hype than reality. The classes are overcrowded, and the majority of the teachers simply cannot handle the numbers. Curriculum is sub-par by area standards, and there is no desire to push the envelope. Very few graduates attend schools one would consider superior ... and counselors certainly do not guide students toward appropriate goals. When 4.0+ students are stretching to attend Long Beach State, there's a problem. Awful. Terrible. Consider another town, go private if you can finance it, or take a tour of High Tech High. Sports? Great, but not a reason to attend a school as few athletes pursue sports (or are granted scholarships) beyond high school.

Posted: April 26, 2015

I hear a lot of talk about our amazing new campus. It's true; we have an incredible new campus equipped with all of the latest technology. However, with a large campus comes lots of students - 3,000 to be more precise. This school is super over-crowded and I do not recommend t to anyone who has issues being around large crowds. The staff of San Marcos High is not very friendly. The supervisors have harassed friends of mine and so have office administrators. However, most students absolutely adore the counseling staff and they are all very helpful. The classes are top-notch but they're very challenging, which can be good for getting into college but many students struggle with them. If you choose to go to SMHS, you will cry more often than you bargained for, but in the end, it's not a terrible experience. I personally have not enjoyed my 2 years at SMHS and I do not plan on attending next year, but I'd recommend looking into this school and its programs before deciding to attend because it is definitely the right school for some.

Posted: June 13, 2014

top notch sports teams, zero tolerance bullying, lots of clubs, strong sense of pride and beautiful brand new campus with top notch technology

Posted: December 16, 2013

I can go on about this school, but i won't! Let just say you are better of sending your kids to a charter school! Specially if your kids are mexican! I'm not going to get into details about this, lets just say some teachers are perverts! The assistant pricipal MR. Zeith thinks his the owner if your child! He will BELITTLE YOUR KIDS AND HUMILIATE THEM IN FRONT OF THEIR PEERS! His so out of control with his attitude that the staff will ask him if everything is ok? He needs to learn his place! Don't raise your voice at my child!!

Posted: November 14, 2013

So basically the class of 2012 carried this entire school on its back. The API under this amazing class went from 774 to an all time high of 859 and the school went from unranked to ranked 11 nationally according to US News and World Report. This class fundamentally changed the attitudes of all the staff at the school, who were now uplifted and inspired by how awesome the class of 2012 was. Now that the class of 2012 is gone, the API has slowly dripped from the all time high of 859 to 858 the next year and 857 this year. Also, the school ranking has plummeted off a cliff. As you can see, although no other class can hope to come close to the class of 2012, the positive influence left in 2012's wake has caused all the teachers to be about 329% more effective. If you are to enroll your kid in this school, do so immediately before all of the magic voodoo placed on the staff by the class of 2012 wears off for good and the school reverts back to its middling baseline level. God bless the United States of America.

Posted: September 8, 2013

Currently I wrote a review about my school that wasn't that great. I was very angry with the school at that time. I wish I could take it back. I got the chance to talk with the assistant principle, Mr. Zeait, we discussed what happened. It was just a misunderstanding. He was very cool about it.

Posted: September 5, 2013

This school is probably the worst school I have ever gone to. I am currently a in my second year of high school and the year just stated a few weeks ago. So far I have had three different things stolen from me and today was one of those times. Also today, the assistant principle Mr. Zeait pointed directly at me and said something about how "All you little freshman" should come to the football game. Now, I am a good student so he wasn't mad at me or anything. I guess that he thought that it would be a good I idea to point me out and not only say what he did, but honestly it hurt my feelings. Obviously, I'm writing this because I'm very frustrated with the San Marcos High school as a whole. I know parents may write awesome things about how great their kids high school is but honestly you should probably take some advice from someone who has to go there almost every single day. Thank you for reading, I hope this helped.

Posted: April 28, 2013

SMHS is a school that keeps improving. The AAPLE academy is awesome and allows kids to challenge themselves at the top level. The creation of the Entrepreneurship Academy is such a brilliant idea! Teachers there are wonderful and care for their students. World History teacher Mr Burrows is incredible but so are Ms Mandarino, Mr Bausbach, Mr Roth and Mr Holdren! San Marcos deserves to be more recognized. And the students there are much more friendly and humble than in Dos Pueblos or in Santa Barbara High. It is simply a nice community! I am very happy my child is part of the Royals.

Posted: March 22, 2013

Overall I am very pleased with this school. It has a very positive vibe and the teachers are very conscientious. I enjoyed the Shadow your Knight day and was impressed with each teacher. I asked my child if the teachers were always that awesome, and he said yes. I love the school spirit of this school. We love going to the basketball games. My ONLY complaint so far is that I was very unimpressed with one teacher (I won't elaborate), and administration absolutely REFUSED to let my child switch teachers. I was told he COULD switch teachers but he'd have to drop honors. I felt this was very unfair. I have never asked to switch teachers with any of my children in ten years. I have always taught my kids that they have to get along with whomever they get as a teacher. I knew this teacher was not a good fit for my child. I am still upset about this. Anyhow, other than that...AWESOME!

Posted: May 29, 2012

Unfortunately, the US News ranking is based on inaccurate data from the federal government. Still look forward to my kids attending, and think it's a fine school.

Posted: May 23, 2012

Hey people, just look at U.S. News ranking of high school's in CA and you'll see SMHS ranked #3. That is a huge achievement and should be acknowledged. I have 5 kids and none go to SMHS, but I am thinking of relocating and this is one of the areas I am looking at, just because of the school.

Posted: November 20, 2011

I struggled initially with letting my kids attend SMHS. My perception was one of a lesser quality of education and on campus concerns. I now have a senior and freshman at SMHS and couldn't be more pleased with what they have and are experiencing at the HS. My senior now has the opportunity to attend a number of top level colleges due to his HS achievements. If you take advantage of what is offered at SMHS and choose to get involved, there is no better HS in the county, but that is a matter of choice. I glad we didn't spend the equivalent of college tuition to send our kids to a private school or get lured in to the need to attend LCC or TP, even despite the inconvenience of the construction.

Reviewed: October 24, 2017

I attended 4 years at this school & loved my high school years there! Diversity there is great and just over all the environment was amazing! Always something to do!