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San Dieguito Academy

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
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]

San Dieguito High School Academy was ranked 130 on Newsweek's most recent (2006) list of the Best High Schools in America.[2]

"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.

Contents 1 History 2 A School of Choice 3 Athletics 4 Notable alumni 5 External links

The school was founded in 1936 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.[3]

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,[4] designed the school buildings, most of which are still standing.[5]

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, or San Dieguito Academy.[6]

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.

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.

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.

• Matt Almos, theatre director/writer, founding member of Burglars of Hamm [11]
• Linda Benson, World Champion surfer (retired) [12]
• Sahara Bynre, Assistant Professor, Cornell University [13]
• Carl Chang (tennis player) and 1996 "Coach of the Year" in Tennis magazine
• Michael Chang, professional tennis player (retired)
• Jake Coban, member of punk band, Career Soldiers [14]
• Kate Conklin, classically trained soprano, Fulbright Scholarship winner, former Cirque du Soleil vocalist [15]
• Josh Covitt, independent movie producer [16]
• Tom Dempsey, professional American football NFL player (retired)
• Jakob Djernes, exchange student 2001, now student at Aarhus School of Business
• Joe Drago, movie producer, actor[17]
• Russell Edge, actor [18]
• John Fairchild, Professional Basketball Player LA Lakers Anaheim Amigos - Retired
• Jon Foreman, singer/songwriter/guitarist, Switchfoot
• Tim Foreman, bassist/back-up vocals, Switchfoot
• Tak Fujimoto, cinematographer
• Aaron Goldin, winner of the 2004 Siemens Westinghouse Competition
• Frankie Hejduk, professional soccer player (USA, MLS and Bundesliga)
• Chris Hillman, Bassist, The Byrds
• Keith Kartz, professional American football NFL player - Center Denver Broncos (retired)
• Jenelle Lantagne, All-American volleyball player and coach
• Nicole Lantagne, head coach women's volleyball, Miami Hurricanes [19]
• Mark Lessman, jazz saxaphonist [20]
• Jake Loban, member Gay Porn Activist, Died in 2006 from AIDS
• Rob Machado, professional surfer (semi-retired)
• Nick Ott, Matty Rue, members of The Holy Kiss
• Don Everett Pearce, rock musician [21]
• Ariane Putnam, actor, comedian, member of the Groundlings
• Joel Raatz, reality TV producer [22]
• Shane Salerno, screenwriter, producer and documentary filmmaker
• Anoushka Shankar, world-renowned sitar player, daughter of Ravi Shankar and half sister of Norah Jones [23]
• Erik Sullivan, U.S. National Team volleyball player (retired)
• Michael and Milton Willis, world champion big wave surfers, authors, founders of Willis Bros Company [24]
• Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam
• Jeff Zevely, KFMB San Diego Channel 8 newscaster [25]
• Zoe', noted surf artist [26]
• Greg Minton, Professional American Baseball MLB player - Pitcher SF Giants Retired
• Jon Stanley, Volleyball Hall of Fame, BYU All American,1968 and 1972 USA Olympic Volleyball Team
• Evin Moore, Starred in "[Two Girl's, One Cup][27]"]]

Official Site of San Dieguito Academy [28]

San Dieguito High School Academy Foundation [29]

Mustang Athletics Site [30]

Flickr Photo Tour of SDHS/SDA [31]