Summary:
The San Marcos Unified school district operates four public high schools serving grades 9-12, including two large traditional high schools and two smaller alternative programs, educating over 6,100 students in the San Marcos area of California.
For families considering the two main comprehensive high schools, Mission Hills High stands out with the highest English proficiency rate (58%) and the best student attendance record among its peers, while San Marcos High shows particular strength in science, especially for 12th graders. Both schools have strong graduation rates above 93%, significantly exceeding the state average, and the district as a whole performs better than California averages in English, math, and science. However, both schools have seen some recent declines in their statewide rankings.
The district also includes two smaller schools serving specific needs: Foothills High has an exceptional 98% daily attendance rate, demonstrating highly effective student engagement, while Twin Oaks High, an alternative school, receives the highest funding per student and has very small classes but faces significant challenges with student attendance and academic proficiency, highlighting that additional resources alone do not guarantee success for students facing substantial barriers.
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