Rancho Buena Vista HS or Mission Hills HS? (San Diego, San Marcos: job market, transfer)

[iwaboy]

I realize that number/ratings are not everything.

But if you had the choice between the two schools, which would you choose?

We are moving to this part of N. SD County and I having trouble deciding.

Personally, I think both are fine and we won't can't go wrong at either, but I'm open for opinions.

Please don't say San Marcos HS, I don't believe that is an option.

Thank you in advance.

[hitman619]

Mission Hills is the better of the 3 schools
Academics as wells as sports.

[sdhkshdcny09]

Originally Posted by hitman619

Mission Hills is the better of the 3 schools
Academics as wells as sports.

They aren't better on paper. San Marcos High has had higher test scores for the last 3 years.

As far as athletics, Mission Hills was better for a good number of years, but really only in a few sports like football, volleyball, and basketball. SMHS has dominated them in sports like tennis and wrestling. That has changed recently because San Marcos finally has an enrollment comparable to that of Mission (although still less). When I attended, San Marcos had half as many students as Mission Hills. Now, San Marcos is better at sports. In fact, yesterday 5 different SMHS & MHHS teams faced each other (basketball, wrestling, and soccer) and San Marcos won 4 out of 5 match-ups.

It's still a good school no doubt and I would argue that it's about the same as SMHS, but nothing on paper indicates it's better.

San Marcos & San Elijo have been doing well and are in high demand from local parents, which is why the district is no longer allowing inter/intra district transfers to San Elijo and inter district transfers to San Marcos. The high school gained an additional 160 students in the past year alone. Over 100 the year before that.


To the OP:

I actually lived closer to RBV (and in the City of Vista), but attended San Marcos because the boundaries are funky. It was a good experience and my family has done well there.

RBV has a lot of good programs too, like International Baccalaureate. Personally, I think San Marcos Unified schools are better and have been on an upward trend, while Vista Unified has been on a downward trend. Part of this has been declining enrollments in Vista, which has amplified budget issues brought on by the state of CA. The good thing about Vista are the different options: Mission Vista & Guajome Park being two of them.

You may also want to consider High Tech High.


Let me know if you have any specific questions.

[hitman619]

Originally Posted by rhanifin

They aren't better on paper. San Marcos High has had higher test scores for the last 3 years.

As far as athletics, Mission Hills was better for a good number of years, but really only in a few sports like football, volleyball, and basketball. SMHS has dominated them in sports like tennis and wrestling. That has changed recently because San Marcos finally has an enrollment comparable to that of Mission (although still less). When I attended, San Marcos had half as many students as Mission Hills. Now, San Marcos is better at sports. In fact, yesterday 5 different SMHS & MHHS teams faced each other (basketball, wrestling, and soccer) and San Marcos won 4 out of 5 match-ups.

It's still a good school no doubt and I would argue that it's about the same as SMHS, but nothing on paper indicates it's better.

San Marcos & San Elijo have been doing well and are in high demand from local parents, which is why the district is no longer allowing inter/intra district transfers to San Elijo and inter district transfers to San Marcos. The high school gained an additional 160 students in the past year alone. Over 100 the year before that.


To the OP:

I actually lived closer to RBV (and in the City of Vista), but attended San Marcos because the boundaries are funky. It was a good experience and my family has done well there.

RBV has a lot of good programs too, like International Baccalaureate. Personally, I think San Marcos Unified schools are better and have been on an upward trend, while Vista Unified has been on a downward trend. Part of this has been declining enrollments in Vista, which has amplified budget issues brought on by the state of CA. The good thing about Vista are the different options: Mission Vista & Guajome Park being two of them.

You may also want to consider High Tech High.


Let me know if you have any specific questions.

O.P. Mentioned San Marcos is not an Option!
Also test scores never tell the true story of a school imo. My nephew graduated from SMHS in 06 and I can remember people pulling their kids out in groves to send them to Mission Hills.
I can't remember why though, maybe you can shed some light?

[sdhkshdcny09]

Originally Posted by hitman619

O.P. Mentioned San Marcos is not an Option!
Also test scores never tell the true story of a school imo. My nephew graduated from SMHS in 06 and I can remember people pulling their kids out in groves to send them to Mission Hills.
I can't remember why though, maybe you can shed some light?

I know San Marcos is not a consideration. I was addressing your comment that MHHS is the "better of the three schools"!!

Of course they don't tell the whole story. All I'm saying is that there is minimal difference between both schools because they have similar curriculum.

You can't really argue against recent sports records. However, I agree that they don't always tell the whole story. For instance, MHHS achieved a basketball CIF title last year, while San Marcos didn't. San Marcos and Mission shared the league crown, but SM was in the much tougher division 2. Better at sports or fortunate division placement? Either way, SM beats Mission in a majority of sports.


People pulled their kids out in groves because:
A) It's a BRAND new school with gleaming facilities. This compared to the 50 year trailer park that was San Marcos. Half the classrooms were outdated portables. MHHS was more appealing to athletes.

B) SMHS lost a significant number of great teachers to Mission because they wanted to open up the new school. Students and parents followed reputable teachers.

C) It was a simple case of "white flight". You nephew's last year (and my first) experienced a rise in the hispanic population to 53% of the total, the highest in school history (only 36% white). That has subsided over the past few years and I'm guessing the white population has now surpassed the hispanic population.

D) San Marcos still had that really bad reputation from the national report about teen pregnancy. In fact, the report was incorrect and it gave the school an undeserving reputation.


8 years is a LONG time in recent SMHS history. There have been significant changes:

A) Population has grown from 1,456 to 2,518 this year. That's over 1,000 more students.

B) New principal and many new teachers. Due to the tough job market for teachers, SMHS was able to hire some of the best and most experienced because while everyone was firing, SM was hiring. The teachers are young, fresh, energetic, and tech-savvy.

C) Brand new, tech heavy campus (looks more like a corporate tech headquarters or medical office really)

D) Athletics are actually decent. Numerous teams have won league titles for the first time in school history. Girls soccer, for instance, captured their first title 3/4 years ago and haven't given it up since.

E) SM has seen the greatest jump in test scores in all of San Diego County (probably one of the highest in California). 2004-2005 had an API of 677, while the most recent one was 857. Nearly a 200 point increase. Yeah it's just test scores, but with an increase like that they must be doing something right.





Like I said before, Mission Hills will likely offer a similar academic experience. SMUSD is a generally good district.