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Frequently Asked Questions
What accreditations and distinctions does SMCHS hold?
Santa Margarita Catholic High School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA) and is a member of the International Baccalaureate Association. In 1998, the United States Department of Education awarded SMCHS its highest honor, the Blue Ribbon. In addition, the Visual and Performing Arts Program received recognition for "Distinction in the Arts" from the National Endowment for the Arts. Our athletic reputation of excellence was secured with six L.A. Times "All Sports Awards - Large Schools Divisions" accolades.

How many students attend SMCHS?
The 2009-2010 enrollment is 1,580 students.

What is the average class size?
The average class size is approximately 28-30 students per class. Generally, there are fewer students in Honors/AP/IB classes. All Freshman English and Algebra I classes have 25 students. The student/teacher ratio is 22:1.

What is unique about SMCHS and an SMCHS education?
  • We are strongly committed to bringing the teachings of Jesus Christ into the daily life of our students. We pray together as a community. Our chapel is the centerpiece of our campus and provides a place for prayer, reflection and daily Mass. In addition, our Christian Service Program gives students the opportunity to reach out to the larger community.

  • Our size. We find that a school of this size gives a student the breadth of curriculum, social opportunities, activities and sports that allows them to find their special niche.

  • Each student enrolls in seven classes each semester. This gives our students a greater opportunity to enrich their education by enrolling in visual and performing arts courses.

  • The parent/student/teacher connection. 100% of our teachers post their grades online, giving 24 hour access to grades and homework assignments. Through our online I.S.I.S. system, parents and students can review their official school records for attendance, discipline and grades at official marking periods.

  • Nationally, college admissions officers respect our 15 year reputation for preparing our students well for the rigor of college academic life.

  • We offer an Auxiliary Studies Program that gives intensive training, assisting students in overcoming learning differences.

  • Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Honors classes as well as an Interdisciplinary program presents students with a challenging and rewarding curriculum.
  • An award winning athletic program is an integral part of our identity. More than half of our student body participates in one or more of our 24 athletic offerings.

  • A strong technology program is also a hallmark of our educational success. Our entire campus offers wireless internet access, including internet access in all classrooms. A full production television studio on campus, Eagle TV, gives students state of the art experience, blending graphics, art and technology.

What are the academic requirements?
Our curriculum is multi-layered, offering Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Honors classes on one level. An Interdisciplinary Program is offered throughout the academic level of the curriculum, and an Auxiliary Studies Program is offered to students with mild learning differences. In order to graduate from SMCHS, a student must complete 270 credits of course work. Students work with their counselors to plan their educational path and schedule. For more information, see Graduation Requirements.

How is honors placement determined?
Placement in Honors courses is determined by performance on the Entrance Exam and some placement exams given by individual SMCHS departments, as well as previous course work and grades earned in middle school. If you missed or were not able to take the Entrance Exam, please contact our Admissions Office for placement information.

What percentage of SMCHS students continue on to college?
100% of the students in the SMCHS class of 2009 continued on to college. SMCHS is a college preparatory high school. When students graduate from our school, they have not only exceeded the state guidelines for high school graduates, they have also met the Cal State and UC requirements.

What colleges do they attend?
SMCHS seniors are accepted into the top colleges and universities in the country. Below is a sampling of acceptances for the Class of 2009 (# acceptances in parentheses):



Catholic Colleges and Universities:
University of Notre Dame (4)
Georgetown University (3)
Boston College (11)
Villanova University (5)
Santa Clara University (18)
Loyola Marymount University (32)
University of San Diego (28)
Saint Mary's College, Moraga (20)
University of San Francisco (31)
Top Ranked Colleges and Universities:
Ivy League:
Brown University (3)
Columbia University (3)
Cornell University (1)
Harvard (3)
University of Pennsylvania (1)
California Private Colleges:
California Institute of Technology (1)
Stanford (4)
USC (21)
University of California Colleges:
UC Berkeley (17)
UC Davis (12)
UC Irvine (24)
UCLA (24)
UC San Diego (21)
UC Santa Barbara (20)
Out of State Private Colleges:
Duke University (2)
Emory University (1)
New York University (7)
Northwestern University (3)
Washington University, St. Louis (2)
Out of State Public Colleges:
University of Michigan (3)
Penn State University (11)
University of Texas (4)
University of Washington (11)


College Enrollment Statistics for the Class of 2009:
Total Students in Senior Class = 376
Ivy League Schools
 1%
California Catholic Colleges 6%
Out of State Catholic Colleges 2%
University of California System 10%
California State System 16%
California Private Colleges 9%
California Community Colleges 18%
Out of State Public Colleges 21%
Out of State Private Colleges - Non Ivy
 11%



What are the school hours?
Classes are in session Monday through Friday between 7:40 a.m. - 2:27 p.m. All athletic teams meet after school during an 8th period, which ends at 3:40 p.m.

What is the school uniform?
SMCHS believes that the student's appearance is important and has an impact on their attitude and behavior. As a sign of mutual respect for one another and for the creation of an environment of excellence, SMCHS has a dress and personal appearance code. All students are required to purchase a uniform from a designated vendor, which will be supplied in the acceptance notification packets.

Is carpooling available?
A list of families (by zip code) interested in carpooling is available to enrolled students. The school also offers bus transportation!

Is SMCHS a closed campus? How secure is the campus?
Once students arrive on campus, they may not leave the campus without permission from the Attendance and Discipline Office. School personnel and our campus security department are on patrol 24 hours a day. All visitors to the campus are required to obtain a visitors badge from the Front Office.

How does the rotating schedule work?
SMCHS is on a rotating schedule where students are required to take seven classes per semester. Students attend six periods per day (57 minute classes). This allows students to attend each class four times per week at different times. Research indicates that students learn and behave differently during different times of the day. While most faculty, staff, and parents take some time to get used to this schedule, students tend to learn it quickly because they experience it everyday. Below is an example of a typical weekly schedule (not including a 0 or 8 period):

For example, on a Regular Day 1, students attend periods 1-6:

Period 1 7:40 -8:37
Period 2 8:42 - 9:44
Period 3 9:54 - 10:51 (10 minute passing for announcements)
Period 4 10:56 - 11:53 or 11:26 - 12:23 (depending on First or Second Lunch)
Period 5 12:28 - 1:25
Period 6 1:30 - 2:27


The next day would be a Regular Day 7 and pick up where the previous day left off with Period 7. The rest of the week would be a Regular Day 6, 5, and 4. SMCHS does modify this schedule for Faculty or Department Meeting Days, as well as for Minimum/Early Dismissal and Mass Days.

For additional questions regarding our schedule, please email our admissions office.

Are there required volunteer hours for parents?
No, parents are not required to give volunteer hours. However, we do have an active On-Campus Parent Volunteer Program. This program is of tremendous value and importance to the school community as it provides volunteers from the parent community to assist the faculty and staff in the daily operation of their classes and/or departments. Yearly, there are over 250 parents volunteering on our campus totaling thousands of hours.