School Profile
Established:
Santa Margarita Catholic High School opened in the fall of 1987 under the direction of the Bishop of Orange. SMCHS is a Diocesan Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school in the Diocese of Orange. SMCHS is under the leadership of Principal Raymond R. Dunne and President Paul M. Carey. Mr. Dunne is the fourth principal in the history of SMCHS and Mr. Carey is the school's second president. The first graduating class was the Class of 1991.
Santa Margarita Catholic High School opened in the fall of 1987 under the direction of the Bishop of Orange. SMCHS is a Diocesan Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school in the Diocese of Orange. SMCHS is under the leadership of Principal Raymond R. Dunne and President Paul M. Carey. Mr. Dunne is the fourth principal in the history of SMCHS and Mr. Carey is the school's second president. The first graduating class was the Class of 1991.
Alma Mater:
Dwelling in the Lord’s own shelter
we find refuge in His might.
Lifted up on eagle’s wings,
now we soar to greater heights.
Santa Margarita, Alma Mater,
proudly let our voices raise!
Eagles soaring, your sons and daughters,
with one heart now sing your praise.
Gathered now as God’s own family,
we are sheltered by His wings.
The Lord’s our refuge and our stronghold,
and the power that makes us sing.
Enrollment 2010-2011:
SMCHS is a co-ed college preparatory Catholic high school of 1,570 students. Most of our students come from the South Orange County area - a radius of approximately 20 miles, from the Pacific Ocean to the Saddleback Mountains.
Location/Facilities:
SMCHS is located on a beautiful 42 acre campus in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Our facilities include a chapel, a library/media center, four academic buildings, an administration building, a gymnasium, athletic fields, an aquatics center, and tennis courts. A new athletic administration, training, and fitness center opened in the Spring of 2010. Construction has begun on a new academic building with a scheduled completion date in 2011.
Accreditations/Distinctions:
Location/Facilities:
SMCHS is located on a beautiful 42 acre campus in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Our facilities include a chapel, a library/media center, four academic buildings, an administration building, a gymnasium, athletic fields, an aquatics center, and tennis courts. A new athletic administration, training, and fitness center opened in the Spring of 2010. Construction has begun on a new academic building with a scheduled completion date in 2011.
Accreditations/Distinctions:
- Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA)
-
Named Top 50 Catholic High Schools in the U.S.
- Honored by U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School - 1998
- Certified as an International Baccalaureate Diploma-Granting Institution (IBO) since 1997
- Member of the College Board
- National Endowment for the Arts Distinction in the Arts Award
- Los Angeles Times All Sports Awards and CIF Commissioner's Cup Awards
SMCHS has one of the finest faculty of any school in the state. Our faculty is comprised of dedicated men and women whose mission is to educate the whole student - spiritually, academically and socially.
- Total number of Faculty & Administration - 111
- Degrees: Bachelors - 111; Masters - 62; Doctorates - 5
College Information:
SMCHS seniors are accepted into the top colleges and universities in the country. Below are some statistics for acceptances for the Class of 2009.
SMCHS seniors are accepted into the top colleges and universities in the country. Below are some statistics for acceptances for the Class of 2009.
| College Enrollment Statistics for the Class of 2009 Total Students in Senior Class = 376 | |
|
California Catholic Colleges |
6% |
|
Out of State Catholic Colleges |
7% |
|
Ivy League |
2% |
|
California Private Colleges |
9% |
|
Out of State Private Colleges |
9% |
|
University of California system |
10% |
|
California State system |
16% |
|
Out of State Public Colleges |
22% |
|
Military Academies |
1% |
| Music/Art/Specialty Schools |
1% |
|
International Colleges |
1% |
| California Community Colleges | 18% |
| Other | 1% |
| Total | 100% |
last updated 9-4-09College Scholarships:
In addition to being accepted to some of the top colleges and universities in the nation, SMCHS graduates also earn more than the average amount of scholarships. The Class of 2010 collectively earned more than $19.2 million worth of scholarships paid over four years. Over 75% of the senior class reported receiving some kind of scholarship.
Class Size:
Class Size:
- All Freshman English and Algebra I classes have no more than 25 students. The average class size for most other courses is 28-32 students. The average student/teacher ratio is 16:1.
- Four-Year Coed College Preparatory Program
- Full Diploma and Certificate International Baccalaureate Programme
- Advanced Placement Program offering 18 AP courses
- Interdisciplinary Program offering an alternative college prep program that demonstrates the logical connections among subjects
- Auxiliary Studies Program for students with mild learning differences
- Technology Program with state of the art equipment and electives such as programming, computer graphics, video production, and Eagle Television
- Arts and Dance program encompassing theater arts, chorus, band, steel drums, orchestra, handbells and a wide variety of studio and art history classes. Our Dance program has won numerous awards at the local, national and international levels
- Model United Nations (MUN) as part of the Honors History department has also won numerous awards at both the local, national and international levels
- The spiritual life of Santa Margarita students is developed through religious education classes, school-wide liturgies, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Meaningful retreat experiences are offered each year culminating with the senior retreat program, Kairos. Christian Service projects are undertaken in the student's religion classes. They help develop in each student the virtues of compassion, generosity and charity through the practice of corporal and spiritual works of mercy in relation to the poor and needy people in our community and region.
