San Marcos High School

About

Opened in 1958, San Marcos High School serves the western Santa Barbara/Goleta-edge community along Hollister Avenue. It is known for its academic and career academies, including the Health Careers Academy, the Accelerated Academic Program for Leadership and Enrichment (AAPLE), and an Entrepreneurship Academy. The Royals compete in the CIF Southern Section Channel League alongside the district's other two comprehensive highs.

Academics & public data

Data as of 2024.

AP & advanced coursework

• AP English Language and Composition
• AP English Literature and Composition
• AP U.S. Government and Politics
• AP U.S. History
• AP World History
• AP Human Geography
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Psychology
• AP Precalculus
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Statistics
• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Physics 1
• AP Environmental Science
• AP Computer Science A
• AP Computer Science Principles
• AP Spanish Language and Culture
• AP Studio Art: Drawing
• AP Studio Art: 2-D Design
• AP Studio Art: 3-D Design

~28 AP-designated catalog entries (2025-26, courses.sbunified.org filtered to San Marcos); the school states it offers '40+ AP and dual-enrollment classes.' AP participation ~37% (2024, U.S. News). AP exam pass rate and average SAT/ACT are SARC-only metrics and the SARC backend was unreachable this session (null).

Academies & signature programs

Admissions & key dates

How to apply

HCA: apply ONLINE via the Google Form only (transcripts/recommendations are NOT used); open to incoming 9th and, from Fall 2026, incoming 10th graders. Selection is 75% on written application responses + 25% lottery; the 2026 cycle sought ~60 freshmen + ~60 sophomores. (smhealthacademy.org/admissions-overview). AAPLE: rigorous application during 8th grade for 9th-grade entry into a 4-year cohort (~30 students/grade); apply on aapleacademy.com (contact aaple@smhsaaple.com). Entrepreneurship Academy: no application — students sign up for the marketing course in sophomore (10th-grade) year. (sanmarcos.sbunified.org/academics/academies)

Open house / tours

AAPLE and the academies promote via an annual informational night (historically late winter) and 8th-grade registration/outreach; specific current-cycle info-night dates are not reliably published online — check aapleacademy.com / smhealthacademy.org or the San Marcos counseling office (805-967-4581). (2026)

Application deadline

Health Careers Academy (HCA): application due January 12 (2026 cycle), with admission decisions emailed February 13 and acceptance contracts due February 17. AAPLE Academy: the application is posted the last week of November and closes in January (school-stated annual cadence — exact day for a given cycle not confirmed online; verify on aapleacademy.com). Entrepreneurship Academy: OPEN ENROLLMENT — no application deadline. (2026; smhealthacademy.org, sbunified.org/showcase/smhs-aaple)

Athletics

Compare across schools: Water Polo · Volleyball · Football · Basketball · Soccer · Baseball · Softball · Tennis · Track & Field · Cross Country · Lacrosse · Golf

Championship history

Every team title we can source for San Marcos High School — CIF State, CIF Southern Section, and league championships — newest first.

24

CIF-SS titles

1

League titles

1. 2026

   • LeagueBoys Volleyball — Channel League · Outright Channel League champion with an undefeated 10-0 league season (swept rival Santa Barbara to clinch). Reported as the program's third consecutive Channel League crown (implying 2024 and 2025 also, but only 2026 is explicitly documented here).(source)

2. 2023

   • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Division 2 · Team champion, score 366, def. La Serna (runner-up) at River Ridge GC. First CIF-SS golf team title since back-to-back 2015-2016.(source)
   • CIF-SSBoys Water Polo — Division 2 · Team champion, head coach Peera Sukavivatanachai, def. Dos Pueblos 9-6.(source)

3. 2018

   • CIF-SSBoys Basketball — Division 2A · Team champion, head coach Landon Boucher, def. Riverside Poly 67-47 at Azusa Pacific University.(source)
   • CIF-SSBoys Water Polo — Division 1 · Team champion, head coach Brim Roth, def. Dos Pueblos 4-3.(source)

4. 2016

   • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Central Coast Division · CIF-SS Central Coast Division team champion, score 391, def. Calabasas (runner-up) at Cypress Ridge GC. Listed as 'Central Coast San Marcos' in the source; back-to-back with 2015.(source)

5. 2015

   • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Central Coast Division · CIF-SS Central Coast Division team champion, score 396, def. Agoura (runner-up) at Cypress Ridge. Listed as 'Central Coast San Marcos' in the source.(source)

6. 2006

   • CIF-SSGirls Soccer — Division II · CIF-SS Division II CO-CHAMPION (tied Tesoro 0-0 in the final). The program's first CIF title; led by Kelly White (Class of 2006). Also won the Channel League that season.(source)

7. 2003

   • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Team champion, score 371, def. Riverside Poly at SCPGA Golf Club, Calimesa.(source)

8. 2002

   • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Team champion, score 370, def. Palm Desert at La Purisima Golf Course, Lompoc.(source)

9. 2001

   • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Team champion, score 359, def. Palm Desert at PGA of Southern California GC, Calimesa.(source)

10. 1999

    • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Team champion, score 387, def. Hart at La Purisima GC, Lompoc.(source)
    • CIF-SSBoys Volleyball — Division II · Team champion, head coach Jon Lee, def. Redondo Union 15-7, 14-16, 15-9, 12-15, 15-5. (Some HoF write-ups date Jon Lee's second boys title to 1998; the official CIF-SS record book lists it under 1999 Division II.)(source)
    • CIF-SSGirls Volleyball — Division IA · Team champion, head coach Jon Lee, def. Mater Dei 15-11, 12-15, 15-9, 15-7.(source)

11. 1998

    • CIF-SSBoys Soccer — Division II · Team champion, head coach Abe Jahadhmy, def. Sunny Hills 1-0. Jahadhmy named division Coach of the Year.(source)

12. 1997

    • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Team champion, score 375, def. Servite at Saticoy CC, Somis.(source)

13. 1994

    • CIF-SSBoys Water Polo — Division IV · Team champion, head coach Scott Brennand, def. cross-town rival Santa Barbara 10-6 (the Santa Barbara opponent confirms this is the Santa Barbara San Marcos).(source)

14. 1991

    • CIF-SSBoys Volleyball — Division 4-A (1A) · Team champion, head coach Jon Lee, def. Newport Harbor 15-5, 15-10, 10-15, 15-6. Team included future Olympians Todd Rogers and Dax Holdren; Rogers was division MVP.(source)

15. 1981

    • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Team champion, score 364, def. Indio-Los Altos at Camarillo Springs GC.(source)

16. 1980

    • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Team champion, score 380, def. Indio at Camarillo Springs GC.(source)

17. 1977

    • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Team champion, score 388, def. San Marino at Indian Hills CC, Riverside.(source)

18. 1975

    • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Team champion, score 311, def. Hart at Corona National CC. Marked '1975***' in the source (asterisk footnote in the original record book).(source)

19. 1973

    • CIF-SSGirls Track & Field — Team champion, head coach Judi Everet, score 21, def. Costa Mesa at Citrus College. First entry in the CIF-SS all-time girls track/field team champions table. Attributed to San Marcos HS (Santa Barbara); SB San Marcos opened 1958, the San Diego San Marcos opened 1996. Not independently corroborated beyond the CIF-SS record book.(source)

20. 1964

    • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Team champion, score 376, def. Long Beach Wilson at Community GC, Santa Barbara (site confirms Santa Barbara San Marcos).(source)

21. 1961

    • CIF-SSBoys Golf — Team champion, score 398, def. Long Beach Poly at San Clemente CC. Listed as 'San Marcos' in the CIF-SS all-time boys golf team champions table; attributed to San Marcos HS (Santa Barbara), the dominant SS-area San Marcos golf program (the San Diego-area San Marcos HS did not open until 1996).(source)

See every Santa Barbara school’s title history →

Notable alumni

• Eric Stoltz — actor
• Anthony Edwards — actor, 'ER', 'Top Gun'
• Randolph Mantooth — actor, 'Emergency!'
• Cady Huffman — Tony Award-winning actress
• Kathy Ireland — model and entrepreneur
• Chuck Liddell — former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, UFC Hall of Fame
• Colleen Ballinger — comedian, 'Miranda Sings'
• Glen Phillips — lead singer, Toad the Wet Sprocket
• Dean Dinning — bassist, Toad the Wet Sprocket
• Todd Nichols — guitarist, Toad the Wet Sprocket
• Tim Lopez — guitarist, Plain White T's
• Eric Anzalone — singer, Village People
• Alex Mack — NFL offensive lineman, 3x Pro Bowl
• Todd Rogers — Olympic gold medalist, beach volleyball
• Paige Hauschild — Olympic medalist, water polo
• Mark Warkentin — Olympic open-water swimmer
• Adam Duvendeck — Olympic cyclist
• Terry Schroeder — US men's water polo head coach, Olympic medalist
• Robert C. Orr — UN Assistant Secretary-General

See all notable SB alumni →

Clubs & activities

Facilities

• Stadium— On-campus stadium with football field and track
• Gymnasium— Gym opened 2007 (Measure V funded) with new floor, mechanical bleachers, sound system, renovated locker rooms, and full wheelchair accessibility
• Pool/Aquatics— On-campus pool for aquatics programs
• Tennis courts— On-campus tennis courts
• Athletic fields— Football, baseball, and multi-use athletic fields
• Culinary kitchen— Culinary/teaching kitchen supporting the Culinary program (since 2014)
• Library Makerspace— Library with a makerspace
• Theater/Amphitheater— Theater and outdoor amphitheater used for performances and events

Leadership opportunities

• Associated Student Body (ASB) / student government
• Link Crew (upperclassmen mentoring freshmen)
• Leadership class
• Club officer roles across many student clubs
• Blue Crew spirit leadership
• Academy leadership (AAPLE, Health Careers, Entrepreneurship)

College & career support

San Marcos provides counseling and a college/career center, A-G support, and AVID for college readiness, complemented by PEAC (Program for Effective Access to College) supporting first-generation students with tutoring, counseling, college visits, and mentoring. Its bell schedule is aligned with Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) to enable concurrent/dual enrollment, and career academies (Health Careers with on-campus SBCC classes and CNA certification, AAPLE, Entrepreneurship, Culinary) provide industry-aligned pathways.

College outcomes

Local pipeline

As a Santa Barbara Unified school, graduates are eligible for the SBCC Promise — two free years at Santa Barbara City College for all local high-school grads (since fall 2016, SBCC Foundation).

Notable colleges

No official school-wide matriculation list is published; AAPLE grads attend selective four-year universities, but a verified named list of colleges could not be confirmed.

Selective admits

Every senior in the school's selective AAPLE (Accelerated Academic Program for Leadership and Enrichment) cohort — 30 students per class — has been accepted to a rigorous four-year university; AAPLE grads 'continue to attend prestigious four-year colleges and universities' (Noozhawk, reporting on AAPLE's graduating classes).

Community

Frequently asked questions

What grades does San Marcos High School serve?

San Marcos High School serves grades 9-12.

How many students attend San Marcos High School?

San Marcos High School enrolls approximately 1,943 students, based on the most recent published figures.

Is San Marcos High School a public or private school?

San Marcos High School is a public high school in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

What is San Marcos High School's mascot?

San Marcos High School's mascot is the Royals (Lancelot the Lion), and its school colors are scarlet and royal blue.

When was San Marcos High School founded?

San Marcos High School was founded in 1958.

What sports does San Marcos High School offer?

San Marcos High School fields 20 sports teams. See the Athletics section above for the full list by season.

Where is San Marcos High School located?

San Marcos High School is located at 4750 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, 93110.