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#5179 of 9,533 schools in CA

Mission Hills High

High School · San Marcos Unified

1 Mission Hills Ct., San Marcos, CA 92069

Enrollment

2,834

Student-Teacher

27.2:1

Score

6.2

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In San Marcos

#9 of 19

public schools

California high schools

#1,085 of 1,892

In district

#9 of 19

San Marcos Unified

About Mission Hills High

Mission Hills High serves 2,834 students in grades 9-12 in San Marcos, California, operating as a large comprehensive public high school in San Diego County. With 104 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 27.2:1, reflecting the demands of serving such a substantial student body. Academically, Mission Hills High ranks in the middle tier of California high schools, placing at #4774 out of 9566 statewide schools with a 50th percentile ranking.

The school shows stronger performance in English Language Arts, where 56% of students achieve proficiency or above across grade levels, while mathematics presents opportunities for growth with 31% of students reaching proficiency standards. These results reflect a school working to support diverse learners in their academic development. The school draws from a stable suburban community where families have a median household income of $86,156 and 34% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher.

The surrounding neighborhood maintains a relatively low poverty rate of 11.3%, with median home values around $659,900, indicating a middle-to-upper-middle-class residential area. Mission Hills High operates in San Marcos' large suburban setting, serving as a central educational hub for families throughout this growing North County San Diego community.

What's said publicly about Mission Hills High

Sources: School's website Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026. Reviewed for accuracy.

Mission Hills High School is a public high school located in San Marcos, California 2 . The school opened in August 2004 on a 40-acre campus that was formerly part of the Hollandia dairy 2 . It is part of the San Marcos Unified School District, which serves approximately 18,000 students across 19 schools 1 . The district has been ranked among the top five school districts in the San Diego area by Niche 1 . Mission Hills High School offers various career-oriented programs, including academies for Business, Law Enforcement, Health Essentials, Fire Technology, and Culinary Arts 2 . Recently, the school opened a new wellness center focused on student well-being 1 .
Sources (2)
  1. www.smusd.org
  2. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

Mission Hills High is a large school with 2,834 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.

The student-teacher ratio at Mission Hills High is 27.2:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.5Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-1.24 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics6.7Above Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency31.4%
Reading/ELA Proficiency56.1%
Math vs. State Avg+3.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+0.2 pts
Overall Proficiency44%
Expected (poverty-adj.)49%
vs. Expected-5.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile52th
College Readiness9.0Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation31.7%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.4Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio27.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,981

Mission Hills High — Students at Mission Hills High score 44% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

45.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 32.9%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 58.8%
School
State
51.5%

Based on 6 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
36%
ELA
64%
2024
Math
31.4%
ELA
56.1%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.5/10.

How Mission Hills High Compares

See how Mission Hills High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.2/10
46th percentile in CA
Academic
6.7/10
6.7/10
Growth
5.5/10
Above average
Environment
2.4/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
46%
Teaching Staff
27:1 student-teacher ratio
104 teachers

Location

1 Mission Hills Ct., San Marcos, CA 92069

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Mission Hills High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Escondido High (rated 8.5/10, 3.1 miles away, in nearby Escondido), which scores notably higher. Another option is Twin Oaks High (rated 5.8/10, 2.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Foothills High (rated 5.3/10, 2.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in San Marcos, see our San Marcos schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Baypoint Preparatory Academy - San Diego San Marcos 0.6 mi 7.5
Richland Elementary San Marcos 0.8 mi 7.2
Woodland Park Middle San Marcos 0.8 mi 5.3
North Coastal Consortium Schools San Marcos 1.2 mi 6.9
San Marcos Elementary San Marcos 1.4 mi 4.3
Knob Hill Elementary San Marcos 1.4 mi 6.3
San Marcos Middle San Marcos 1.8 mi 5.4
Twin Oaks Elementary San Marcos 2.4 mi 6.0
Community Montessori Escondido 2.2 mi 6.9
Dimensions Collaborative Escondido 2.2 mi 6.7
Foothills High San Marcos 2.5 mi 5.3
Twin Oaks High San Marcos 2.6 mi 5.8
Rock Springs Elementary Escondido 2.2 mi 8.2
ESCONDIDO ADVENTIST ACADEMY Escondido 2.3 mi 7.9
Escondido Adventist Academy Escondido 2.3 mi
Paloma Elementary San Marcos 2.6 mi 7.5
Double Peak San Marcos 3.0 mi 6.4
Discovery Elementary San Marcos 2.9 mi 8.2
Escondido High Escondido 3.1 mi 8.5
North Broadway Elementary Escondido 3.2 mi 7.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 92069 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$93,065

Median Home Value

$714,700

Median Rent

$2,078/mo

Population

46,825

College Educated

34.9%

Homeownership

55.8%

Avg Commute

26.1 min

Poverty Rate

11.8%

Median Age

36.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Mission Hills High has a median household income of $93,065. It is an area where 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $714,700, with a median rent of $2,078/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.8%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Ernest Righetti High Santa Maria, CA 6.2
Helix High La Mesa, CA 6.2
Oceanside High Oceanside, CA 6.2
Pacheco High Los Banos, CA 6.2
Phineas Banning Senior High Wilmington, CA 6.2
Pleasant Valley High Chico, CA 6.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mission Hills High

What grades does Mission Hills High serve?

Mission Hills High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Mission Hills High?

Mission Hills High has an enrollment of approximately 2,834 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Mission Hills High?

The student-teacher ratio at Mission Hills High is 27.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Mission Hills High rank in CA?

Mission Hills High is ranked #5179 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Mission Hills High's MySchoolScout rating?

Mission Hills High has a composite rating of 6.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Mission Hills High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Mission Hills High has 32.9% math proficiency and 58.8% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Mission Hills High a charter school?

No, Mission Hills High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Mission Hills High a Title I school?

No, Mission Hills High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mission Hills High?

45.8% of students at Mission Hills High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
48 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
31 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Elevated (890/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (San Marcos). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,834
Student-Teacher Ratio
27.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
104
Free/Reduced Lunch
45.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
San Diego County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

San Marcos Unified
District Enrollment
19,374
Schools in District
19
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,639
District Rank
#9 of 19

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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