San Ysidro High School

San Ysidro High School
Address
5353 Airway Road San Diego , California 92154 United States
Coordinates	32°33′55.35″N 117°01′02.21″W
Information
Motto	ROAR [Responsibility, On Time, Attitude, and Respect]
Established	2002
School district	Sweetwater Union High School District
Superintendent	Moisés G. Aguirre
Principal	Maria Jaramillo
Teaching staff	92.66 (FTE)[1]
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	2,017 (2023–2024)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	21.77[1]
Color(s)	Baby Blue and gold
Nickname	Cougars
Newspaper	Cougar Live
Website	syh.sweetwaterschools.org

San Ysidro High School (SYHS) is a public four-year high school in San Diego, California. Serving grade levels 9–12, it was founded in 2002 and is part of Sweetwater Union High School District. SYHS predominantly serves San Ysidro and other parts of San Diego with a student enrollment of 2,408.^{[citation needed]}

History

San Ysidro High School (SYHS) was established in the summer of 2002, and was named after the community in which the institution predominantly serves, "San Ysidro, California." Before its establishment, the community did not have a high school where the nearby K-8 educational district, San Ysidro Elementary School District, could feed students. This resulted in many middle school students transferring to different schools within Sweetwater Union High School District, such as Southwest Senior High School. However, once the school opened, many students began enrolling, as it was much closer than neighboring schools.

San Ysidro High School has faced a troubling increase in student involvement in drug smuggling, particularly with fentanyl. Criminal groups are recruiting minors to transport drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border, thinking they will be less likely to be caught. This issue has grown since around 2009, as teens are often tempted by the promise of quick cash and social status^[2]

In May 2009, a senior prank at the school led to a significant police response. Around 1:30 a.m., motion sensors activated, prompting armed officers, a helicopter, and K-9 units to investigate. Thirteen students were caught rearranging furniture, including spelling "09" in the grass. The principal at the time, Hector Espinoza, raised security concerns, as one student had access to a building key. The eighteen-year-olds faced citations, while younger students were returned to their parents.^[3][4]

In June 2009, a former student avoided felony charges after bringing homemade bottle bombs to school as a prank. Instead of facing six years in prison, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, receiving three years of probation and 30 days of community service. The incident, which involved several explosions near students during lunch, prompted a lockdown but resulted in no injuries. The student later expressed regret and lost his scholarships, graduating without attending the ceremony.^[5]

In January 2015, the school experienced two bomb threats that led to lockdowns. The first threat, received around 10 a.m., involved a computer-generated voice. Students evacuated to the football field as police searched the campus, finding no hazards. After resuming normal operations, a second bomb threat was reported, leading to a further police investigation.^[6] On February 2015, two teenage boys were questioned by detectives regarding discussions of a potential assault on students and staff at the high school. This incident followed a series of at least eight recent bomb threats. There was no evidence linking them to the previous bomb threats.^[7]

In November 2015, a transgender student at the school was nominated for homecoming queen. The student was one of five seniors in the running, but another student was ultimately crowned.^[8]

In September 2020, a student at the school faced challenges when walking six miles to school due to bus route cuts, only to encounter further issues with online learning during the pandemic. Relying on a hotspot for internet access led to frequent disconnections.^[9][10][11]

In September 2021, students at Grossmont, Sweetwater, and San Ysidro high schools protested dress codes they labelled "sexist and outdated".^[12]

A San Ysidro High School alumna, that graduated with honors and later went on to pursue higher education. Was able to 2021, raise over $10,000 and was awarded three $2,000 scholarships. The scholarship aims to support future leaders.^[13][14]

In April 2022, it was revealed that a student at the school had been diagnosed with tuberculosis, leading to concerns about potential exposure. The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency collaborated with school officials to notify those who may have been at risk.^[15]

In February 2023, San Ysidro High School was placed on lockdown after a loaded ghost gun was found in a parked Ford Mustang on campus. Around 10 a.m., officers on patrol detected marijuana from a parked car as well as a group of five young men near the car. When approached, one of them ran back to the Mustang, tossed something inside, and fled into the nearby canyons. The suspect, not a student and under 21, was arrested shortly after.^[16][17]

Class of 2019 Valedictorian Speech

On June 6, 2019, Nataly Buhr, the valedictorian from the school, delivered a graduation speech that gained significant attention for its candid critiques of school staff. While initially expressing gratitude toward supportive teachers, The speech pivoted to address issues she faced, notably calling out her counselor for unavailability and a teacher who reportedly attended class while intoxicated. Following the ceremony, the speech garnered the attention of news outlets around the United States and went viral on many social media platforms. A video detailing the incident, created by the YouTube channel "NowThis News" amassed over 8 million views. Following the internet virality of the situation, Sweetwater Union High School District released a statement denying many of the accusations presented in the speech, citing that the speech was not pre-approved and contained "rumors regarding misconduct."^{[18][19][20][21]}

Demographics

Of the students enrolled at San Ysidro High School, 51.6% are male, 48.4% are female. Racial and ethnic breakdown is 88.1% Hispanic or Latino, 3.5% Asian, 1.3% multi-racial 1.6% black, 5.1% caucasian, with 0.3% or less of indigenous.

In addition, 66% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch prices in 2020.^[22]

Academics^[23]

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Offers classes in Studio Art, English Literature, English Language, Spanish Literature, Computer Science, Calculus, Physics, Biology, Environmental Science, Government, U.S. History, and World History.

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination):

A program to help students prepare for college.

NJROTC (Naval Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps):

A leadership program focused on naval training, giving students a chance to develop leadership skills and learn about naval careers.

Medical Program

A program in partnership with UC San Diego Health, offering courses like Medical Biology, Medical Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Anatomy & Physiology, designed for students interested in healthcare careers.

Programs and achievements

• Men's Basketball Team - 2020 CIF Division 3 Champions^[24]
• 'CougarBots' Robotics Team - Competed at the 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 VEX Robotics World Competition. Winner of Amaze Award in 2022 and Inspire Award in 2023 at VEX Worlds ^{[citation needed]}

Athletics

San Ysidro High School offers a variety of athletic programs across three seasons:^[25]

• Fall sports: football, volleyball (women), water polo (men), tennis (women), cross country (men/women), and golf (women)
• Winter sports: soccer (men/women), basketball (men/women), wrestling (men/women), roller hockey, and water polo (women)
• Spring sports: track and field (men/women), golf (men), tennis (men), baseball, swim and dive (men/women), softball, volleyball (men), beach volleyball (women), and lacrosse (men/women)

Notable alumni

• Miguel Ángel Ponce, Class of 2007 - Soccer Player for CD Guadalajara^[26]
• Mikey Williams, Class of 2023 - Basketball Player.

References

1. "San Ysidro High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
2. "Teens Are Smuggling Deadlier Drugs Across the Border". New America. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
3. Hughes • •, H. (May 26, 2009). "Senior Prank Fail". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
4. "Police: Seniors moved school furniture - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
5. Stickney, R.; Dean • •, Monica (August 20, 2009). "School Bomb Prankster Strikes Deal". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
6. "2 bomb threats force lockdowns at San Ysidro High School". cbs8.com. January 14, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
7. "2 teens questioned in alleged plot against San Ysidro High School". cbs8.com. February 6, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
8. "Violet Ri of San Ysidro High may become county's first trans homecoming queen - San Diego Gay & Lesbian News". November 28, 2022. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
9. "Internet Access at Home Application – Sweetwater Union High School District". Retrieved October 4, 2024.
10. González, Mar; Berriozábal • •, Fabiola (September 3, 2020). "High School Student Who Walked 6 Miles to School Now Doesn't Have Internet Access for School". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
11. Heldiz, Adriana (August 19, 2019). "Six Miles in a San Ysidro High Schooler's Shoes". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
12. "San Diego high school students protest dress codes, calling them 'sexist' and 'outdated'". cbs8.com. September 15, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
13. "San Ysidro woman creates college scholarship for graduating seniors". Yahoo News. June 2, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
14. "Julissa Muñiz - SAN YSIDRO RISING SCHOLAR". www.julissamuniz.com. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
15. "Tuberculosis case identified at San Ysidro High School". KPBS Public Media. April 20, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
16. "Ghost Gun Found in Car at San Ysidro High – Campus Locked Down During Suspect Search". Times of San Diego. February 11, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
17. "San Ysidro High School locked down after armed men caught smoking marijuana in school parking lot". cbs8.com. February 10, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
18. Schroeder, Lauryn (July 18, 2019). "Accusations in viral San Ysidro High valedictorian speech unfounded, district says". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
19. Brito, Christopher (June 15, 2019). "High school graduation speech: San Diego valedictorian rips San Ysidro staff and calls out teacher for "alcoholism" in ceremony - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
20. Eustachewich, Lia (June 13, 2019). "Valedictorian delivers scorched-earth graduation speech". Retrieved October 4, 2024.
21. Mettler, Katie (June 14, 2019). "A valedictorian thanked teachers in her speech. Then she went scorched earth". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
22. "What You Must Know About San Ysidro High School". www.prepscholar.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
23. "Programs – San Ysidro High School". Retrieved September 28, 2024.
24. Brents, Phillip (March 5, 2020). "Mikey likes it! San Ysidro Cougars make history with Division III title". The Star-News. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
25. "San Ysidro High School | Athletics Calendar". syh.sweetwaterschools.org. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
26. Zeigler, Mark (June 8, 2014). "Miguel Ponce: from San Ysidro to Brazil". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 28, 2022.

External links

• San Ysidro High School Website
• San Ysidro Cougar Pride Band
• San Ysidro Science Club
• San Ysidro High School Mariachi Club
• San Ysidro High School Grupo Folklorico
• San Ysidro High Drama Club