School Profile
Established:

SMCHS opened in the fall of 1987 under the direction of the Bishop of Orange. Now in our twentieth year, we are under the leadership of Mr. Raymond Dunne.  Mr. Dunne is the fourth principal in the history of SMCHS. The first graduating class was June, 1991.

Enrollment 2007-2008:

SMCHS is a co-ed college preparatory Catholic high school of 1,718 students. Our students attend from throughout South Orange County - a radius of approximately 20 miles, from the Pacific Ocean to the Saddleback Mountains.

Location/Facilities:

SMCHS is located on a beautiful forty-two acre campus in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Our facilities include a chapel, a library/media center, four classroom buildings, an administration building, a gymnasium, athletic fields and tennis courts. In fall 2007, SMCHS will open the long awaited, state-of-the-art Aquatic Center.

Accreditations/Distinctions:
  • SMCHS is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA). 
  • SMCHS Named Top 50 Catholic High Schools in US in 2004, 2005 & 2006 
  • 1998 Honored by U.S. Dept. of Education as a Blue Ribbon School
  • Certified as an International Baccalaureate Diploma-Granting Institution (IBO) 
  • Member of the College Board 
  • National Endowment for the Arts Distinction in the Arts Award
  • L.A. Times All Sports Awards and CIF Commissioner's Cup Awards 
Faculty:

Santa Margarita Catholic High School 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 - 114
  • Degrees: Bachelors - 114; Masters - 54; 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 2007 (# acceptances in parentheses):
California Catholic Colleges: (SMCHS acceptance rate 59%)
Loyola Marymount University (31)
Saint Mary's College, Moraga (21)
Santa Clara University (18)
University of San Diego (25)
University of San Francisco (29)

 
Out of State Catholic Colleges: (SMCHS acceptance rate 50%)
Boston College (2)
Fordham University (3)
Georgetown University (2)
Gonzaga University (8)
Loyola Chicago (3)
Seattle University (7)
St. John's University (3)
University of Notre Dame (6)
University of Portland (5)
Villanova University (3)

 
California Private Colleges: (SMCHS acceptance rate 47%)
Chapman University (8)                                       
Concordia University (5)
Pepperdine University (9)
Point Loma Nazarene University (3)
Stanford University (4) 
University of Southern California (10)
University of the Pacific (10)
University of Redlands (3)
Westmont College (1)
           
                                                                                                                                        
Out of State Private: (SMCHS acceptance rate 57%)
American University (1) 
Boston University (8)                                                                                     
Duke University (3) 
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (1)
Emory University (1) 
George Washington University (2)
Johns Hopkins University (1)
New York University (4)
Southern Methodist University (10)
Texas Christian University (9)
University of Chicago (2)
Vanderbilt University (1)                                           
                                               
 
Ivy League: (SMCHS acceptance rate 15%)
Columbia (2)
Cornell University (2)
Dartmouth College (1)
Harvard (1)
University of Pennsylvania (1)
Yale (1)
 
 
University of California: (SMCHS acceptance rate 42%)
UC Berkeley (14)
UC Davis (9)
UC Irvine (22)
UC Los Angeles (14)
UC Merced (13)
UC Riverside (20)
UC San Diego (12)
UC Santa Barbara (15)
UC Santa Cruz (25)
 
 
California State Schools: (SMCHS acceptance rate 68%)
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (24)
California State Polytechnic Pomona (10)
California State University Chico (12)
California State University Fullerton (43)
California State University Long Beach (28)
California State University Monterey Bay (16)
California State University San Marcos (28)
Humboldt State University (6)
San Diego State University (26)
San Francisco State University (46)
Sonoma State University (26)
                                   
                                                                            
Out of State Public Colleges: (SMCHS acceptance rate 82%)
Arizona State University (42)
Auburn University (1)
Colorado State University (7)
Indiana University (7)
Miami University - Ohio (3)
Oregon State University (8)
Penn State University (3)
Purdue University (5)
University of Arizona (32)
University of Colorado, Boulder (15)
University of Maryland (2) 
University of Oregon (7)
University of Washington (3)
                              
 
Military Academies: (SMCHS acceptance rate 100%)
United States Military Academy (West Point) (1)

 
Music/Art/Specialty: (SMCHS acceptance rate 82%)
Art Institute of California (4)
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (2)
OTIS College of Art & Design (1)
 
 
 
College Enrollment Statistics for the Class of 2007
Total Students in Senior Class = 333
California Catholic Colleges
9%
Out of State Catholic Colleges
3%
California Private Colleges
8%
Out of State Private Colleges - Non Ivy
8%
Ivy League
15%
University of California system
11%
California State system
17%
Out of State Public Colleges
14%
Military Academies
1%
Music/Art/Specialty Schools
2%
International Colleges
 1%
California Community Colleges 20%
Undecided 2%
Other 2%
Total 100%
                                   last updated 7-1-07

College 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 2007 collectively earned $6.7 million worth of scholarships paid over four years. Over 30% of the senior class reported receiving some kind of scholarship.

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. Generally, there are fewer students in Honors/AP/IB classes. The student/teacher ratio is 25:1.
Academic Programs:
  • Four-Year Coed College Preparatory Liberal Arts Program Special Programs include:
  • Full 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, 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 level.
  • Model United Nations as part of the Honors History department has also won numerous awards at both the local and national level.
Religious Education and Formation:
  • 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.
Athletics:
  • SMCHS is part of the California Interscholastic Federation, our sports teams are part of the Trinity League.
Fall Sports
Football Girls Volleyball Boys Cross Country
Girls Cross Country Boys Water Polo Girls Golf
Girls Tennis

Winter Sports
Boys Basketball Girls Basketball Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer Girls Water Polo Wrestling
 
Spring Sports
Boys Tennis Baseball Softball
Boys Track Girls Track Boys Golf
Boys Swimming and Diving Boys Volleyball Girls Swimming and Diving

Year Round: Equestrian (Non-CIF)
                   Rolley Hockey

Student Activities
ASB/Student Government Drama Productions Model United Nations
Mock Trial Team Band and Marching Band Eagles for CHOC
National Honor Society Yearbook California Scholarship Federation
Eagle Television Orchestra Debate and Forensic Team
Corazon Francophiles (French Club) Pep Squad
Kiwins Theater Arts III/IV Choir
Red Cross Club Children of Cancer Outreach Association Future Business Leaders of America
Handbells SM Outreach Computer Club
Classics Club Journalism/School Newspaper Student Awareness (Safe Rides)
Dance Team Junior Statesmen of America Surf Team
Color Guard

Parent Involvement
Mothers Club Consultative School Board Social Organizations
Booster Organizations Parent Guild Parent Volunteer Program
Valentasia Scrip Sales Magazine Drive