About Us

Welcome to Santa Maria High School,

"Home of the Saints." 

Santa Maria High School: A Tradition of Excellence

Santa Maria High School, founded in 1892, is located on California’s Central Coast, midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, in the Santa Maria Valley. Our city of about 110,000 residents is a small urban community in a vibrant agricultural region. SMHS is proud to be the second-oldest high school in California still operating on its original site. We will celebrate our 133nd Commencement on June 11, 2026.

We serve over 3,000 students with a dedicated staff of caring educators who engage learners through innovative practices to ensure a high-quality education. Our graduates have gone on to excel at prestigious universities nationwide—including Harvard, USC, Brown, the U.S. Military Academies, and all CSU and UC campuses—and to make significant contributions in education, medicine, law, government, agriculture, and business. Notable alumni include former California Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado and Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino.

Programs & Opportunities

We strive to meet the diverse needs of our students and families. Un Cafecito—or Coffee with the Principal—provides English- and Spanish-speaking parents a welcoming forum to learn about school initiatives and share feedback. Students can participate in a wide array of programs and organizations, including AVID, FFA, FBLA, CSF, Spanish Honor Society, and many other clubs. We also offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses in English, foreign languages, mathematics, social sciences, and sciences.

With a proud legacy of excellence, tradition, and distinguished graduates, Santa Maria High School looks forward to continuing to serve and inspire the next generation of leaders.

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ALMA MATER