Clairemont High School

Great drama program, school size just right if you want to have a balance of extracurricular activities (sports, arts) AND academics without being a mere spectator like what your child might experience at the large high schools. Multiple sports fields got a Prop S makeover last year & are first class. Students at CHS have a wide range of skills and talents - and the special education students are included (and welcomed) in extracurriculars such as drama. The Circle of Friends club brings together the special needs students with the rest of the school. AP Biology Bowl team just beat La Jolla High (and Serra High). AP Enviro class is quite popular among college bound students. The French teacher was let go in October due to district budget cuts (and is now at San Diego High-International) but Spanish and German are offered as foreign languages - Spanish up to the AP level & the pass rate is very good. Other SDUSD schools only offer Spanish - we have German too! The principal is less than stellar (ought to be replaced) but the teachers make all the difference along with a good dean of students. A hidden gem of a neighborhood school that welcome others from around San Diego.
—Submitted by a parent

Clairemont HIgh school is a GREAT school. It is normally rated low because of the amount of special students who are factored into the test scores. The students are very accepting of the special students and kids who are bussed in and not from their socioeconomic class. This being said, the principal needs to be fired she does a poor job. The AP programs at the school are excellent, especially the history, science classes, and 11th english. The school has decent sports and is a unified body. I'm proud to say I am an alumni of this fine establishment and when viewing it's ranking I was astonished to see it ranked under some of the other schools which I would never even consider going to! The teachers and counselors are helpful and the dean of students is very understanding! Send your kids here!

Clairemont High School is a good school, their Theater Department is the GREATEST! I am a sophomore at Clairemont and I'm an actress there and honestly their theater department is the GREATEST! Clairemont High School has a good College Academy it's called AOBT "Academy of Business and Technology" and trust me everyone who has been in it has graduated from high school thanks to the teachers who help the students! The teachers are very enthusiastic and they are willing to be there for students!
—Submitted by a student

My child is a senior and most of the teachers are very caring. Head Counselor is fantastic knows her stuff. Principal is unprofessional and abrasive and does not know her students. Parents need to be involved to make positive changes at CHS starting with the principal.
—Submitted by a parent

Pathetic/principal and all counsels are jokes but 1. The last 2 years Clairemont High has become one of the worst high schools in the district. Twoteachers are exceptional/rest bad
—Submitted by a parent

I think Clairemont High School is great. The teachers and coaches hold our kids accountable for their actions. My son is suppose to got to Madison, but I choiced him to Clairemont High. I feel he is safe there. As far as the other parents who complain about drugs - they are at every High School (unfortunately) I believe less so at Clairemont. As far as their kids not getting a good education - the schools cannot do it alone - parents need to be involved - if not at school, the involvement needs to be at home. The athletic program is great and has wonderful parent involvement. Go Chiefs!!!! I would definitely recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has just graduated from Clairemont. It has been a great 4 years. He is headed off to a nice college thanks in part to all the wonderful people at Clairemont High School. It seems that the parents that complain the most are also the ones to busy to volunteer at the school or sit with the children at night and help them.
—Submitted by a parent

The education & experience my two children, 1 boy & 1 girl, received was terrible. My children are 2 yrs apart and I have dealt with this school 6 yrs. Most teachers do not care, the principal is not professional by any means. I have a 3rd child, and I have choiced him to another school. I would not recommend this school to any parent that wants their child to have a good education and a good High School experience
—Submitted by a parent

The education my child has received has been wonderful. He received a scholarship and will succeed after high school. This school has the safety of a higher socio-economic school but tries harder because they have to work hard to balance out the lower scores of needy (special needs) students. Students get hard working staff and a high quality education. Hidden Gem......
—Submitted by a parent

My son is Sophomore at Clairemont High. I was a litle concerned about the school at first becuase of the API index. However, after researching it more thoroughly, I realized that there was more to the story. CHS is a school where the sudents come first. Each student is encouraged to do their personal best without being labeled as the smart or dumb kids. The teachers are highly skilled and work hard to bring out the best in each child. The Principal is relatively new to the school and is steadily making the minor changes that were needed to turn CHS into a world class high school. All of the teachers and administration are extremely dedicated to the students and there is an active parent group. It is a small school and yet it has all of the advantages of a large school with orchestra, clubs, athletics and great electives.
—Submitted by a parent

This school feels safe, I love the campus, the ASB and teachers are the best. I get so much help with financial aide it seems like a private school.
—Submitted by a student

I would not reccomend clairemont high school. It seems to be very taken over by drugs and delinquent behavior. It is not such a safe plavce for a kid to learn. Students are disruptive in classes and it seems noone has any interest in stopping this.
—Submitted by a student

Clairemont High School is very old but still seems to have its charm. It has everything a student may need in teachers, councelors, and groups. I had a head injury and Clairemont High School seems to have the proper help I needs. From my perspective, the classes are great even for children who didn't suffer a head injury. Clairemont High School is a great school.
—Submitted by a student

This is the biggest kept secret. The district wants you to think Clairemont is a school that is struggling. No so. AYP doesn't report the number of students on free and reduced lunch. That's what keeps test scores low. Clairemont is a great small high school. Kids love it there. It's unfortunate that the residents think that this school is not ' good enough' for their children. Their kids are missing out!
—Submitted by a parent

My son is not particularly motivated to do well in school. And, it seems, he is in the mainstream for this school. I don't have any particular issues with any of the classes, offerings, teachers, or adminstrative staff. But, it seems to maintain a culture of 'just do what you need to get by'.
—Submitted by a parent

Clairemont High has improved dramatically in the last few years. Test scores have gone up 74 points - the highest 2-year increase of any high school in the District. The school has hired new energetic teachers. Communication is strong thanks to a PTSA e-mail newsletter. The small size - just 1400 students - means that the teachers and the administration get to know your child. The whole campus has been newly landscaped and is beautiful. The main weakness I see at Clairemont High is the science department. Clairemont students scores low in science and so far I haven't seen a concerted effort to improve. There is only one science club on campus which just started at the end of this year and few students participate in the Greater San Diego Science Fair.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is nothing like I remembered it as a child. I expected more. It was great back then I thought it would be awesome now.I was wrong! For the single parent who have to work who does not have alot of time and resources this school is not for your child. Clairemont high has so many different policies for the kids they sometimes do not know right from wrong. There not allowed to be kids, and to young to be adults. So they do not hear them. I'm very disapointed with this school and the principal-vice principals. Academic's are not this schools priority, 'money' is.
—Submitted by Juan, a parent

Principal at Clairemont High has worked hard the past 4 years under tremendous adversities and challenges from the leadership of the Superintendent of the district.
—Submitted by a parent

The school has experienced a renewal with a positive staff and a strong academic mission. The new seminar program is exemplary as are the AP courses. My son has had a challenging two years.
—Submitted by a parent

I believe Clairemont has some great, very committed teachers who get the kids excited about learning. An energetic staff seems to be inspiring students to do their best. The athletic department encourages all students to participate in sports. Wood Shop and Drama are electives that are excellent programs. My students are eager to attend school everyday.
—Submitted by a parent