Santa Fe High School

santa fe high school its a god school and im happy my son goes here
—Submitted by a parent

I graduated from SFHS in 1959. I was a member of the Varsity Club and was active in several sports. My Class size was 365 at graduation. As the school was fairly new we did not have a "staid" faculty and most of them didn't know their subjects very well. But they had good hearts and did their best, and I'm the better for it today. I went onto school afterward, the US Navy, Vietnam, marriage, family, a successful business career, and many children and grandchildren. In my day, however, there wasn't a fence around the school, and there were no overweight classmates; obesity did not exist. Michael Thomas Class of '59

Santa Fe High School is one of those schools where you just can't help but say "WOW!" There are many activities, clubs, academic mentoring, and caring faculty and staff. I will be an incoming senior this year and I would like to take this time to address the parents who feel that the Senior Project is "too much." Yes, the senior project is a very intense, time consuming, and stressful project...but, we as students of Santa Fe High School should raise our standards and MAKE time for important work such as the Senior Project. Many parents are saying their child(s) do not have enough time to do their project, but, I would like to note that I have been in band for 3 years, FBLA for 3 years, Tennis for 3 years, key club for 2 years, an academic tutor for 1 year, Link crew 2 years, and will be enrolled in ASB and Principal's Honor Court for this coming year. Not to mention that I have maintained an average of a 3.8 unweighted GPA. Students CAN make time to do all their work and activities! All they have to do is be organized, never give up, and strive to be the best no matter what.
—Submitted by a student

I don't know how the school is now, but when I was attending it was horrible, the counselors where a joke, and the teachers were just there to collect a pay check. I learned more in my junior high than I did in that high school. I graduated in 1999, I hope the administration there has changed, because my class was a joke.

This is a great school. I feel so welcome every time i go to this school. The teachers there couldnt do any better then they all ready do.
—Submitted by a student

I am a parent of a recent grad (09) from Santa Fe. I've read several comments about the Senior Project and I disagree. My son struggled with the field hours, paper, and presentation, while balancing varsity football (he was a starter), and ASB. As a result, he is having an excellent first year in college. He's told me several times that the lessons he learned from the Senior Project: time management, honing his writing skills, and working with his mentor (who was flaky at first, but my son learned how to be assertive and direct in order to get what he needed from him) provided the skills he needed to succeed his freshman year; in fact, he has said that his senior year was harder. Yes, the Project is stressful, but doable---with your encouragement and support.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is a Senior this year and whom I am very proud. He has good teachers, however, when I attended the Senior Project meeting, I just thought to myself 'Oh my God, how and when in the world are they suppose to do all of this work'. I thought it was kind of a little too much with all they have going as a Senior. My son has excellent grades, but I can imagine someone who is struggling and on top of that have this project and community time? I think the school goes a little overboard with this. Let them concentrate more on getting the grades and be able to graduate.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a current student. The curriculum is average in my opinion, with overall great teachers. I believe that thier should be more of a variety of AP classes and honor classes. The school needs to maintain its trash problems, making it mandatory for students to pick up thier trash. Everyday I see trash everywhere and its ironic because there are trash cans everywhere to put trash in. The other concern is the seinor project. It is a good way to prepare students for college but is ridiculous, the term paper is fine, but the fieldwork adds stress to the seinor year. The teachers have great knowledge, but some are mediocre and should be replaced.The use of cellphones should be only be used after school, because it distracts the learning environment. No leaving if a student has already entered school from 8-9AM should be implemented.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 3 children that have graduated from Santa Fe and 1 that is currently a student there now. Over all, this is an excellent school. There is one area that I think needs some big changes - that's the Senior Project. My kids were all honor students and they had jobs too. The 15 hours of 'field work' is absolutely ridiculous. Not to mention, it's very difficult to find an adult that has the time to mentor. I have sat up with my kids in tears over their grades being affected by a mentor that flaked out. 2 of my 3 kids missed the Distinguished Award, due to mentor problems. I don't believe the kids grades should be affected by the irresponsibility of another person, and I'd really like to see these 'field work' hours changed in a way which makes the kids solely responsible for their own grades.
—Submitted by a parent

We use many approaches to allow the students to be successful in graduating from high school and passing the necessary tests.
—Submitted by a teacher

*Awesome* activities... The Student Government rocks, and the athletics are phenomenal. On top of all that, academics are great. Best. School. Ever.
—Submitted by a student

The best thing about this school is that the teachers are young and they understand the kids. I like the idea that they participate on the school activies such as the pep rally and lipsynic. This kind of activies motivates the kids.
—Submitted by a parent

The thing I like about this school is all the honors and AP classes you have to choose from. Also, the counselors are there to guide you every step of the way. They will remind you about at least 4 times a year about what you need to graduate and are there to lead us to a great future. Every year, we achieve our goals to increase our API scores by hyping up the kids with spirit and getting them prepared correctly. Not to mention that it was recognized in Newsweek as part of the top 5% of more than 24,000 schools in the country, and is now a California Distiguished School.
—Submitted by a student

Santa Fe High School benefits from a selection of AP and Honors courses. The school is one of the better public high schools in L.A.
—Submitted by a student

My comments on the academic program was not the best I have seen
—Submitted by a parent

My son attend santa fe. His freshmen yr.Classes were good along with the sports.Seem to be a clean campus as well.
—Submitted by a parent

Santa Fe High School is an amazing school. Its school spirit is high, students have a lot of pride in their school. Academics are taken seriously, and progress is reached year after year. There are many sports and clubs to take part in, as well as extracurricular activities around the community. The music and arts program is extensive, placing high in band competitions, and they are both a big part of campus life. Parents are very involved, with booster clubs, and every school event is a big blur of black and gold.
—Submitted by a student

This school offers a variety of extra-curricular activities for the children; they interact with all students. The educational process for the children is great. The teachers and students interact with each other in helping all the students. My children fill as though the school is interested in how they are doing and encourgage everyone to continue with their education and look towards the future. I am very pleased with how this school has turned around the outlook on schools for my children
—Submitted by LUCY, a parent

Santa Fe High is a wonderful school. I have 2 children there and they have excelled. The teachers are very committed to their students, they prepare their students to enter the higher education system. I believe parent participation is high, based on the many parents I have spoken to.
—Submitted by a parent

Santa Fe was once a decent school, but I believe it has grossly deteriorated to a school with teachers who are preoccupied with test scores. They teach to the uppper 25%, and those who need some assistance and help are shoved aside, because it costs too much money to help them. Just drive around in front of the school on a school day, the 'lost generation' is everywhere. It is hard to tell when school is in or out. It is pathetic.
—Submitted by a parent