We get it, spring break is over. You can still be loyal to your school, even though you’re on spring break. Many of our California traffic school and drivers ed students have the opportunity to attend school in the mountains or at the sea. Some in brand-new buildings, while others are in architecturally stunning structures that have been registered as historic landmarks. From Beverly Hills to Fresno, Concord is where our California office is! Here are the top 40 beautiful high schools in California.
Table of Contents
A Day In High School In California:
1. Lindsay High School, Lindsay:
Lindsay High School, a small town of approximately 12,000 residents, is located at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The school’s bright green roofs contrast with its vibrant football field where the Lindsay Cardinals are alive on Friday nights.
2. Balboa High School, San Francisco:
Balboa High was built in 1934 and is known as the “First on the Pacific”. It is the only school within its district that has been designated a San Francisco Designated Landmark. Balboa’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture is stunning and reflects a period of growth in California. This aura is still very present at Balboa today.
3. Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto:
Palo Alto High is located just across from Stanford University. It shares the same stucco walls with terracotta roofs as the neighboring college. Established in 1898, Paly is one of the oldest high schools in the region. Its beautiful exterior continues to impress passersby.
4. Salinas High School:
Built-in Spanish Revival style, this high school is impressive. It was built during a period of prosperity and growth for Salinas in 1921. Although the school was renovated in 1999, most of its original architecture, including the prominent bell tower, was retained.
5. San Marcos High School, Santa Barbara:
Students at San Marcos High School enjoy the natural beauty and proximity to the coast. It’s not surprising that these Santa Barbara students attend class in a palace decorated with palm trees, considering the Royals is their school’s nickname.
6. American Canyon High School, American Canyon:
The beautiful 45-acre campus is located in central California. It was built in 2010 and includes a 400-seat theatre as well as the biggest school gym in the region. The facilities are not only state-of-the-art but also eco-friendly. American Canyon makes use of renewable resources such as solar panels, natural light, and reclaimed water to keep it running.
7. Mercy High School, Burlingame:
Students at Mercy High attend school in a mansion. Sisters of Mercy founded the school in 1931 when they converted a 63-room estate of rose-brick into their schoolhouse. The mansion is used not only for Mercy students but also as a venue to host weddings and other events.
8. Galileo Academy of Science and Technology, San Francisco:
The school, which dates back to 1995, was designed by John W. Reid, Jr., a San Francisco architect. It is well-known for its open courtyard, rooftop observatory, and Neoclassical arches. Galileo is well-known for its championship football program and a recently renovated field.
9. Fremont High School Sunnyvale:
Fremont High was established in 1923 during the Golden Age of California school construction. Although the bell tower was set on fire in 1969, and some of the school’s buildings have been damaged, Fremont’s original Spanish mission architecture is still intact.
10. Mission High School, San Francisco:
Mission High, a school of its type in San Francisco, is easily visible from its dome tower measuring 127 feet. Although the original building was damaged in a fire in 1906, the school was rebuilt using elements from Mediterranean Revival architecture and Spanish Baroque architecture in 1927.
12. Torrance High School Torrance:
Torrance High School may be the school that produced some of your favorite fictional characters. It has been the location of many TV shows including Beverly Hills and 90210. Torrance High School was established in 1917 and is the oldest high school within its district.
13. Inderkum High school, Sacramento:
Built-in 2004, this modern Sacramento high school is energy-efficient. Solar roof panels and a geothermal HVAC system help to keep the school in operation, while reducing its carbon footprint.
14. Carondelet High School, Concord:
Carondelet was founded in 1965 with six classrooms. Today, it has an aquatics center and a large dining facility. It also boasts an expansive plaza and more classrooms than the original six. The original campus’ brick façade and marked white columns are still intact.
15. George Washington High School, San Francisco:
The stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge from this white-columned high school is what most people praise. The school, which was built in 1936, was almost a decade before the iconic overpass. It has seen much change since its first graduating class and its 79th.
16. Fresno Edison High School:
Although the Edison High campus is only a few years old it has a design that mirrors the original school building. According to the architects responsible for the project, the new Edison High campus was designed in the same way. Modern features include solar panels and skylights, an exterior that matches the school’s colors, and a sunscreen patterned with binary code — a nod towards Edison’s emphasis on science and math.
17. Carmel High School Carmel-by-the-Sea:
Carmel High School is located between Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The school’s approximately 900 students enjoy facilities such as an outdoor swimming pool, a football field with a view, and a newly built performing arts center. This center has been awarded for its architectural design.
18. Beverly Hills High School, Beverly Hills:
Beverly Hills High’s team mascot is the Norman. This choice is appropriate considering the school’s French Normandy-style architecture. This stunning campus has been the backdrop for many television and film shows including Clueless and It’s a Wonderful Life.
19. Wasco Union High School, Wasco:
This San Joaquin Valley high school’s crown jewel is its auditorium. It is the only building in Wasco on the National Register of Historic Places. Ernest J. Kump, Jr. designed the Renaissance Revival performing arts center in 1929. Despite many changes made to the campus, the auditorium has remained constant at Wasco Union.
20. Tamalpais High school, Mill Valley:
The rich history of this Mill Valley high school dates back to 1908. Tamalpais began as a small collection of structures built on top of a hill. It was later expanded to include more buildings. Many thanks to the students who helped design it. Tam was even a stop along the Greyhound bus line at the turn of the century. It was called “the most beautiful campus” in California. “
21. Marymount High School in Los Angeles:
This all-girls Catholic school was built in 1923 and contains three buildings that are listed as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments. It is a beautiful sight along Sunset Boulevard, with its six-and-a-half-acre campus built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style.
22. Venice High School Los Angeles:
This Los Angeles school has had its fair share of screen time. It was most famously featured as Rydell High School in the movie Grease. The school’s most prominent feature is its statue in front. It was built in 1922. It was modeled after Myrna Loy (a student at Venice High) and was constructed in 1922.
23. Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, Los Angeles:
Grand Arts, the most unusual school in California, is home to seven avantgarde buildings by Austrian architect firm Coop Himmelb(l),au. The campus is located on a 10-acre block of downtown Los Angeles. It includes a 140-foot tower and a library in a cone shape.
24. Pomona, Diamond Ranch High School:
The Los Angeles architect firm Morphosis designed this Expressionist Modern high school in 2001. It has been featured in many movies including Die Hard4. Diamond Ranch is located on a hillside and offers a stunning view of the Pomona Valley.
Also read:
