Canyon Hills High School (San Diego)

Canyon Hills High School
Address
5156 Santo Rd. San Diego, California 92124
Coordinates	32°49′33″N 117°6′20″W
Information
Type	Public school
Established	1976
Principal	Erica Renfree
Staff	54.82 (FTE)[1]
Enrollment	1,236 (2022–2023)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	22.55[1]
Color(s)	Red & Black
Mascot	Rattlers
Website	serra.sandiegounified.org

Canyon Hills High School is a public high school in the community of Tierrasanta in San Diego, California. Previously known as Junipero Serra High School, it was named for Junípero Serra, a Spanish missionary who founded Mission San Diego and other settlements in what is now California. It is a traditional school in the San Diego Unified School District and is the high school for students from Tierrasanta and the adjacent Murphy Canyon military housing community.[2] On March 9, 2021, the San Diego Unified School Board voted to change the name of the school to Canyon Hills High School.[3]

Mascot

The school mascot was Conrad the Conquistador. Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, students started a petition to change the mascot from a conquistador, a symbol they said represented Spanish colonialism and its impact on the indigenous population. Principal Erica Renfree encouraged the change and suggested also changing the school's name to Tierrasanta High School. Virtual town halls were scheduled to discuss the changes.[4] On March 9, 2021, the San Diego Unified School Board voted to change the name of the school to Canyon Hills High School, as well as the mascot to the Rattlers.[3][5]

Athletics programs

• football
• basketball
• field hockey
• golf
• track and field
• water polo
• baseball
• soccer
• tennis
• cross country
• cheerleading
• volleyball
• badminton
• softball
• wrestling
• lacrosse

In the 1999-2000 season, the Boys Varsity Basketball won their first Section 2 Championship in school history and their third straight Eastern League Title. In the 2011-2012 season, the girls' Basketball team won San Diego CIF by defeating West Hills High School. Varsity Girls Soccer also won a CIF Div. 2 Championship in 2013. The Serra Football program also has won 5 total league championships, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2013.^[citation needed] As of 2014, they are in the City League.[6]

Rivalry

Canyon Hills High School's rival is Patrick Henry High School.[7][8] The Field Hockey team, however, is most known for having a rivalry with Scripps Ranch High School in the Scripps Ranch community of San Diego.[9]

School activities and clubs

• AP Club
• Art Club
• ARC
• ASB
• AVID Club
• Ceramic Club
• Cheer Club
• Club Elevate
• CSF
• Drama Club
• Green Garden Club
• GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) Club
• The Office Club
• Hiking Club
• Key Club
• Link Crew
• NJROTC (Armed/Unarmed Exhibition)
• Serrandipity (journalism)
• La Mision (yearbook)
• Q News
• Jedi Club
• Multicultural Club
• Photography Club
• Common Ground (Bible Club)
• Serra Skaters
• Serra Vape Team
• Demendonca Fan Club
• Young Entrepreneurs Club
• MSMBT Club (middle school mentoring and bridging)

Notable alumni

• Cory Abbott, MLB player

References

1. "Canyon Hills High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
2. "2022-23 High School Boundary Maps - Canyon Hills" (PDF). San Diego Unified School District. June 24, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
3. Ojeda, Artie (March 9, 2021). "San Diego's Serra High Poised to Be Renamed 'Canyon Hills High School'". NBC 7 San Diego. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
4. "Campaign to 'rebrand' Serra High School name, mascot". KGTV. June 26, 2020.
5. Taketa, Kristen (March 10, 2021). "San Diego Unified changes name of Junipero Serra High School, removes conquistador mascot". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
6. "Fall sports". Junipero Serra High School. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
7. McDonald, Jen (February 20, 2015). "High school vandalized in apparent rivalry prank". FOX 5 San Diego. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
8. Seitshiro, Leloba (February 19, 2015). "Vandalism or Prank? District Investigates Graffiti at Serra High School". NBC 7 San Diego. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
9. Maffei, John (September 23, 2018). "Serra sets win record, earns field hockey title". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on September 23, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2021.

External links

• Official Homepage