Del Norte High School (San Diego)
History
Del Norte opened on August 19, 2009, and is the most recent comprehensive high school to be opened in Poway Unified School District. The campus covers 210,093 square feet (19,518.3 m) of land.
During its first year, Del Norte was expected to have approximately 700 students in order to create a personalized learning experience. Also notable was the absence of juniors and seniors, as the first year only contained freshmen and sophomores. The expected student population after the first few years was approximately 2,250 students.
On May 13, 2014, the Bernardo Fire broke out near the school, leading to the evacuation of 21,000 nearby houses.
On May 26, 2022, Del Norte High School and several nearby schools in Poway Unified School District were put into complete lockdown because of shooting threats called into the police station. The following day, many students left their homeroom period in a walkout to protest gun violence and honor the lives lost just two days prior during the Uvalde school shooting.
Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, longtime Del Norte administrator Ty Eveleth, who had previously served as assistant principal starting 2020, and a school counselor beginning in 2013, became Del Norte's principal. Eveleth succeeded Bryan Schultz, who served as principal between 2018 and 2023.
Enrollment
In the 2021-2022 school year, 2,585 students were enrolled at Del Norte, with a senior class of 675 students. Student enrollment in 2020 was reported as 38.4% White, 38.3% Asian, 10.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% two or more races, 1.5% African American, 0.3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 0.2% Native American or Alaska Native.
Campus
The school is modeled after the layout of another PUSD school, Westview High School. The design is a radial pattern, with all buildings linking to a central common area. Del Norte is equipped with technology including a school-wide data-sharing network, VoIP, and Promethean Activboards in all classrooms.
Athletics
The athletic programs that are offered are: sideline cheer, men's water polo, football, girls' field hockey, girls' golf, girls' tennis, girls' volleyball, and cross country in the fall; sideline cheer, basketball, soccer, girls' water polo, wrestling, club roller hockey and club rugby in the winter; competitive cheer, boys' golf, lacrosse, boys' tennis, boys' volleyball, swimming/dive, baseball, softball, girls' gymnastics, and track and field in the spring. Del Norte submitted a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) membership application for the 2009–10 year.
In February 2023, former NFL linebacker Nick Barnett was announced as the new head coach of the football team, becoming the eighth former NFL player to coach a high school team in San Diego. On November 25, 2023, the football team won the CIF Division 2 Championship, the first CIF football championship in program history.
Academic rankings
In 2022, Niche and U.S. News both ranked Del Norte the 4th best high school in San Diego area.
For 2025, U.S. News ranked Del Norte as the 3rd best public high school in the San Diego area, while Del Norte dropped to 6th in the Niche rankings for best public high school.
Notable alumni
- Mason Abbiate, Paralympic soccer player
- Duran Ferree - American professional soccer player, first player signed by Major League Soccer club San Diego FC
- Quenton Meeks - American football cornerback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL)
- Haley Cruse Mitchell - American former professional softball player
See also
References
- ^ "Del Norte High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Elizabeth Marie Himchak (December 13, 2006). "Work begins on Del Norte High School". Pomerado Newspaper Group. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
- ^ "Del Norte High - School Directory Details (CA Dept of Education)". California Department of Education. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Del Norte High School page". Poway Unified School District. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
- ^ "Bernardo Fire burns 800 acres, 20K homes evacuated". San Diego 6. May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
- ^ "Evacuations Ordered In Northern San Diego From Bernardo Fire". KPBS. May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
- ^ Figueroa, Teri (May 26, 2022). "Anonymous threat leads to lockdowns in San Diego schools, offers glimpse into campus response". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- ^ Ramirez, Jasmine (May 26, 2022). "Students describe Del Norte High School lockdown days after Texas mass shooting". CBS8. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- ^ Taketa, Kristen (May 30, 2022). "While schools brace themselves for the worst, students beg for an end to gun violence". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- ^ "Del Norte High's new principal has decade-long history with the campus". Pomerado News. August 17, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ Gallant, Julie (August 17, 2023). "Painted Rock Elementary's new principal aims to build strong relationships". Pomerado News. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ "Del Norte High School School Profile 2021-2022" (PDF).
- ^ "Del Norte High School Student-Athlete Athletic Handbook 2021-2022". Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Maffei, John (February 1, 2023). "From the NFL to Del Norte: Nick Barnett the latest pro to take over a San Diego high school football program". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ "Compare College Prep at San Diego County Public High Schools". Niche. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ "Best High Schools in the San Diego, CA Area".
- ^ "Best High Schools in the San Diego, CA Area".
- ^ "2025 Best High Schools in the San Diego Area". Niche. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ Bowler, Michael (February 4, 2015). "Signing Day: Del Norte High's Meeks picks Stanford; three from Poway girls soccer sign". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- ^ "Haley Cruse's del Norte High School Career Home".