San Ysidro High School (SYHS) was established in the summer of 2002, and was named after the community in which the institution predominantly serves, "San Ysidro, California." Before its establishment, the community did not have a high school where the nearby K-8 educational district, San Ysidro Elementary School District, could feed students. This resulted in many middle school students transferring to different schools within Sweetwater Union High School District, such as Southwest Senior High School. However, once the school opened, many students began enrolling, as it was much closer than neighboring schools.
San Ysidro High School has faced a troubling increase in student involvement in drug smuggling, particularly with fentanyl. Criminal groups are recruiting minors to transport drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border, thinking they will be less likely to be caught. This issue has grown since around 2009, as teens are often tempted by the promise of quick cash and social status[2]
In May 2009, a senior prank at the school led to a significant police response. Around 1:30 a.m., motion sensors activated, prompting armed officers, a helicopter, and K-9 units to investigate. Thirteen students were caught rearranging furniture, including spelling "09" in the grass. The principal at the time, Hector Espinoza, raised security concerns, as one student had access to a building key. The eighteen-year-olds faced citations, while younger students were returned to their parents.[3][4]
In June 2009, a former student avoided felony charges after bringing homemade bottle bombs to school as a prank. Instead of facing six years in prison, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, receiving three years of probation and 30 days of community service. The incident, which involved several explosions near students during lunch, prompted a lockdown but resulted in no injuries. The student later expressed regret and lost his scholarships, graduating without attending the ceremony.[5]
In January 2015, the school experienced two bomb threats that led to lockdowns. The first threat, received around 10 a.m., involved a computer-generated voice. Students evacuated to the football field as police searched the campus, finding no hazards. After resuming normal operations, a second bomb threat was reported, leading to a further police investigation.[6] On February 2015, two teenage boys were questioned by detectives regarding discussions of a potential assault on students and staff at the high school. This incident followed a series of at least eight recent bomb threats. There was no evidence linking them to the previous bomb threats.[7]
In November 2015, a transgender student at the school was nominated for homecoming queen. The student was one of five seniors in the running, but another student was ultimately crowned.[8]
In September 2020, a student at the school faced challenges when walking six miles to school due to bus route cuts, only to encounter further issues with online learning during the pandemic. Relying on a hotspot for internet access led to frequent disconnections.[9][10][11]
In September 2021, students at Grossmont, Sweetwater, and San Ysidro high schools protested dress codes they labelled "sexist and outdated".[12]
A San Ysidro High School alumna, that graduated with honors and later went on to pursue higher education. Was able to 2021, raise over $10,000 and was awarded three $2,000 scholarships. The scholarship aims to support future leaders.[13][14]
In April 2022, it was revealed that a student at the school had been diagnosed with tuberculosis, leading to concerns about potential exposure. The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency collaborated with school officials to notify those who may have been at risk.[15]
In February 2023, San Ysidro High School was placed on lockdown after a loaded ghost gun was found in a parked Ford Mustang on campus. Around 10 a.m., officers on patrol detected marijuana from a parked car as well as a group of five young men near the car. When approached, one of them ran back to the Mustang, tossed something inside, and fled into the nearby canyons. The suspect, not a student and under 21, was arrested shortly after.[16][17]
Class of 2019 Valedictorian Speech
On June 6, 2019, Nataly Buhr, the valedictorian from the school, delivered a graduation speech that gained significant attention for its candid critiques of school staff. While initially expressing gratitude toward supportive teachers, The speech pivoted to address issues she faced, notably calling out her counselor for unavailability and a teacher who reportedly attended class while intoxicated. Following the ceremony, the speech garnered the attention of news outlets around the United States and went viral on many social media platforms. A video detailing the incident, created by the YouTube channel "NowThis News" amassed over 8 million views. Following the internet virality of the situation, Sweetwater Union High School District released a statement denying many of the accusations presented in the speech, citing that the speech was not pre-approved and contained "rumors regarding misconduct."[18][19][20][21]
Demographics
Of the students enrolled at San Ysidro High School, 51.6% are male, 48.4% are female. Racial and ethnic breakdown is 88.1% Hispanic or Latino, 3.5% Asian, 1.3% multi-racial 1.6% black, 5.1% caucasian, with 0.3% or less of indigenous.
In addition, 66% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch prices in 2020.[22]
Men's Basketball Team - 2020 CIF Division 3 Champions[24]
'CougarBots' Robotics Team - Competed at the 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 VEX Robotics World Competition. Winner of Amaze Award in 2022 and Inspire Award in 2023 at VEX Worlds [citation needed]
Athletics
San Ysidro High School offers a variety of athletic programs across three seasons:[25]
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations.(October 2024)
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