As of the 2014–15 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,639 students and 107.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 24.5:1. There were 78 students (3.0% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 39 (1.5% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[3]
Cal has an all-weather track and an aquatic center, including a multi-use athletic stadium and fields (football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field). Outside, there are six tennis courts, four baseball/softball fields including one baseball field and one softball field intended for games, and an indoor gym and stadium. In 2004, a two-story, ten-classroom building was completed and was designated the World Language building. In 2006, the school added a new main building (67 classrooms on 3 stories) and a new library. In 2007, the school completed a new careers and technology building, student quad, and counseling building. In 2008, the new fine arts building was completed. In March 2010, a second gymnasium was completed on the site of outdoor basketball courts, called the Event Center. In April 2010, a new theater, which was under renovation for three years, opened. It has nine classrooms and is fully fitted with a video production studio and sound room, and an art gallery to display student work. Cal high has a large student and faculty parking area, though demand exceeds available space.[4] In light of this, many of the streets around the school are permit parking zones. Cal High also has a recently renovated weight room, equipped with lifting machines and 12 fully stocked Olympic weightlifting cages used mainly by the football team and weightlifting class. Twelve years of construction were concluded with the installation of SunPower solar panels over the back parking lot in the summer of 2011.
Unlike other schools in the district, Cal High operates on a block schedule. Classes are 95 minutes long from Monday through Friday. The base schedule consists of six 95-minute periods; students have three classes per school day. Odd-numbered classes are on one day and even numbered classes the next. Some students opt to add an extra 60-minute "B-period" class to their schedule. B-period classes meet on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for 60 minutes from 2:40-3:40 pm.[5] Students have a designated "tutorial" period after their first period of the day and lasts for 30 minutes. During this time period, they can read, study, collaborate on work, or get help from teachers. There is no tutorial on Wednesday, hence the day is shorter ending at 2:05 pm.
Cal High's student-run monthly newspaper is The Californian. The first school newspaper, The Bear Facts, was started in 1973.
California High School was ranked No. 250 in the top 500 US high schools by Newsweek in 2011,[9] placing it within the top 1.5% of the over 18,000 high schools in the United States.[10] In 2005, Cal High was a California Distinguished School.[11]
In 2020, the California High School National History Bowl Team won 2nd place. They subsequently won 4th place in 2021.[12]
In 2024, the California High School Men's Tennis Team, led by team captains Kartik Pandian, Jerry Xu, Vishesh Verma, and Ritvik Uprety and coached by Manny Vasquez and Ron Jow, won the CIF Northern California State Championship, becoming the best high school tennis team in Northern California.[13]
California High School Theatre is the performing arts program and venue at California High School in San Ramon, California. Located in the Fine Arts Building, it includes a renovated theater and supports classes, student productions, and community events.
\== Facilities ==
The theater reopened in April 2010 after a three-year renovation. It includes a proscenium stage, up-to-date lighting and sound systems, backstage dressing rooms, a scene shop, an art gallery, and a video production studio.[14]
\== Drama Classes ==
The program offers several levels of coursework:
Cal High Drama Club meets bi-weekly and participates in the International Thespian Society.[16]
Cal High Drama Boosters support performances and school events.[17]
The theater hosts an annual season of productions and occasional guest or community events.[18]
\== Career & Technical Education Pathways ==
California High School offers multiple College & Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, structured to prepare students for postsecondary education and workforce readiness.[19]
\=== Biomedical Sciences Pathway ===
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum includes:
The SpongeBob Musical (Spring 2025) drew outstanding attendance and student praise.[29]
\== Community Partnerships ==
The theater occasionally hosts guest performances and is involved in local festivals, such as the San Ramon Community Performing Arts Festival.[30]
Tony Sanchez – Head football coach from 2004 to 2008. Went on to coach the Bishop Gorman High School (Nevada) and University of Nevada, Las Vegas football programs. Sanchez turned around California High "from doormat status to a berth in the North Coast Section finals," according to ESPN.[39]
Will Mark (lacrosse) – Former NCAA Division I goalie at LIU and Syracuse; two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year, USILA and Inside Lacrosse All-America honoree. He now coaches JV and varsity lacrosse at California High School.[40][41]
Chase Jolie (lacrosse) – Former college lacrosse midfielder at Ithaca College and Monte Vista HS captain (Class of 2017); currently serves as an assistant offensive coordinator for Cal High's lacrosse team.[42]
Griffin Cook (lacrosse) – Syracuse University attacker and 2023 team co-captain. He now coaches offensive strategy and player development at Cal High.[43]
^United States Geological Survey (November 9, 1995). "GNIS Detail - California High School". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
^"California High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
^CIBA cited as one of the best by Education DepartmentArchived August 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
^Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; The Washington Post. September 29, 2005. "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."