Mira Mesa Senior High School

Located in the northern portion of the San Diego city limits, Mira Mesa is located in an area once situated by Native American tribes. Due to much of the land being considered wasteland, it was not put to much use for years until in the early 1960s. Developers saw its potential to relieve the housing shortage San Diego was facing.

In 1974, a school bond issue was passed to help build the schools that the now full-fledged town of Mira Mesa sorely needed. On September 13, 1976, Mira Mesa Jr./Sr. High School was opened and now serves grades 9-12, fed by the local Challenger and Wangenheim Middle Schools.[6]

Since 1998, Mira Mesa High School has seen an increase in diversity among its students. As of the 2014-15 school year, the student body was composed at around 28% Filipino, 22% Hispanic, and 14% White.[7]

In the spring of 2016 the school was re-accredited for another six years by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).[8]

Starting in 2019 major construction projects started on campus, including a new building replacing the bungalow units, and a new music building in the front of the school.[9]

Mira Mesa High School's Athletics programs include: Football, basketball, field hockey, waterpolo, swimming, baseball, soccer, tennis, cross country, cheerleading, volleyball, badminton, softball, wrestling, lacrosse, track and field etc.

The Mira Mesa Wrestling team won its first ever CIF Championship (Division 1) in 2014. The wrestling team has also won nine consecutive Eastern League Titles (2012-2020) and nine consecutive San Diego City Conference Titles (2012-2020).[10]

• Drama
• Technical Theatre http://miramesatheatre.org/
• Band/Marching Band https://www.miramesabands.org/
• Orchestra http://www.miramesaorchestras.org/
• Choir/Madrigals
• Color Guard
• Dance/Drill Team

Mira Mesa High School's marching band, the Sapphire Sound, was part of the band that performed in the Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremonies. The band also performed in the 2016 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2016, they have also been selected to return for the 2022 Parade. The marching band has 263 members. In 2019 the schools Symphonic Band and Symphonic Orchestra were invited to play at the Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Mira Mesa High School is home to the 936th Wing of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (CA-936) which is one of the thirteen units contained within the San Diego Unified School District JROTC Joint Brigade.[13] Established in September 1993, CA-936 has served Mira Mesa High School and the local community, participating in many community service events such as the annual Mira Mesa Street Fair and Fourth of July Parade.[14]

Currently, CA-936 is led by two certified Aerospace Science Instructors consisting of a retired United States Air Force Major and a retired United States Air Force Master Sergeant. Cadet leadership within the wing consists of a thirteen-member "Senior Staff" led by a Wing Commander. The unit has four drill teams: a Sabre Team, an Armed Fancy Drill Team, an Unarmed Fancy Drill Team, and Color Guard. The program also boasts several special teams: a Cyberpatriot Team, an Awareness Presentation Team, an Academic Team, and a Youth Physical Fitness Team. The Wing has a friendly rivalry with Herbert Hoover High School's Army JROTC Group. They are also neighbors to the Scripps Ranch Air Force JROTC (CA-935) unit. In addition to being awarded the Distinguished Unit Award multiple times by Headquarters AFJROTC, CA-936 has twice been awarded the SDUSD Brigade's Stilwell trophy in 2001 and 2002.[15]

Evacuees at evacuation site

On October 22, 2007, many victims found shelter in the school gym, after they evacuated from the Witch Creek Fire and several other fires threatening San Diego at the time. The fire burned over 20,000 acres (81 km²).

• Chris Chelios (Class of 1978), NHL player, member of Hockey Hall of Fame[16]
• Jessica Fischer (Class of 1992), soccer player[17]
• Amon Gordon (Class of 2000), defensive lineman for Philadelphia Eagles
• Teyo Johnson (Class of 2000), pro football player, wide receiver and fullback for Calgary Stampeders (CFL)
• Jake Newberry (Class of 2012), baseball player[18]
• Michael Pittman (Class of 1993), NFL running back for Arizona Cardinals (1998–2001), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002–2007), Denver Broncos (2008)
• Ray Rowe (Class of 1987), NFL player for Washington Redskins 1992-93
• Lysley Tenorio (Class of 1990), short story writer, author of Monstress and recipient of NEA fellowship, Wallace Stegner fellowship, and Whiting Writers' award
• J. R. Tolver (Class of 1998), NFL and CFL player, wide receiver for Los Angeles Avengers (AFL)
• Damien Williams, running back for NFL's Miami Dolphins (2014-2017) and Kansas City Chiefs (2018–present)

• Primary and secondary schools in San Diego, California

• Mira Mesa High School web site