Santa Margarita Catholic High School

Santa Margarita Catholic High School (abbreviated as SMCHS) is a coeducational college preparatory Roman Catholic high school located in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, United States. SMCHS is owned and operated by the Diocese of Orange, and was opened in 1987 under the direction of the Bishop of Orange. Although it follows the Catholic tradition, admission is open to students of all faiths. As of the fall 2010 semester, 1,573 students were enrolled in grades 9 through 12. SMCHS opened in the fall of 1987, the first Catholic high school to serve South Orange County. Its 42-acre (170,000 m2) campus is adjacent to the San Francisco Solano parish church. Prominent features include a chapel with a bell tower and chimes, and the Von der Ahe Pavilion. Other facilities include a library/media center, four academic buildings, an administration building, a gymnasium, athletic fields, an aquatics center, and tennis courts. Santa Margarita Catholic High School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. SMCHS is also an International Baccalaureate World School, and it offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams. SMCHS also offers a comprehensive Auxiliary Studies Program (ASP) to help students who learn differently. The Class of 2010 earned $19 million in scholarship offers.