# Mira Mesa Senior High School

Mira Mesa Senior High School (MMHS) is a public high school in San Diego, California. It is part of San Diego Unified School District. The school serves the Mira Mesa community as well as students participating in the district's Voluntary Enrollment Exchange Program (VEEP). It is recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School and a California Distinguished School.

## History

Student enrollment breakdown as of 2019.
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 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.
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 of around 28% Filipino, 22% Hispanic, and 14% White.
In the spring of 2016 the school was re-accredited for another six years by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
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.

## Athletics

Mira Mesa High School's Athletics programs include: Football, basketball, field hockey, waterpolo, swimming, baseball, soccer, tennis, cross country, dance, volleyball, badminton, softball, wrestling, lacrosse, track and field etc.
The Mira Mesa Boys Wrestling team has won thirteen consecutive League Titles (2012-2024) and 24 overall. The team has also won thirteen consecutive San Diego City Conference (Willie Jones Jr. Memorial) Titles (2012-2024) and 21 overall. The boys wrestling team won its first-ever CIF Championship (Division 1) in 2014 and finished CIF runner-up in 2005, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. The Team once again won a CIF Championship in 2024. The Girls team was CIF runner-up in 2021 and 2022. The Girls Team was the San Diego Section Masters Champions in 2022. The Girls have won the first two City Conference Girls Championships (2023 and 2024)

## Academics
### SAT

In 2019, the average score for the SAT Verbal test was 527. The average for SAT math is 582. The average SAT score overall was 1672, ranking highest in the city of San Diego.

### College Attendance

Mira Mesa High School has a relatively high post-secondary education rate of 92% for the San Diego Unified School District. Most students attend the local University of California San Diego (UCSD) or San Diego State University.

## Mira Mesa AFJROTC

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 fourteen units contained within the San Diego Unified School District JROTC Joint Brigade. 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.
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 Senior 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 a 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.

## The Witch Creek Fire

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 km$^2$).

## Notable alumni

| Name | Grad Class | Category | Best Known For |
| Chris Chelios | 1978 | Sports | NHL player, member of Hockey Hall of Fame |
| Jessica Fischer | 1992 | Sports | Soccer player |
| Ray Rowe | 1987 | Sports | NFL player for Washington Redskins (1992-1993) |
| Lysley Tenorio | 1990 | Literature | Short story writer, author of Monstress, and recipient of NEA fellowship, Wallace Stegner fellowship, and Whiting Writers' award |
| Michael Pittman | 1993 | Sports | NFL running back for Arizona Cardinals (1998–2001), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002–2007), Denver Broncos (2008) |
| J. R. Tolver | 1998 | Sports | NFL and CFL player, wide receiver for Los Angeles Avengers (AFL) |
| Amon Gordon | 2000 | Sports | Defensive lineman for Philadelphia Eagles |
| Teyo Johnson | 2000 | Sports | Pro football player, wide receiver, and fullback for Calgary Stampeders (CFL) |
| Jake Newberry | 2012 | Sports | Baseball player |
| Tyler Thomas | 2013 | Sports | Baseball player |
| FaZe Rug | 2014 | Entertainment | YouTuber and co-owner of FaZe Clan |
| Damien Williams | | Sports | NFL running back for Miami Dolphins (2014-2017) and Kansas City Chiefs (2018–present) |