About Us

About Oceanside High School

Our History

In 1906, Oceanside-Carlsbad High School opened in the two upstairs rooms of the existing Grammar School located on the present site of Oceanside High School with 20 students.   

The first graduating class in 1909 consisted of 5 students.  That year, the senior class won the San Diego Championships in basketball. 

In 1913 the District voted for a $20,000 bond issue to erect a building of four class rooms, a study hall, a ground floor office and a Home Economics room in the basement.  There were 55 students, principal and 3 teachers.  The School district included territory south of Encinitas and extended to the San Diego City limits, including Vista.  

As the years passed, the school grew.  A science building added in 1920, an auditorium and more classrooms in 1921.  An east wing including a library, gymnasium and auditorium was added in 1925.  In 1935, an earthquake damaged the west wing forcing the students to attend classes in 10 large military type tents with wood floors, but no heat or electricity. Work was completed in 1937. 

Coastal towns, (except Carlsbad) and Vista formed their own districts in 1936-1937 and it became Oceanside-Carlsbad High School.  

The next 2 decades saw the building of a Home Economics building, machine and carpenter shop, a new gymnasium, lockers and shower rooms, new arts and industrial arts, college wing, district library. 

Carlsbad students moved to the new Carlsbad High School in January of 1958. 

In January of 1972, the new Oceanside High School East opened with Juniors and Seniors attending East and Freshmen and Sophomores attending West.  In 1976, Oceanside East was renamed El Camino High School. 

In March of 2000, a $125 million bond issue was passed and in October 2002, a new, $12 million science and technology building was completed along with the renovated library, courtyard, administration building.  

September of 2006 saw Oceanside High celebrate its 100^th anniversary.  For photos of the celebration, go to www.ohsfoundation.org.  You can also read about some of the successful OHS graduates on the Hall of Fame page. 

Just this year, Prop. H was passed for $195 million.  OHS plans to build a performing arts center that would feature a 550-seat auditorium, along with classroom spaces for instrumental, choral and drama classes.

Oceanside High School's football team is ranked 3rd in division 2 south, 7th in the state, and 58th nationwide according to the calpreps.com power rankings. The Pirates have won three consecutive CIF championships in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 led by Coach John Caroll.  Following the 2006 CIF win, OHS defeated Novato of Marin County 28-14 and became the first San Diego County team to ever appear in and win a state championship.