Samo ranks in top 4 percent of schools nationwide

Taylor Witt/ Staff Writer

Isabella Meyers (‘25) [left] and Marley Olmos (‘25) [right] design their bowls during class for Ceramics 1.

Samo is ranked in the top 4 percent out of the estimated 18,000 schools across the nation according to U.S. News, as of August 29.

U.S. News ranks high schools on 6 factors of criteria; college readiness, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth and graduation rates. Based on data from 20192022, 69 percent of Samo’s student body has taken at least one AP Exam, and 55 percent have passed one exam. On average, Samo’s subject proficiency exhibited by statewide exams is higher than the state of California by 21.7 percent. Samo’s graduation rate is also high at 97 percent with high rates of subject proficiency, test-taking abilities, and graduation rates, Samo creates strong students.

According to Principle Marae Cruce, Samo students are heavily focused on their passions, which are encouraged by Samo staff and the surrounding community.

“The students are studious with regard to what they are interested in. They are able to pursue and have an opportunity to rigorous curriculum and explore areas that interest them.

They are focused and determined,” Cruce said. “It’s definitely by the community from what the students see success being defined as, but it is also fostered by the teachers. The way that they conduct their class and content and learning and questioning.” Samo students can explore their interests with an array of classes and electives. Samo thrives with a renowned music department, a prominent theater and visual arts department, and a multitude of sports. Samo students are provided with access to a variety of extracurricular activities that they can partake in. Tess Sloan (’25) is a participant in numerous of the activities Samo offers and said she values the accessibility of Samo.

“We offer so many things and make it available,” Sloan said, “My friends from other schools are so surprised when I tell them I’m taking so many classes because they aren’t allowed to take that many classes.” Cruce believes that Samo has many additional assets that promote Samo’s ranking, such as the variety of classes students are able to partake in.

“The level of diverse classes we have to offer, the options, the number of advanced placement classes; those are definitely some of the factors that have us ranking a little higher,” Cruce said. “The culture on campus, whether that is the academic or athletic culture. We have all of our fine arts.”

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