Capuchino High School

1501 Magnolia Avenue

School District

San Mateo Union High
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:20
Type

public

School Map for San Mateo Union High School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 21, 2022

Great school, great education school has a big feild everything it needs
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2022

Compared to the other schools within the San Mateo Unified School District, this school offers a lot less classes and the learning is far behind. The IB diploma is ridiculous, most prefer AP classes. What was the point of making this an IB school in the first place? I think you would have more takers in the IB diploma had this been offered at another school in the district where you have more engaged students. Had I known my child would not be learning as much as the neighboring schools, I would have applied for a transfer early on. Some of the teachers here are not very good at teaching. Compared to Aragon, Mills, and the other schools, the level of learning is behind. The only positive note coming from this school is that your child can easily be in the top 9% of their class, but does that even matter anymore when trying to get into UCLA, UCB, or other top public colleges? In addition, I feel there is not much guidance in the road to a 4 year university. Most of the information we obtained were from friends or my child had to email to ask the school. As long as you know what to ask, you can get the info you need.
Submitted by other on November 12, 2021

I had a terrible time at Cap.Bullied, fake knowlege!, Critical Race made me feal bad! Sports was aweful.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2019

Capuchino is a great school! The school offers an IB program, AVID, clubs, sports, music, and theater. The students have many opportunities and work out of beautiful campus. My daughter recently graduated and my son currently attends.My daughter now attends a UC and my son has goals to get there. High school is what you make of it. Capuchino provides the environment and opportunities. From my experience Capuchino produces well rounded students that are not afraid to be themselves.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2017

My daughter has just completed her freshman year here and she loves it. I won't say we couldn't be happier, since there's always room from improvement, but we've been very happy so far. Our daughter is a straight A student and in the GATE program, and there are plenty of opportunities for more academic students.Her favorite subject is music, and she's had a blast this year. The teacher is new for 2016-17 and is a talented and inspirational leader who has revived a dying course.Capuchino is an IB school, and the IB is a very academically rigorous program that is accepted by most colleges as equivalent or better than AP. This brings me to a complaint I have about sites like this one and the US News Best High Schools list. They base their "college-readiness" scores only on AP courses, and Cap has only one AP course. However, most students do at least one IB course, and this site shows that 57% of Cap students "... meet UC/CSU entrance requirements", which is second only to Mills in the SMUHSD high schools. It doesn't mean that Cap is the "second best" high school but it's unfairly impacted by these methods. This reinforces a local perception that it is a "bad" school. It's not.Overall, we've had a very positive experience.What could be done better? I think science and math is very good for the higher achieving students, but seems to be lacking for the non-academic students. Test scores are comparatively low, but I don't have any concerns about our own daughter.There should be additional IB course, specifically Music and Physics.The school in the area of the district with the highest concentration of low-income families, and this is reflected in the difficulties the school boosters have in raising additional funds. It gets the same amount of funding as the other high schools, but /they/ can raise money in a heart beat - for instance, the science department needs $8000 for new equipment, which is /not/ being funded by the district, but is unable to raise that much.There is a local attitude that Cap is a "bad" school, based on some outdated perceptions. However, tts reputation is higher outside the district than within it. Perhaps this is unfair, but the administration sometimes gives the impression it makes decisions that are designed only to make their jobs easier. Some decisions have been reversed only after complaints from parents.
Submitted by parent on April 12, 2016

Great school, campus is beautiful, teachers are young and enthusiastic including the principal, awesome step to college program (AVID), ib baccalaureate courses, readily available tutoring, friendly, open, accepting atmosphere,good ethnic mix, absolutely love it, very happy to have my kid here
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2015

Great school! Great Academics! Great every thing! It is great looking as well. Going here over schools like burlingame And mills is great sfter there is IB! Go here!
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2014

Some of the teachers are really devoted, but others are very critical and hostile. There is a definitely a lack of cohesiveness and school spirit among both the staff and students as well. It is obvious as well that lower academic and behavior standards are accepted at Capuchino than the other schools in the district. In the end, most of Capuchino's problems (and negative reputation) can be attributed to the poor quality of leadership in the administration.
Submitted by parent on October 02, 2014

It's a nice campus, and the IB program is solid. Our family's experiences with classes outside of IB have been poor. Administration don't seem sincere in terms of listening to concerns/ideas or in their follow-through (or lack thereof).
Submitted by other on November 04, 2013

Capuchino High School This a great school. Health does not involve anything to do with the bible as a comment previously mentioned. The teachers here are really helpful and they take the time to help the student comprehend the subject as long the student is willing to learn. The reputation Capuchino has bee misunderstood. Capuchino is a great school not only because its an IB school, but because of the environment it has to offer. It has diversity and it is a life learning experience. It is a place of prosperity, it makes the student and the parent feel welcomed.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2013

I am a very satisfied parent of two Cap graduates class of 2006 and 2011. I found the staff to be extremely capable, hardworking and accommodating to my very different students' needs. The leadership program creates an extremely exciting and spirited atmosphere that is Cap's greatest strength. My girls really LOVED coming to school every day. A large A+ goes to Principal Shamar Shanks who expects student's to bring their best every day and is willing to help them one on one if they ask. My students always received attention and help from their caring teachers and supportive counselors. The IB diploma program was extremely rigorous yet effectively prepared our student for Boston College where she is currently a sophomore who feels indebted to her principal, counselors, teachers and staff for preparing her to work hard and earn success. I have one more child and look forward to four more years at Capuchino High School!
Submitted by other on October 08, 2012

I am a Cap alumni of the past graduating class, 2012. I have to say many people have a bad presumption of Cap, but unless you actually go to the school you'll realize this is the best high school in the district. The teachers are amazing! If you need help they will aid you, if you care for your grades then they will make the time for you. The administration are tough because they want the best learning environment possible, which is reasonable. I loved Cap, made many new friends, I have strong bonds with me teachers who led me to success. The IB program is great and rigorous, I actually completed the full diploma program, was the captain of the basketball team, did swimming and joined clubs! The atmosphere is wonderful this school has prepared me for my future. Now I attend UC Berkeley as an undergrad and will continue to thank Cap for everything it has done for me.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2012

This is a good school with the only IB program on the peninsula BUT be aware that they teach Catholic dogma in their health classes and try to teach the bible as literature.