Here at MomsThatThink, we want to help our readers understand all things education, schools, and what moms need to know when it comes to caring for and helping their children succeed. Academics and choosing the right school are important, and so is being involved in a sports program. So, we’re continuing to tell our readers about the best sports options by telling you about the California high schools with the best sports programs.

Students can gain a lot by joining one or several athletic teams in their school. To start, they can engage in physical activity that will make them stronger. Loving fitness when they’re young is essential because they’ll likely continue to exercise as they get older. Plus, when they’re healthy, they’ll avoid sickness and illness. Athletics are also vital for kids to learn how to use logic and to work as part of a team, which will help them now and later in their professional lives. To determine the best school programs, we researched several educational sites, including Niche.com, and these are our results.

St. John Bosco High School

Our list of California high schools with the best sports programs starts with St. John Bosco High School. It’s located in Bellflower, CA. According to Niche, this high school is considered to be the absolute best school in California for student-athletes. The experts and the students give the sports programs an “A+” rating. When polled, 84% of students agreed that there were plenty of sports and organizations from which to choose. That’s why many students are involved in athletics. A highlight of their sports program is their football team. With the assistance of incredible coaches, the team has been able to become a three-time National Champion and win numerous state championships. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The school has numerous other sports programs, including those for cross country, football, water polo, basketball, soccer, wrestling, hockey, rugby, and more. There’s a lot from which to choose, and students can find a lot of success at this school.

Cathedral Catholic High School

Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego is another public institution that earns “A” grades in many categories, including an A+ grade for sports and clubs. An impressive 96% of students and parents agree that there are more than enough sports for every interest. So, participation is very high for both boys and girls. There are countless athletic options at this school, including tennis, volleyball, water polo, basketball, baseball, golf, and swimming. Plus, there are many sports that you won’t find at many other high schools, including surfing, dance, badminton, and water polo. Most of the teams perform quite well, but it’s more than just winning matches and games. The coaches and administrators also want to teach the students how to work in a team environment and to use their mental and analytical skills to find a way to win. The students here must have a 2.0 GPA or higher to compete in sports, so academics are also important at this school.

Archbishop Mitty High School

Located in San Jose, Archbishop Mitty High School is another one of the California high schools with the best sports programs. The sports programs get high ranks amongst the students and the parents and many students participate in the school’s offerings. There is a wide variety of sports available at this school, including wrestling, soccer, basketball, water polo, lacrosse, golf, cross country, and tennis. Many of the athletes and teams at this school have been incredibly successful. At this point, the school has won 10 national championships, 49 NorCal championships, 23 CIF State Championships, and 161 CCS Championships, and the school has produced 5 Olympians over the years. Many of the students go on to find successful college careers, and many even go professional. There’s also a Hall of Fame at the school that alumni can find themselves in after graduation. Overall, this is a spectacular program with a lot to offer California students.

Mater Dei High School

This private high school in Orange County is among the top of the list when it comes to sports and private schools in general. The students at this school rate the sports and activity as an “A+” on Niche.com. In fact, 90% of students believe that there are enough programs so that there’s something for everyone. The school offers many different sports, including the traditional offerings, such as soccer, basketball, football, wrestling, and hockey. However, they also offer some of the more unique activities, including water polo, e-sports, and sailing. The athletes at this school are very talented. Thanks to their talented coaches, many have become Heisman Trophy winners, including football players Matt Leinart, John Huarte, and Bryce Young. Many of the athletes have also gone on to compete in the Olympics, including baseball player Danny Espinosa, track star Gia Trevisan, and Sarah Hughes, a beach volleyball player who competed in the 2024 Olympics.

De La Salle High School

De La Salle High School, a private school in Concord, also makes the list of the California high schools with the best sports programs. Overall, this school ranks as one of the very best all-boys high schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. When asked, 93% of students said that there are more than enough programs to satisfy their needs, and 82% believe that the programs are well funded. If you’re interested in the school, you’ll find that there are a variety of sports to consider, including cross country, football, water polo, basketball, wrestling, golf, tennis, diving, and more. All in all, the coaches and staff have helped the school to be incredibly competitive and win 193 North Coast Section (NCS) championships, 285 league titles, six national titles, 25 CIF State Championships, and 19 Northern California championships. In addition to winning, the staff hopes that sports will help their students grow and learn on and off the field.

Torrey Pines High School

Routinely rated as one of the best schools in all of San Diego, Torrey Pines High School is a public institution that gets high marks in a variety of areas, including teaching, college, prep, diversity, academics, and sports programs. There’s a very high participation rate for both boys and girls. There are close to 30 different sports that students can join. They include cheer, cross country, volleyball, boys and girls water polo, golf, football, swimming, and more. In addition to excelling in the sport, the school encourages them to practice sportsmanship by cheering for the team, welcoming newcomers, and avoiding the use of rude behaviors as athletes and spectators. Many of the teams have earned several CIF State Championships, league championships, and many seasonal competitions. Overall, there’s a lot to love at this school, and a child interested in athletics can go far.

Santa Margarita Catholic High School

No list of the California high schools with the best sports programs would be complete without talking about Santa Margarita. This school, located in Rancho Santa Margarita, receives high marks for diversity, academics, college prep, and sports and activity. Student activity in sports is very high at this school, especially for the girls. Students have a huge variety of sports to choose from at this high school. They include football, cross country, water polo, soccer, wrestling, lacrosse, baseball, and more. This school has a great coaching program across all sports and they have the accolades to prove it. Some of the highlights over the years include having 55 CIF Player of the Year Award Winners, 84 CIF Championships, 250 league championships, 11 Southern California Championships, and 15 State Championships under their belts. Also, there have been several Olympians that have come out of the school. One of them is NBA star Klay Thompson, who won the gold medal in the 2016 Olympics. Overall, this is a great school for sports.

Cardinal Newman High School

Cardinal Newman is a private high school in Santa Rosa, CA. The school gets high marks in a number of metrics, from academics and college prep to diversity. Clubs and sports are also a big draw at the school. There’s very high participation amongst boys and girls, so there’s a lot of healthy competition. There are various sports to choose from. For boys, there is football, cross country, basketball, wrestling, golf, and more. Girls have some of the same options, plus cheerleading, women’s wrestling, and softball, among others. Many of the teams have had a lot of success, and they even have corporate sponsors that help pay for the team and facilities. However, the athletes learn much more than just how to win. Along the way, they also learn sportsmanship and how to use logic and analytics during a match, which can also help them later in their professional lives. 

Saint Francis High School

Located in Mountain View, California, Saint Francis High School receives great scores from Niche.com for academics, diversity, and “A+” scores for clubs, activities, and sports. In fact, when asked, 100% of students and parents said that they think there are plenty of activities in which to be involved. That’s no surprise. This is a school that wants everyone to be involved regardless of their background. They want people from diverse places and experiences because they know that everyone can work together. The school has all of the traditional sports, including football, baseball, wrestling, and others. Many of the athletes have gone on to do great things and your son or daughter could be the next one to make a big difference.

Helix Charter High School

Helix Charger High School gets straight-A’s across the board on almost all metrics, from academics and the teachers to diversity, and of course, activities and sports. Male and female sports participation is high (50% of students play at least one sport), but there’s still plenty of room for new students who want to show their stuff. Altogether, the school has 68 athletic teams and 26 different sports to choose from. A sampling of the sports includes baseball, basketball, volleyball, golf, water polo, wrestling, lacrosse, and others. Each team is led by incredible coaches and a supportive staff that has helped many of them win numerous championships over the years. The staff does not let athletics get in the way of the student’s academic performance either. The average GPA of all the student-athletes is 3.6, so they must continue to perform in school while they master their sport.

Sierra Canyon School

On the school information site, Niche.com, Sierra Canyon School almost gets “A+” scores across the board, from the academics to the diversity. The sports and activity categories are no exception. The participation of both boys and girls is high in this school because there’s so much to do and try. In fact, 85% of students say that there are more than enough sports and activities for everyone. Students are highly encouraged to join any of the highly accomplished teams. Altogether, the school has amassed 12 California state championships, 75 league championships, and 20 CIF championships. Plus, 247 high school athletes have gone on to athletic careers in college and beyond. Your kids would have the pick of the litter when it comes to team options. Sports include baseball, football, tennis, soccer, softball, golf, and more. Plus, the school has several specialty programs, including e-sports and equestrian sports options. There’s a lot to love about Sierra Canyon.

JSerra Catholic High School

Over in San Juan Capistrano, CA, we have JSerra Catholic High School, which is another of the California high schools with the best sports programs. This is a Catholic school that’s highly acclaimed for its academics, diversity, and sports and clubs. The sports programs here are highly reviewed, and there’s a high level of participation among all of the students. There are a variety of sports for both boys and girls, including golf, lacrosse, volleyball, water polo, track & field, wrestling, and water polo. The school also has incredible facilities, including fields for various sports, a tennis center, sand volleyball courts, and a pool for aquatics. The teams at this school have had incredible success. Many athletes were recently named 2024 Jespy Award winners, and many golfers have shown up on the PGA tour. There’s a lot of great stuff going on at this school, and your teens could be a part of it.

Marin Catholic High School

Marin Catholic High School also makes the list of the best California athletic programs according to Niche.com. The site gives both the academics program and the sports and activities programs an “A+” rating. They state that participation for both boys and girls is “very high” at this school and that most students and parents believe there are plenty of opportunities for engagement. The teams are coached by some of the best professionals in the country. They’re so good that they have led many teams to various championships over the years, especially the football, golf, track, and baseball teams. During the years of 1960-2016, the men’s teams won 292 championships, and the women won 199 championships. There are many other great teams to join as well, including cheer, lacrosse, tennis, soccer, and more.

La Costa Canyon High School

This high school in Encinitas, CA, is also rated among the best sports programs. The school is also known for its dedicated teachers, the academics, and the college prep classes. Students and parents are also fans of the clubs and activities, with 88% of them believing that the school provides great programs. There is a large variety of sports available to the kids, including volleyball, rugby, dance team, surfing, and others. Many of the teams have had great success. The volleyball team was the 2019 SD County Champions. The surf team has also had great success, placing in the top 5 in many recent championships. There’s a lot to enjoy at La Costa Canyon, which is why the school always ranks high on these lists. 

Campolindo High School

Finally, on our list of the California high schools with the best sports programs, we have Campolindo High School in Moraga, CA. This is a great school that ranks high for academics with a majority of the students being proficient in both math and reading. The sports programs are also pretty popular, with high participation levels for boys and girls. When polled, 88% of students said they were happy with the sports programs. There are sports happening all year long, including football, tennis, water polo, lacrosse, beach volleyball, and more. The teams have had incredible success over the years. Many have won championships, and various athletes have gone on to successful college careers. The school also has a great philosophy. They believe in the value of commitment, communication, and working as a team. Also, they require that their athletes succeed academically.

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