MBHS: The School That Rules the Seas

Established in 1956, Morro Bay High School has been an integral part of our coastal community for decades. On the surface, many students and outsiders might label the high school as average, standard, or ordinary. But a quick look around campus, and you will see a school that is far more extraordinary. 

There is no doubt that our school’s location alone contributes to its uniqueness. Less than 200 feet from the beach and 250 yards from the Pacific Ocean, students have endless opportunities to enjoy this rare privilege. Here, students have the freedom to go off campus during lunch, where the beach is within easy walking distance. Furthermore, our location allows us to have a surf team, and for other sports teams to condition on the beach – something that makes that experience significantly more tolerable. While there is no specific statistic, it is safe to assume that few other high schools in the entire country have the privileges and opportunities we do to access and live our school lives around the ocean. 

But there is more to Morro Bay High School than just the beach. Principal Scott Schalde remarked on this, “I think that we have something special here. It’s not just because our school’s on the beach. That part is just neat.  The atmosphere, I think, is what makes it special,” he said. Schalde believes that what contributes to this atmosphere are the students and staff at Morro Bay. Schalde remarked, students here, as a whole, are “more kind and inquisitive. They tend to be more curious than judgmental. I like the fact that so many kids who don’t seem to have things in common find ways to hang out and collide… That doesn’t happen at all schools.” Teachers at Morro Bay also go beyond just teaching. So many teachers not only teach, but also get involved with school extracurricular activities. For instance, Mr. Waldman leads our highly successful Mock Trial team and helps with cross country. Mrs. Frere leads track and cross country, Ms. Conlin coaches basketball, and Mr. Gade coaches our surf team. It is easy to see that many adults working at Morro Bay get involved in activities beyond the classroom, strengthening the school’s unique community.

Additionally, though Morro Bay is a small school, it provides its students with “big” school opportunities and education. Though our school’s population usually stands at around 800 students, we have 25 sports teams and a surf team (seven more teams than Templeton High School). We have 12 CTE pathways, ranging from agriscience to patient care to visual media and design, and all the equipment that goes along with it. Mr.Schalde remarks on the vast range of opportunities students here have: “We have so much cool stuff. It’s just intense. How many cool things kids can try to do here. And I think our kids get it, although, you know, if you go to really good restaurants every night, at some point, you take it for granted.” 

From kids coming back to class with wet, salty hair to kindness in the air, Morro Bay High School is truly a special place to go to high school.