San Mateo High School was first established in 1902, functioning out of a cottage on Ellsworth Avenue. The present day school was built in 1927 and currently enrolls approximately 1,425 students in grades 9 through 12. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges and was designated a National Distinguished Blue Ribbon school by the US Department of Education in 1991. The school boasts a music, physical education and drama department as well as a wide range of athletics.