The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) traces its roots on the Peninsula all the way back to the founding of San Mateo High School (the second-oldest public high school in San Mateo County) in 1902. The District educates about 8,200 students at six highly-rated comprehensive high schools (five are ranked among the top 1,000 public high schools in the U.S. by Newsweek magazine), a special Middle College program in conjunction with the College of San Mateo and a continuation school.\n\nThe District’s Adult School, one of the largest and most productive in the Bay Area, typically enrolls upwards of 8,000 individuals aged 18 and over. The Adult School includes the largest program for those learning English in San Mateo County.\n\n The San Mateo Union High School District, as it observes its 110th anniversary in 2012-13, continues to be a vital community academic and cultural resource. With an annual operating budget that is funded primarily through local property taxes, it serves a diverse range of students from six mid-Peninsula cities in the heart of one of the most dynamic and creative regions of the U.S., stretching from San Bruno in the north to San Mateo and Foster City in the south, with a combined population of over 235,000 people. Now educating individuals in its 12th decade, the District has graduated an estimated 127,000 young people since its founding.\n\nThe District’s long and productive history and rich tradition run deep. The public has continued to give the District and its students and staff strong support. Its constituents have approved construction bond measures, allowing the District to allocate more than $620 million to rebuild and renovate its schools and facilities, including the landmark Performing Arts Center on the campus of San Mateo High School.