Grossmont High School is a public high school in eastern San Diego County, California. Opened in 1920, it is the oldest public high school in East County and the first of twelve high schools currently in Grossmont Union High School District. The school has an approximate enrollment of 2,800 students.
Grossmont High School has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) since 1962. It was recognized as being a California Distinguished School for the scholastic year of 2008–2009.
The school's mascot is the Foothiller, so chosen because, at the time of the school's construction, East County was much more isolated from the rest of San Diego than it is today and was often referred to as the boondocks or the foothills.
Contents
Campus
The school's "Old Main" building was constructed in 1922 and was used for decades as a teaching space before being converted to district offices. The campus has slowly expanded over the past 80+ years to include thirteen additional permanent instructional, athletic, and administrative buildings. Notable among these is the “Old Gym” which was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Recent plans to demolish this gymnasium were tabled after considerable negative community response.
Grossmont is directly in between the cities of La Mesa and El Cajon, with a large majority of students being from both areas. It is located close to regional Harry Griffen Park. The majority of the student body is from the La Mesa area.
Prop H Construction on the Grossmont High School campus began summer of 2005. The corridors are in the process of being remodeled. So far the 800, 700, and 500 buildings have been re-modeled and the construction crews are going in reverse order by the building number, 800 first and 100 last. 600 will not be re-modeled as it was re-modeled in 1995, along with the Old Gym. The 400 building or the Old Main building was shut down. Whether the district will re-model this building or demolish it is yet to be decided.
Proposition U was passed during the 2008 election by an overwhelming majority. Construction and renovation on the campus will continue.
School museum
In 2008, the Grossmont High School Museum opened in the old book room storage room in the Math Building. It has since moved to a larger space on the east side of campus. The museum features a "Hall of Honor" highlighting notable staff, educators, and school alumni.
In 2025, the Grossmont High School Museum unveiled an outdoor mural featuring three alumni who went on to become astronauts: Bill Anders (Class of 1951), Rick Sturckow (Class of 1978), and Ellen Ochoa (Class of 1975)
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
Grossmont's athletic teams, the Foothillers, compete in the Hills League of the Grossmont Conference and the CIF San Diego Section
The school fields teams in the following sports: baseball, boys basketball, cheer, girls basketball, boys cross country, girls cross country, football, boys golf, girls golf, gymnastics, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, boys soccer, girls soccer, softball, boys swimming & diving, girls swimming & diving, boys tennis, girls tennis, boys track & field, girls track & field, boys volleyball, girls volleyball, boys water polo, girls water polo, and wrestling.
Grossmont's varsity baseball team has captured the division II CIF title in the past 4 seasons ('05, '06, '07, '08) and ranks amongst the most competitive high schools in California.
Grossmont Highschool NJROTC
The Naval Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NJROTC) program at Grossmont High School is a student-led extracurricular activity focused on developing citizenship, leadership, discipline, and respect among cadets. It emphasizes naval science, maritime heritage, physical fitness, and community service. The program is one of many NJROTC units nationwide established under Public Law in 1964 (Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 102), which provides for instruction by retired Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel at accredited secondary schools.
The Grossmont High School NJROTC unit was established in the early 2000s (approximately 2003–2005), making it a relatively young program with a history spanning roughly two decades as of the mid-2020s. It has grown to offer a range of academic, athletic, and leadership opportunities for students in the East County San Diego area
Armed Drill Team
Unarmed Drill Team
Colour guard Color Guard
Academic Team
Physical Fitness Team
Orienteering Team
CyberPatriot Team
Marksmanship Team
Drone or STEM Team
The Foothills Unit also participates in Community service and field trips are central, including visits to Naval Base San Diego for damage control training, the USS Howard, Marine Corps Recruit Depot ceremonies, San Diego Civic Center events, and Rosecrans National Cemetery for Memorial Day. Select cadets attend summer programs like Leadership Academy (at Irvine Ranch) or Sail Academy (in Coronado) for advanced training in leadership, teamwork, and sailing.
The program culminates annually in events such as a formal Cadet Ball (with dinner and dancing), military inspections with parades, promotions, and ribbon awards. It is not a military recruiting tool but prioritizes personal development, teamwork, and citizenship.
Traditions
Commencement
Commencement at Grossmont used to take place atop nearby Mt. Helix in an amphitheater constructed in the early part of the 20th century for Easter sunrise services. Graduation ceremonies were later moved to San Diego State University, and then to Grossmont's own Thomas Mullen Adams Stadium (Adams was the first American military officer killed during the Iraq War and a 1993 graduate). Awards granted each year at commencement include the Circle G Award, the Boy and Girl of the Year Award, and the Norman Freeman Award.
Notable alumni
Jacqueline O’Donovan Lewis, 1995, educator and insanely hot woman .
Clark Allen, 1942, entertainer, artist, and businessman.
Ryan Anthony, trumpet player
Kimberlin Brown, actress
Doug Benson, 1981, comedian
Gregory R. Bryant, 1968, Rear Admiral, United States Navy
Vinny Curran, actor Resolution
Jack Hamann, 1972, journalist, CNN, PBS, author "On American Soil"
Douglas Inman,1936, was a professor of Oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Jimmy LaValle, 1996, musician, The Album Leaf.
Daniel Lewis, 1942, conductor
David Leisure, 1968, actor, Empty Nest and fictional spokesman Joe Isuzu (Isuzu commercials)
Jean Landis, 1936, aviator
Beverly Long, 1950, actress Rebel Without A Cause
Jenn Lindsay, singer-songwriter
Scott Lippman,1973, director of Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego
Dan McLain, aka Country Dick Montana, 1972, musician, entertainer (The Beat Farmers)
Astronauts
William Anders, astronaut, Apollo 8, the first crew to fly to and orbit the Moon
Ellen Ochoa, 1975, astronaut
Frederick W. Sturckow, 1978, astronaut
Athletes
Steven Brault, MLB pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
Nick Christie, racewalker
Kevin Correia, 1998, MLB pitcher, San Diego Padres
Lance Dickson, 1987, baseball player
Ralph Drollinger, 1972, UCLA basketball star, NBA player
Dennis Enarson, 2009, pro BMX rider
Geoff Geary, 1994, MLB pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros
A. J. Griffin, MLB pitcher, Texas Rangers
Bud Held, javelin
Joe Musgrove, MLB pitcher, San Diego Padres
Mike McCoy, professional baseball utility player and coach
Hal Norris, former National Football League defensive back for the Washington Redskins
Alex Perelson,withdrew in 10th grade, skateboarder
Jeff Van Raaphorst, 1982, quarterback Arizona State, 1987 Rose Bowl Player Of The Game
Grant Roberts, Major League Baseball pitcher, New York Mets
Kristin Rhodes, 1993, strength athlete
Tommy Rutherford, basketball player
Brian Sipe, 1967, former National Football League quarterback, 1980 MVP, Cleveland Browns and United States Football League (USFL) New Jersey Generals and Jacksonville Bulls