Huntington Beach High School: A Guide for Families Moving to the Area

If you're thinking about moving to Huntington Beach and Huntington Beach High School is part of your decision, you're looking at a school with a history that's deeply connected to the history of Surf City itself.

Located at 1905 Main Street, Huntington Beach High School—better known around town as HBHS and home of the Oilers—is just a few miles up Main Street from the Huntington Beach Pier.

And here's one of my favorite facts:

Huntington Beach High School is actually older than the City of Huntington Beach.

The school dates back to 1906, while Huntington Beach wasn't officially incorporated until 1909.

So if you're considering buying a home near Huntington Beach High School, there's much more to know than simply where the school is located.

Let's look at the history, academics, programs, student life and—of course—what it's like to live in this part of Huntington Beach.

Huntington Beach High School at a Glance

Here are a few quick facts for families researching HBHS:

• School: Huntington Beach High School
• Grades: 9–12
• Type: Public high school
• District: Huntington Beach Union High School District
• Address: 1905 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
• Established: 1906
• 2025–26 enrollment: Approximately 2,510 students
• Mascot: Oilers
• School colors: Orange and black

One of the things that makes HBHS especially interesting is its location.

The campus sits right on Main Street in an established part of Huntington Beach, creating a very different setting from some of the city's other high schools.

A Little Huntington Beach High School History

This is where HBHS gets really interesting.

Huntington Beach High School was established in 1906, making it one of Huntington Beach's longstanding institutions.

Its history actually began before that under an earlier union high school district, but in 1906 the school relocated to Huntington Beach and became Huntington Beach Union High School.

That same year, the school graduated its first class.

And it was a very small class.

Just four students graduated in 1906.

Imagine comparing that to the thousands of students who walk the HBHS campus today!

The school eventually moved onto the Main Street area that became its permanent home.

Today, one of its most recognizable features is the historic bell tower, which the school itself describes as an iconic Main Street symbol.

If you've driven down Main Street toward the beach, you've probably seen it.

It's one of those landmarks that feels distinctly Huntington Beach.

Why Are They Called the Oilers?

If you're new to Huntington Beach, the Oilers mascot might seem like an unusual choice for a beach town.

But it makes perfect sense when you know Huntington Beach history.

Oil played an enormous role in the development of early Huntington Beach, and for decades oil derricks were part of the local landscape.

That history is still reflected in the identity of Huntington Beach High School.

Even today, you'll hear:

Go Oilers!

And the school uses imagery connected to Huntington Beach's oil heritage as part of its traditions.

It's a small reminder that Huntington Beach wasn't always the Surf City we picture today.

Academics and Programs at Huntington Beach High School

For families moving to the area, academics and available programs are obviously an important part of researching a school.

HBHS offers a variety of academic and specialty programs.

Current programs highlighted by the school include:

Academy for the Performing Arts (APA)

AVID

Digital Journalism

HBHS Business & Design

Model United Nations (MUN)

HBHS Art

WorkAbility

Students also have access to Advanced Placement coursework and other academic opportunities.

Because course offerings and requirements can change from year to year, I always recommend reviewing the current HBHS course information directly with the school before making a decision based on a particular class or program.

The Academy for the Performing Arts Is a Big Part of HBHS

One program you'll hear about frequently when researching Huntington Beach High School is the Academy for the Performing Arts, commonly called APA.

Performing arts are a significant part of campus life at HBHS.

In fact, the school reports that approximately 80% of students participate in athletics and/or the Academy for the Performing Arts.

For a student interested in performing arts, this is definitely something worth researching further.

If APA is an important reason you're considering HBHS, I'd recommend contacting the program directly to learn about current disciplines, auditions, requirements and participation.

Student Life Goes Beyond the Classroom

High school is about much more than academics.

HBHS currently reports having more than 40 clubs and programs available to students.

There are opportunities in athletics, performing arts, student government and other extracurricular activities.

This is something I think families should pay attention to when researching any school.

Instead of only asking:

"What classes does this school offer?"

Also ask:

"What will my student's life look like here?"

What are they interested in?

Where will they find their people?

What activities would make them excited to become involved?

Sometimes those questions tell you more than a ranking ever could.

Athletics and Oiler Pride

Athletics are another visible part of the Huntington Beach High School experience.

The school offers both boys and girls sports programs, and the Oiler identity is very much part of campus culture.

If your student is an athlete, I'd recommend checking the current HBHS athletics information directly for sports offered, schedules, participation requirements and coaching contacts.

And if you end up living nearby, Friday nights and school events can become another part of your Huntington Beach routine.

What Is It Like Living Near Huntington Beach High School?

This is where I put on my real estate hat.

HBHS is located along Main Street, north of Downtown Huntington Beach and the Huntington Beach Pier.

And from a lifestyle perspective, that's a pretty special part of town.

Depending on the specific neighborhood and property, living in this general area can put you close to:

Downtown Huntington Beach

The Huntington Beach Pier

The beach

Huntington Central Park

Main Street restaurants and shops

Pacific City

Bike routes toward the coast

and many of Huntington Beach's established residential neighborhoods.

For someone moving here from outside the area, this is important.

You're not simply choosing a high school.

You're choosing a Huntington Beach lifestyle.

Can You Bike to the Beach?

From this part of Huntington Beach?

For many residents, absolutely.

And that's one of those things that may sound like a small detail until you actually live here.

Being able to get on a beach cruiser and head toward Downtown, Main Street or the ocean changes the way you experience Huntington Beach.

That's why when I'm helping someone look at homes around HBHS, I don't only think about the distance to school.

I think about the life surrounding the house.

Can you bike places?

Where will you walk?

How far are you from Central Park?

How easy is it to get Downtown?

What's your route to the beach?

Those are the things that make a neighborhood feel like home.

Buying a Home for Huntington Beach High School? Verify the Address

This is extremely important.

Do not assume that a home with a Huntington Beach address is automatically assigned to Huntington Beach High School.

Huntington Beach has multiple public high schools within the Huntington Beach Union High School District.

School attendance boundaries can also change.

If attending HBHS is an important part of your home purchase, always verify the specific property address directly with the Huntington Beach Union High School District before purchasing or leasing a home.

Selling Surf City Tip: Don't rely solely on the school information displayed on a real estate website. If a particular school matters to your family, verify the address directly with the district.

"Near HBHS" and "Assigned to HBHS" Aren't Necessarily the Same Thing

This is another important distinction for home buyers.

A house can physically be near Huntington Beach High School without necessarily being assigned to Huntington Beach High School.

School boundaries don't always follow the neighborhood names you'll see in real estate listings.

That's why I like to approach a Huntington Beach home search this way:

1. Figure out how you want to live.

2. Identify neighborhoods that fit that lifestyle.

3. Verify school assignments for individual addresses.

4. Then narrow down the homes.

That gives you a much better picture than simply drawing a circle around the school on a map.

Questions to Ask Before Moving for Huntington Beach High School

If HBHS is one of the reasons you're considering a particular Huntington Beach neighborhood, here are some things I'd research before making a move:

Is the exact property address currently assigned to Huntington Beach High School?

Does HBHS offer the academic courses your student needs or wants?

Is your student interested in APA, athletics, MUN, Business & Design or another specialty program?

Are there separate application, audition or participation requirements for those programs?

What extracurricular activities interest your student?

How will your student get to and from school?

What does the surrounding neighborhood feel like during an ordinary weekday?

And if you're relocating from outside Huntington Beach, I'd absolutely recommend visiting both the school and the neighborhoods you're considering.

One of the Things I Love About HBHS: Its Connection to Huntington Beach

There's something particularly interesting about having a high school that's been part of the community for more than a century.

The school talks about multiple generations of Oiler families, and even notes that some current teachers are former HBHS students.

That tells you something about the connection between the school and the community around it.

And I think that's part of what makes Huntington Beach interesting in general.

We're known around the world for surfing and the beach.

But underneath the Surf City image is a community with generations of history.

Huntington Beach High School is part of that story.

Thinking About Moving Near Huntington Beach High School?

If you're considering moving to Huntington Beach and Huntington Beach High School is part of your home search, I can help you understand the neighborhoods, homes and lifestyles surrounding the school.

I'm Meghan Koshar, a Huntington Beach local and REALTOR® behind Selling Surf City.

I created this Schools section because choosing where to live isn't simply about finding a house with enough bedrooms.

It's about understanding the entire community around that house.

The schools.

The neighborhood.

The commute.

The parks.

The beach.

The restaurants.

And what an ordinary day will actually look like once you live there.

Because when you're moving your family to Huntington Beach, you're not simply choosing a house.

You're choosing your little piece of Surf City. 🌊