Located on the coast, near the affluent communities of Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and Venice, and just a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica High School has graduated quite a few young stars over the years. The school was also the filming location of a classic Hollywood movie about teenage angst.
	Several members of the "Brat Pack" can call Santa Monica High home, including both of Martin Sheen's kids: Emilio Estevez (star of "Young Guns" and "The Mighty Ducks") and his younger brother Charlie Sheen (star of "Platoon" and "Spin City"), plus

Sean Penn (Madonna's ex, and star of "Dead Man Walking"), and Rob Lowe (star of "St. Elmo's Fire" and those infamous home videos) all attended Santa Monica High during the late 1970's and early 1980's, as did Art Alexakis, lead singer of the rock band Everclear. Robert Downey Jr. also went here, but dropped out when he was 17.

Actress Heather Thomas ("The Fall Guy") graduated in 1975. Dean Cain, who portrayed Superman & Clark Kent on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," played football at Santa Monica High. He went on to play at Princeton, and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1989, but suffered a career-ending knee injury in training camp.

The school was also used as the movie location for the 1955 classic "Rebel Without a Cause," starring James Dean and Natalie Wood.

From an earlier generation, actor Glenn Ford, ("Gilda," "Blackboard Jungle," "Superman") began his acting career with plays at Santa Monica High. Screen dancer Gene Nelson ("Oklahoma!"), and Watergate figure John Erlichman were both SAMOHI grads.

MTV host Carson Daly played on the school golf team and graduated in 1991. Actress Karyn Parsons, who played 'Hillary Banks' on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air." was also a student at Santa Monica. So was Dan Blocker's son, Dirk Blocker (who starred with Robert Conrad on "Baa Baa Black Sheep".)

Other alumni include Holly Robinson (Peete) who appeared in "Head of the Class," "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," and "21 Jumpstreet"; Austin Peck, who plays 'Austin Reed on "Days of Our Lives" and Keith Coogan ("Toy Soldiers," "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead").

Another alumnus was Gloria Stuart, who played "Old Rose" in the blockbuster 1997 hit "Titanic." In her autobiography, she says: "When I graduated from Santa Monica High in 1927, I was voted the girl most likely to succeed. I didn't realize it would take so long."

Getting there: The school is located at the corner of Pico Boulevard and 4th Street in Santa Monica, about a quarter mile inland from the Santa Monica Pier, on the south side of the Santa Monica Freeway, just east of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (where the Academy Awards ceremonies took place during the 60's). / From the Santa Monica (10) Freeway west, take the 4th Street exit and go south on 4th Street. The school will be on your left (east) side.