In October, Battle of the Bone had the crowd buzzing as the Chino Hills Huskies would break the six year-long winning streak that Ayala previously had. Although very tense, the game is an annual tradition that both schools have decided to take on and look forward to each year.

However, while both schools have a special rivalry, they are still fundamentally different. Just how different is Ayala High School compared to Chino Hills High School? More specifically, what are their differences in layouts, classes offered and enrollment, and variations in school rules and policies?

There are many different aspects to consider, and even the smallest details vary between the two schools. To tackle some of these differences, let’s take a look at the primary distinctions between Ayala High School and Chino Hills High School.

Layout

The buildings and layout represent a significant difference, as both schools were established at different times.

Ayala resembles less of a typical campus, featuring many classrooms spread across a large area. The buildings (or quads) are labeled with the letters like A, H, F, S, D, and B, with these letters representing notable buildings like the administration office and the gymnasium. Classrooms are typically labeled with a letter followed by a three-digit number. The only building with two floors is the science building.

Chino Hills resembles a more typical high school, where classrooms are closer together and are in tighter proximity, making it easier to navigate between classes. The buildings are labeled by their names, and the quads are labeled by increments of 10, following from 30 to 50 with the exception of the mods. Classrooms are not usually classified. Almost half of the school lies on the second floor of a two story building, while the other half lays on the the ground.

“I think the [layout] is interesting because Ayala High School is arranged more like a college campus. The classrooms there are more spread apart,” said Chino Hills High School student Corey Lau (11).

Classes and Enrollment

The classes are mostly the same at both schools. Both Ayala High School and Chino Hills High School offer the same courses and enrollment paths, with the exception of language programs. Due to differences in teachers and opportunities, each school has exclusive language offerings. Ayala High School offers American Sign Language courses that go up to Level 4 Honors, while Chino Hills High School provides a Japanese language course that goes up to AP level.

“The most interesting detail I noticed was that Chino Hills and Ayala have the same classes and courses,” said Ayala High School student Lucas Minor (11). “I always assumed that Chino Hills and Ayala had different courses that the other didn’t have.”

School Rules

Many of the basic rules are straightforward: no bullying, a dress code, etc. However, some special rules exist exclusively for one school or the other.

Starting with Ayala High School, cell phone use is generally considered stricter than at Chino Hills, while their rules regarding classes and counseling are less strict than those at their rival school. Parking lots are also separated by grade level, whereas Chino Hills does not require such separation (aside from staff).

On the other hand, Chino Hills High School has a special rule that allows students to temporarily leave campus to get food during lunch.

Small but Interesting Differences

A lot of smaller or less important details are also different between the two schools. While these differences may not significantly affect anything, here is a list of what sets them apart.

The typical “news video” is played on Mondays during fourth period at Ayala, while Chino Hills airs them on Fridays during second period.

Due to Chino Hills High School’s smaller gym, rallies are split into two sessions, with one half of the school attending first and the other half attending later. In contrast, Ayala holds a single rally where everyone participates at once.
Right next to Ayala High School is an outdoor mall called “The Shoppes,” which features various facilities, including a neighboring library, a post office, and a line of restaurants where students can eat after school.

Chino Hills High School has a large plaza not far from the school, featuring notable restaurants like Mochinut, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, 7 Leaves, and ShareTea, among others. Interestingly, there is also a Holiday Inn and TownePlace Suites along with other neighborhoods located close to Chino Hills High School.
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Although these differences portray each school as a different paradise, in the end, they’re still high schools that provide high quality education for many students who attend, no matter which one you choose.