Ernest Righetti High School (commonly Righetti, or RHS) is a public secondary school in Santa Maria, California, USA, serving students in grades 9-12 The school is part of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, with admission based primarily on the locations of students' homes. Righetti is a fully accredited, two-time California Distinguished School, awarded in 2002 and 2009.Righetti High School, was built in the suburban community of Orcutt, California in 1963 to relieve overcrowding at the Santa Maria High School. Ernest Righetti High School opened in January 1963. Its first graduating class was in June 1964. The school’s boundaries serve students from the areas of several elementary school districts, which include the community of Orcutt, portions of the city of Santa Maria,