Carlos Santana Playing High School Assembly

Santana is returning to Mission High School in San Francisco Oct. 24 for a special assembly recognizing the school’s academic achievements. He attended Mission as a student 45 years ago.

The high school, which takes its name from nearby Mission Dolores, is California’s oldest school. It was founded in 1890 and then rebuilt in two stages in 1925 and 1927 after the original campus burned in 1922.

Mission is celebrating the success of a program launched five years ago to decrease the school’s drop-out rate, increase graduation rates, increase scores on state tests, and send more students to college. Last year 85 percent of the high school’s seniors were accepted into college.  

Santana will start his day off at Mission by touring the school and then speaking to a group of students. He and members of his band, including his wife Cindy Blackman Santana, will then play a short concert at the school’s theater. Members of the school’s Guitar Club will also get to perform with Santana, who will present the club with a donation of guitars from Little Kids Rock.

Little Kids Rock was developed by Santana’s Milagro Foundation in 1998. The non-profit has become a national organization with programs in 24 cities providing more than 160,000 students with music education.

“Little Kids Rock’s relationship with Mission High School began in 2009 with a donation of 30 guitars and curriculum in support of their afterschool music program,” Little Kids Rock executive director David Wish said in a statement.

“Today the connection comes full circle as Little Kids Rock and the Milagro Foundation come together with a special donation of an additional 20 acoustic and 12 electric guitars to the school. The acoustic guitars will be donated courtesy of The Hermes Foundation.”

Santana and his wife will perform with special guests as Los Invisibles at the Bridge School Benefit Oct. 22-23 in Mountain View, Calif., at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. All proceeds go toward The Bridge School, which helps children with severe speech and physical impairments.

Click here to learn more about Little Kids Rock.

Click here for Carlos Santana’s website.