Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California)

Infobox Secondary school
name = Los Altos High School

city = Los Altos
state = California
country = USA
colors = Blue, silver and white
district = MVLA School District
mascot = Eagle
grades = 9-12
established = 1954
type = Public secondary
enrollment = 1,650 (approx.)
motto =
principal = Wynne Satterwhite
yearbook =
newspaper = The Talon
website = http://www.la.mvla.net/
address = 201 Almond Avenue
campus =

Los Altos High School, established in 1954, is located in suburban Los Altos, California, which is situated between the cities of San Francisco and San Jose in the northwest corner of Silicon Valley within four miles of Stanford University. [citeweb|url=http://www.mvla.net/apps/pub.asp?Q=63&T=General%20Information&B=1|title=About LAHS|publisher=MVLA|accessdate=2008-04-22] Due to its placement within a rich, yet small community, [citeweb|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0643280.html|title=Los Altos, California|publisher=US Census Bureau|accessdate=2008-04-22] Los Altos High School is able to achieve at a very high level. The teacher-student ratios at Los Altos High School are considerably lower than the state average. [citeweb|url=http://california.schooltree.org/public/Los-Altos-High-010374.html|title=Los Altos High School|publisher= [http://www.schooltree.org School Tree] |accessdate=2008-04-22]

It is one of the three MVLA School District public high schools, the other schools being Mountain View High School and Alta Vista High School. The main feeder schools are Egan Junior High School and Crittenden Middle School. Since 2005, the school principal has been Wynne Satterwhite. The previous principal, George Perez, left in 2004.

History

The school was established in 1954 on the site of an orchard.Initially, Los Altos High School served the mostly white, middle to upper class populations of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. During 1982 redistricting efforts, the district closed its oldest high school, Mountain View High, which was located on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View. Awalt High School was then renamed Mountain View High. The district reaches from Los Altos through Mountain View to San Francisco Bay in the east. The two remaining district high schools now draw equally from professional and working-class families and have a similar demographic population. In more recent history, Los Altos High underwent a major renovation over the past few years, which has significantly enhanced the campus environment, including a new science and art building and a FieldTurf athletic field.

During the El Niño storms of 1998, a tornado ripped through the athletic fields behind the school. The tornado touched down at 5:05PM on May 4, 1998, near the intersection of El Monte Road and Almond Avenue. It was rated F1 on the Fujita Scale, and was one of two that touched down in the area. [Monteverdi, J.P., W. Blier, G. Stumpf, W. Pi, and K. Anderson, 2001: First WSR-88D Documentation of an Anticyclonic Supercell with Anticyclonic Tornadoes: The Sunnyvale–Los Altos, California, Tornadoes of 4 May 1998. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129, 2805–2814.] The tornado uprooted trees, picked up dumpsters, damaged the tennis court fences, and destroyed the baseball diamond dugout. Damages were estimated at $25,000. [citenews|url=http://www.latc.com/1998/05/04/news/news5.html|author=Domingue, Joanne Griffith and Taaffe, Linda|title=Freak tornado rages through Los Altos|publisher=Los Altos Town Crier|date=1998-05-04|accessdate=2008-04-23]

tatistics and demographics

As of the 2003-2004 school year, the enrollment was approximately 1600 students; in the last few years each incoming class has been significantly larger than the outgoing class. [http://api.cde.ca.gov/APIBase2006/2005BaseSchDC.aspx?allcds=43-69609-4334116&c=R California School Population Stats] ]

In 2006, 83% of students participate in academic, extracurricular and community service clubs.Over 50% of the students participate in an athletic team.

As of 2007, the White ethnic race maintains a majority at Los Altos High School at 51.6%, while Hispanics consist of 23.2% of the school's population. Asians make up 18.7% while African American make up 3.1% of the school's total population.

Education

Los Altos High School boasted one of the highest scores in the nation.when However, beginning in 1982, the school's scores and national ranking began to fall, until it could only be ranked at a state-wide standard.

Test Scores and State-wide ranking

In 2005, Los Altos High School received an API score of 786, considerably lower than that of the local Intermediate School and Elementary Schools. [ [http://www.zirana.com/losaltos/apiscores Los Altos City API Scores] ] Despite this drop in educational standards, Los Altos remains one of the highest schools in the area, with Hispanic, African American, Asian, and White all scoring considerably higher than the state average. [ [http://www.city-data.com/school/los-altos-high-ca.html City-Data, Los Altos High School racial API compared to State Average] ] In 2007, however, Los Altos High School saw an increase in API by a total of 14 points since 2005.citeweb|url=http://www.psk12.com/rating/USindivphp/SchID_27859_year_2007.html|title=Los Altos High School Mountain View-Los Altos Union District Santa Clara County|publisher=PSK12|accessdate=2008-07-27]

2005 also marked the year in which Los Altos High School was ranked 446th nationally by Newsweek on High-Achievement High Schools, [citenews|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?sort=Rank&count=1236&start=0&limit=100&year=2007&Search=Los%20Altos|title=America's Top Public High Schools|publisher=Newsweek|accessdate=2008-04-22] while in 2006, Los Altos High School rose to become the 9th best High School in California, with an API of 797. [ [http://www.city-data.com/school/los-altos-high-ca.html High School Statistics] ] However, Newsweek grades schools on weighted data and teacher:student ratios, while City-Data merely uses API as a standard. ["See previous two references."]

In 2007, Los Altos High met both its 2007 schoolwide growth target and all subgroup growth targets, both set by the state of California. They were among the 50% of schools who did. In addition, its API growth rate increased by a margin of 5 points between the years 2006 and 2007. [citeweb|url=http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/achievement/ca/5580|title=Los Altos High School, Los Altos, California|publisher=Great Schools|accessdate=2008-07-29]

Educational environment

The California Department of Education claims that in 2007, teacher credentials were lower and had slightly less experience than the state average, [citeweb|url=http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/ca/other/5580#teachers|title=LAHS-Teachers|publisher=Great Schools|accessdate=2008-07-29] despite higher pupil spending and more Advanced Placement selections. [citeweb|url=http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/ca/other/5580#ap|title=LAHS-AP|publisher=Great Schools|accessdate=2008-07-29] Despite the lack of proper teaching credentials, Los Altos has seven teachers who have certified emergency credentials.

Programs and Highlights

Los Altos High School boasts a strong music department, athletic department, and a host of student-run clubs.

Athletic Department

Los Altos High School requires two years of Physical Education credits in order to graduate. After-school sports each provide one quarter or one semester of credits. Its sports teams participate in the regional SCVAL League. [ [http://www.mvla.net/apps/comm.asp?$1=24 Los Altos Athletics] ] The Track and Field team, especially, has made it to State championships numerous times, [ [http://www.geocities.com/latrackstars/main.html LAHS Track Page] ] most notably first place in 1985.

Performing Arts Department

Los Altos High holds quite a large music department, with a state of the art music room equipped with re verb devices. The musical ensembles included are Auxiliary Units (also known as "Color Guard"), Marching Band, Jazz Band, two Orchestras, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band. [citeweb|url=http://www.mvla.net/apps/pub.asp?Q=597&T=Academic%20Departments&B=3|title=Los Altos Instrumental Music|author=Ferrucci, Ted|publisher=MVLA|accessdate=2008-04-22] Los Altos High School also includes Concert Choir and the world renown "Main Street Singers". [ [http://www.mvla.net/apps/comm.asp?$1=530 LAHS Performing Arts Department] ] The school also hosts a Drama department, the advanced course of which is called "Broken Box Theatre Company" and performs in the school's Eagle Theater. [citeweb|url=http://www.mvla.net/apps/pub.asp?Q=645&T=Academic%20Departments&B=3|title=Broken Box Theatre Company|publisher=MVLA|accessdate=2008-04-22]

The school's world-traveling vocal ensemble, known as the "Main Street Singers", travel around the world on tour every year. [ [http://www.mainstreetsingers.com/index.html Main Street Singers] ] They gained international reputation through completing concert travel to 45 countries from six different continents and performing works in twenty languages ranging from Renaissance to Contemporary in over 100 concerts yearly. [citeweb|url=http://www.mainstreetsingers.com/aboutus.html|title= About the Main Street Singers|author=Sharpley, Cheryl|accessdate=2008-09-16]

The High School's Marching Band is part of the Western Band Association, which is based in California. [citeweb|url=http://www.westernbands.org/bands.php/|title=List of WBA bands|publisher=Western Band Association|accessdate=2008-04-22] In the 2007 season, they scored last place out of 11 participating bands. [citeweb|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5XInGdNNi |title=Class Championships 1/2/3A|publisher=Western Band Association "archived by WebCite"|accessdate=2008-04-22] However, in 1997, the LAHS Marching Band received six awards at the state festival. [ [http://www.mvla.net/apps/pub.asp?Q=601 LAHS Instrumental Music: "Looking Back in Time" (Marching Band)] ]

The year 1998 was the "Golden Year" for the Los Altos Instrumental Music Department. Three students were selected for the Santa Clara County Honor Band, while the Jazz Band and Orchestra received a unanimous "Superior" rating at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival and CMEA Orchestra Festival respectively. In addition, one band and two orchestra students were accepted into the California Music Educator's Association All-State Honor Band and Orchestra, respectively. [citeweb|url=http://www.mvla.net/apps/pub.asp?Q=601|title=LAHS Instrumental Music: Looking Back in Time (1998 In Review)|publisher=MVLA|accessdate=2008-04-22]

tudent Clubs

Students at Los Altos High School have independently started a club list of over 50 different clubs, [citeweb|url=http://www.mvla.net/lahs/StudentActivities/Pages/Clubs.aspx|title=List of Clubs|author=Miller, Don|publisher=MVLA|accessdate=2008-09-16] including One Dollar For Life, a non-profit organization founded by history and economics teacher Robert Freeman. [citeweb|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_10273530|title=Why teaching must adapt to what students can handle|publisher="San Jose Mercury News"|author=Freeman, Robert|date=2008-02-22|accessdate=2008-09-08]

These clubs impact the entire Los Altos community, and in the case of One Dollar For Life, they impact regions in rural Africa. [ [http://odfl.org/pages/projects.html ODFL Projects] ] Recently, the Los Altos Green Team, with the help of Sierra Club officials, urged citizens to sign petitions and presented them to the City Council. [ [http://www.coollosaltos.org/whatcanIdo Cool Los Altos, Community Site] ] This helped create the grassroots for a Los Altos "Cool Cities" campaign to aide the city in becoming more Green; [ [http://coolcities.us/cityProfiles.php?city=1197&state=CA Coolcity "Los Altos"] ] resulting in the city to be included in the Kyoto Protocol through the Mayor's Climate Protection Center. [citeweb|url=http://usmayors.org/climateprotection/list.asp|title=List of Participating Mayors|publisher=Mayor's Climate Protection Center|accessdate=2008-07-27]

In addition, Tony Zhukovskiy, class of 2008 and previous leader of the school's Gay-Straight Alliance, received an award for his efforts in promoting gay rights at a local level; while joining San Jose city's annual gay-pride parade. [citeweb|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9585644?source=rss|title=In S.J., celebrating a gay rights milestone|publisher="San Jose Mercury News"|author=Mangaliman, Jessie|date=2008-06-14|accessdate=2008-07-27]

Notable Alumni

*Alice Wu, American film director and screenwriter, class of 1991.
*Andrew Arnold Tink BA LLB MP (b. 13 July 1953) is an Australian politician, serving as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 2007. He was a member of the class of 1971.
*Billy Rush Masters, (September 15, 1950 – July 2, 1981) was an American composer, and rock guitarist. He was best known as a songwriter. Class of 1968.
*Lorrie Fair, US National Soccer (World Cup Title), UNC Soccer (National Title), class of 1996.
*Raj Mathai, NBC Bay Area Sports Director/Anchor. [ [http://www.nbc11.com/meetthenewsteam/1483076/detail.html, Raj Mathai, "NBC 11"] ]
*Theodore Olson, 42nd United States Solicitor General, lawyer for Bush-Cheney in "Bush v. Gore", class of 1958. [citenews|url=https://latc.com/2000/12/13/news/news8.html|title=Former Los Altos attorney argues Bush case|publisher=Los Altos Town Crier|date=2000-12-13|accessdate=2008-04-22] [citenews|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9807E2DC1430F936A25751C0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|title= Man in the News; Prize Job for a Bush Rescuer; Theodore Bevry Olson|author= Neil A. Lewis|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-04-22]
*Sergeant William M. Sigua (1985-2007), killed by small-arms fire in Baiji, Iraq. He was from the "82nd Airborne Division", and received a "Purple Heart Medal" for his services. [citenews|url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2007/jan/31/william-m-sigua/|title=Faces of the Fallen - Sgt. William M. Sigua|publisher=Washington Post|accessdate=2008-04-22] Class of 2003.
*Tim Hanley was a U.S. soccer goalkeeper who played in the North American Soccer League and Europe. He is a long time Major League Soccer goalkeeper coach. [citeweb|url=http://www.rsssf.com/usadave/hanley.html|title=Tim Hanley’s NASL recollections|publisher=The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|accessdate=2008-05-29] Class of 1978.
*Willie Howard, Stanford Rose Bowl, Minnesota Vikings, class of 1996.

Notes

*

External links

* [http://www.mvla.net/apps/comm.asp?$1=20 Los Altos High School website]
* [http://www.mainstreetsingers.com The Main Street Singers of Los Altos High School] - an SATB Chamber Group
* [http://latalon.com The Talon] (school newspaper)