San Diego High School Explained

San Diego High School
Seal Image:SDHigh.JPG
Former Names:Russ School (1882–1893)
Russ High School (1893–1902)
Grades:9–12
Streetaddress:1405 Park Blvd.
Zipcode:92101
Country:United States
Ceeb:052885
Coordinates:32.7206°N -117.1525°W
Pushpin Map:United States San Diego#USA California San Diego County#USA California#USA
Enrollment:1,954 (September 2023)[1]
Newspaper:The Russ
Yearbook:The Grey Castle
Athletics Conference:CIF San Diego Section - City Conference
Colors: Royal Blue and White
Song:Hail Blue and White

San Diego High School (SDHS) is an urban public high school located on the southern edge of Balboa Park, in San Diego, California, United States.[2] It is the oldest high school in the San Diego Unified School District, one of the oldest public schools in all of California, and the oldest still on its original site.

History

Russ High (1882–1907)

In 1881, voters approved $12,000 for the construction of a new school in San Diego. The school was established in 1882, initially named Russ School after lumberman Joseph Russ, who donated the lumber to build the school.[3] The school was built in the Italian Villa style with a low-hip roof, ironwork parapet, and open-bell tower. It consisted of two stories and eight rooms. The school opened to a class of 308 students from grades 1-8.

In 1888 a high school was added, with three teachers. The high school students took over the upper floor; elementary and primary students occupied the lower floor. The first commencement was held in 1889, with four students graduating. In 1893 high school students took over the entire school, which was renamed Russ High School.[4]

In 1906 the school building was moved several hundred feet to allow for construction of a new school. The original building was stripped of its ornamentation and was used for storage, dressing rooms, and a cafeteria. It burned down in 1911.

The Grey Castle (1907–1973)

By 1902 the school had become overcrowded and a new school, San Diego High School, was built on the original site, opening on April 13, 1907.[3] The new building, designed by F.S. Allen, contained 65 rooms and was built in the Gothic Revival style, with towers flanking the entrances. It was built of brick with a veneer of granite. Students thought it resembled a castle and nicknamed it "The Grey Castle."[4] It was later admitted that the design of The Grey Castle took inspiration from Joliet Prison in Illinois.

In 1913 a polytechnic school was added, with three additional Gothic style buildings housing classes in manual arts, domestic arts, and fine arts. By 1913 there were 55 teachers and 1518 students. The school reached its peak attendance, 3327 students, in 1928.

Balboa Stadium, just east of the high school, was dedicated in 1915. The 2,500-seat Russ Auditorium, just south of the school, was dedicated on May 13, 1926.

Modern San Diego High (1973–2004)

To comply with California legislation in the 1960s that required all school districts to demolish or retrofit any school building built prior to 1933 for earthquake safety reasons, the "Grey Castle" building was torn down. The first of four buildings constructed prior to 1933 was torn down along with the Russ Auditorium in 1973; Building 101, the "original Grey Castle", was the last building to be torn down in 1975.[3] The replacement building, consisting of four concrete-block buildings with blue trim, was re-dedicated on November 6, 1976. Gargoyles from the façade of Russ Auditorium can be seen in a fountain near the school entrance, and heavy carved doors from the "Gray Castle" were installed on the administration building.

"Six Campuses" Period (2004–2021)

In June 2004, as part of the national "School-within-a-School" movement and with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, San Diego High School was divided into six thematic schools, collectively called The San Diego High Educational Complex. Each of the six schools of approximately 500 students had its own administration and staff:[5] The schools were:

In approximately 2009, the School of Communication shut down due to an insufficient number of students. In 2013 the School of Business and the School of LEADS combined to form the School of Business and Leadership, leaving four academies.[6] At the end of the 2014–2015 academic year the arts academy was also closed down. For the 2015–2016 school year the campus was reunited under a single principal, with the three remaining academies – International Studies, Business, and Science and Technology – each functioning under a vice principal.[7] In 2021, the three remaining schools were merged back into a single school, while still offering its International Baccalaureate and California Partnership Academy programs.[8]

Modernization Period (since 2021)

In late 2021, San Diego Unified School district unveiled its plans to modernize the SDHS campus. Among other improvements this included demolishing and replacing the 100 building constructed in 1976, and improved HVAC systems for the 400, 500, and 600 buildings.[9] [10] The ground-breaking ceremony occurred on May 2, 2022, and construction is expected to be completed by 2025.[11] [12]

Academics

In May 2006, Newsweek magazine ranked 1,200 public high schools in the U.S. and named San Diego High School of International Studies as 22nd best, making it the highest ranking school in San Diego County and the second highest in the state of California.[13] In 2009, US News ranked over 21,000 high schools in the United States and named San Diego High School of International Studies as 44th best, with an International Baccalaureate (IB) exam pass rate of 98% and an API score of over 800.[14]

California Partnership Academies

San Diego High is home to three academies established within the scope of the California Department of Education California Partnership Academies (CPA) program.[15] The CPA model is a three-year program (grades ten-twelve) structured as a school-within-a-school.[15] The first one, the Academy of Finance, was established in 2007 at the School of Business and Leadership.[16] Two more, the San Diego Medical Technology Academy (MedTech) established in 2011 and the Green Engineering Academy (GeoTech) established 2012 at the School of Science and Technology, with the first classes graduating in 2014 and 2015 respectively.[16] The curriculum at Medtech Academy is based on the Biomedical Sciences program by Project Lead The Way (PLTW).[17]

Athletics

Balboa Stadium

See main article: Balboa Stadium. San Diego High's football stadium, Balboa Stadium, was built in 1914 for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition with a capacity of 19,000 at that time. U.S. Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave speeches there. From 1961 to 1966 it was the home of the San Diego Chargers after being expanded to 34,000 capacity.[18] Over the years it has played host to music legends such as Jimi Hendrix, and The Beatles in 1965. The 1914 stadium was torn down in the 1970s and a new one dedicated in 1978 with a seating capacity of about 3,000. In 2009 the stadium saw new turf decorated with the school's mascot, the Caver. The stadium is used for various sports including football, soccer, and track, as well as San Diego High School graduation ceremonies.

Section, state, and national titles

1916, 1955

Athletic history

Miscellaneous history

Notable alumni and faculty

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Official Enrollment Reports and Ten Year Enrollment History . 2023-12-04 .
  2. Web site: San Diego's oldest high school could stay in Balboa Park rent free for another 99 years. San Diego Union-Tribune. 2019-12-29. 2019-09-27.
  3. Web site: San Diego High School's History . 2014-01-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140203234006/http://www.sandi.net/domain/2971 . 2014-02-03 .
  4. Web site: San Diego High School District and Balboa Park. Balboaparkhistory.net. 16 August 2015.
  5. Web site: Magee . Maureen . 2005-03-21 . Benefits of specialized schools may take years to measure . 2013-01-24 . San Diego Union Tribune.
  6. Web site: 2013-05-14 . Board Agenda Alert: May 14, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202170919/http://www.upfored.org/2013/05/board_agenda_al_16.php . February 2, 2014 . 2014-01-23 . San Diego United Parents for Education.
  7. News: Magee . Maureen . June 12, 2015 . San Diego High's big break up on the mend . San Diego Union-Tribune . 16 August 2015.
  8. Web site: San Diego High School History . 2023-01-26 . sdhs.sandiegounified.org . en-US.
  9. Web site: San Diego HS: Whole Site Modernization . 2023-01-26 . fpcprojects.sandi.net.
  10. Web site: A 3D Flythrough of Upcoming San Diego High . 2023-01-26 . sandiegounified.org . en-US.
  11. Web site: Major Modernizations Underway at San Diego High . 2023-01-26 . sandiegounified.org . en-US.
  12. Web site: Rendon-Alvarez . Karla . Stafford . Audra . Little • • . Joe . San Diego High School Kicks Off Modernization Project . 2023-01-26 . NBC 7 San Diego . 3 May 2022 . en-US.
  13. Web site: April 30, 2006 . NEWSWEEK COVER: America's Best High Schools, 2006 . 12 February 2013 . PR Newswire.
  14. Web site: 2009-12-09 . School of International Studies San Diego High School . https://web.archive.org/web/20100811110817/http://www.usnews.com/listings/high-schools/california/school_of_international_studies_san_diego_high_school . 2010-08-11 . 2014-01-23 . America's Best High Schools 2009 . US News.
  15. Web site: California Partnership Academies (CPA) . California Department of Education . 2014-01-24.
  16. Web site: California Partnership Academies Directory . California Department of Education . 2013-05-08 . 2014-01-24.
  17. Web site: PLTW Schools . Project Lead The Way . 2014-01-23.
  18. Web site: Chronology 1959–1969 . San Diego Chargers . 2014-01-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091012165235/http://www.chargers.com/team/history/chronology/1959-1969.html . 2009-10-12 .
  19. News: San Diego Cavers bring home first state football title. December 20, 2018. Fox News San Diego. 13 June 2019.
  20. Book: Swank, Bill . Baseball In San Diego: From The Plaza To The Padres . Arcadia Publishing . 2005 . 9780738534121 . 89.
  21. Web site: Board . The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial . 2018-05-03 . U.S. Senate candidate Kevin de León: The Union-Tribune interview . 2023-12-09 . San Diego Union-Tribune . en-US.
  22. Web site: Dave Grayson, San Diego prep and AFL star, dies at 78 . August 2017 . December 9, 2017.
  23. Web site: Gregory Peck gets its start right here. 2002-04-05. San Diego Union Tribune. 2019-01-30.

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