West Campus High School Explained

West Campus High School
Location:5022 58th Street
Sacramento, California 95820
District:Sacramento City Unified School District
Country:USA
Coordinates:38.5309°N -121.4389°W
Principal:John McMeekin
Faculty:34.0(on FTE basis)[1]
Ratio:23.4
Type:Public secondary
Grades:9-12
Campus Type:Suburban
Conference:CIF Sac-Joaquin Section[2]
Capital Valley Conference[3]
Mascot:Warriors
Established:2002
Enrollment:840[4]
Enrollment As Of:2020-21
Free Label:Former name
Free Text:Hiram Johnson West Campus
Homepage:West Campus High School

West Campus High School is a public college preparatory magnet high school in Sacramento, California.[5] The school serves around 800 students in grades 9–12 in the Sacramento City Unified School District. It was founded as a satellite high school of the nearby Hiram W. Johnson High School in 1983, under the name Hiram Johnson West Campus, and separated from Hiram Johnson in the year 2000.[6] The high school officially opened on September 3, 2001. West Campus is known for sending the most graduates to college, and has been recognized for doing so by the Sacramento Bee in 2019.[7]

Academics

West Campus offers a total of 14 AP (Advanced Placement) courses currently including AP Government, AP Biology, AP US History, AP Art, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Spanish, AP French and more. Currently, West Campus offers one honors class, Honors English 10.[8] Elective courses include Advanced Art, Yearbook, Band, and Engineering.[9] West Campus provides courses that align with the "A-G requirements", which are mandatory for each student in order to graduate.[10]

Ranking

In 2024 U.S. News evaluated West Campus at 99.2%, ranking it 142 in the nation (out of 17,655 ranked high schools), 17 in California, and 1 in the Sacramento Metro Area.[11]

Standardized Testing

West Campus offers free SAT, PSAT, and AP exams to its students.[12] West Campus also places in the top 25% of all California high-schools in terms of standardized testing scores.[13]

Engineering Program

West Campus is known for its 4-year engineering program, which is guided by Project Lead the Way [14] The 4-year program consists of these courses: Year 1 – Introduction to Engineering Design, Year 2 – Principles of Engineering, Year 3 – Civil Engineering & Architecture, and Year 4 – Engineering Design & Development.[15]

Clubs

West Campus has more than thirty clubs and organizations. Among these are Body Improvement Club, Debate Club, Girls Who Code, Green Team, Key Club, Interact, Chinese Culture Club, Folklorico Club, California Scholarship Federation, NovaReach Medical Volunteering Club, Mathletes, Mental Health Club, National Honors Society, Quiz Bowl Club, WC Beautification Club, Fashion Club, Music Creation Club, Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA),[16] HOSA, Symphony Club, Green Team, Radio Club, MESA[17] and many others that allows students to spend some times with activities that interest them, whether new or old.[18] The prominent community service club, NHS, National Honors Society, offers students the chance of helping out in communities and improve multiple college admirable qualities. This worldwide organization founds its way into the small community of West Campus, and has allowed its students a way of achieving greatness in areas of leadership, character and service.[19] Another major club on campus, Interact, has been running at West Campus since the school's establishment and stands as the largest club on campus, with over 120 members. One major student organization includes Associated Student Body (ASB) where a group of elected students work together to create a better community at West Campus by leading a variety of events such as rallies and dances. There are 4 elected representative for each class, such as, President, Vice President, Senator, and Secretary. In addition, there are other officials, who represent the entire student body, for example, Rally Heads, Publicist, Treasurers, etc. .[20]

Sports

There are a total of 18 sports that take place over the seasons of Fall, Winter, and Spring.[21] A few sports at West Campus include cheer, golf, soccer, basketball, cross country, track, baseball, softball, volleyball, wrestling, swim, and tennis. The high school has four soccer teams, four basketball teams, two baseball teams, two softball teams, two golf teams (men's and women's) [22] and several volleyball teams.[23] During the COVID-19 pandemic, practices were limited to voluntary outside conditioning.[24]

Music

The West Campus music department consists of a music appreciation program, a marching band, a drumline, and color guard.[25] These groups are affiliated with the Northern California Band Association.[26]

Admission

Enrollment is via application, including an essay, a mathematics session, and transcripts of grades 7 and 8 marks. When the number of acceptable applicants exceeds the number of available spaces, students are chosen via lottery.[27] [28]

The Foundation for Excellence

The West Campus Foundation for Excellence (WCFE)[29] is the school's parent-teacher organization that helps to provide for and improve the student community. They raise funds that go towards events, Yearbook, Drama, Band, athletics, college tours, classroom texts, and scholarships. They also coordinate with the Academic Student Body (ASB) with events such as staff appreciation lunch and senior breakfast. The organization does not require an application or a fee to join as of 2022.[30] Membership is open to all but the foundation encourages families to sign up for their newsletter.

Notable alumni

COVID-19 response

West Campus High School and other schools within the Sacramento City Unified School District shut down in-person classes as of March 2020, and adopted distance learning through Zoom, a video communications application.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: West Campus . . 2008-01-16.
  2. Web site: SJS League Alignment . CIF Sac-Joaquin Section . 2008-01-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080305043506/http://www.cifsjs.org/leaguealign/leaguealign0610.html#division3 . 2008-03-05.
  3. Web site: Capital Valley Conference Bylaws - Membership . Capital Valley Conference . 2008-01-16.
  4. Web site: School Profile: West Campus. California Department of Education. December 23, 2020.
  5. Web site: CA Dept of Education. www.cde.ca.gov. en. 2017-10-20.
  6. Web site: West Campus shines again in magazine's high school rankings . The Sacramento Bee . 2020-12-23.
  7. Web site: West Campus Recognized for Sending Students to College. 2021-01-03. West Campus High School. 24 August 2019 . en.
  8. Web site: West Campus Academic Departments. 2021-03-16. West Campus High School. 24 August 2019 . en.
  9. Web site: Course Descriptions. 2021-03-15. West Campus. 24 August 2019 . en.
  10. Web site: West Campus Graduation Requirements . 24 August 2019 . 15 March 2021.
  11. News: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california/districts/sacramento-city-unified-school-district/west-campus-high-school-3161.
  12. Web site: PSAT, SAT, and AP Tests . 24 August 2019 .
  13. Web site: West Campus High School | 2016-17 Rankings | (Sacramento,) .
  14. Web site: PLTW. en.
  15. Web site: Engineering Department. 24 August 2019 . en.
  16. Web site: West Campus GSA Instagram .
  17. Web site: WC MESA Club Instagram . Instagram . 2020-03-15 .
  18. Web site: West Campus Clubs . West Campus High School . 24 August 2019 . 2020-12-22 .
  19. Web site: WC NHS . Instagram . 2021-03-15 .
  20. Web site: Student Organizations. 2021-02-05. West Campus High School. 24 August 2019 . en.
  21. Web site: Athletic Teams. 2021-01-03. West Campus High School. en.
  22. Web site: Congratulations to Girls Golf Team. 24 August 2019 .
  23. Web site: Athletics Department. 24 August 2019 .
  24. Web site: Return to Athletics. 24 August 2019 . en.
  25. Web site: Band and Color Guard. 2021-01-03. West Campus High School. 24 August 2019 . en.
  26. Web site: Northern California Band Association 2019 Del Oro Spectacular . Northern California Band Association . 2020-12-23.
  27. Web site: West Campus. 2021-03-14. Sacramento City Unified School District. 4 October 2016 . en.
  28. Web site: High School Specialty Program. 2021-03-15. Sacramento City Unified School District. 4 October 2016 . en.
  29. Web site: WCFE . West Campus Foundation for Excellence . 13 September 2023.
  30. Web site: WCFE About Page . 13 September 2023.
  31. News: Sacramento-grown actor arrives as 'The Boy Next Door'. Meyer. Carla. 2015. The Sacramento Bee. 2017-10-20. en-US. 0890-5738.