- Rio Americano High School, colloquially known as Rio, is an American public high school in Sacramento, California, serving students in grades 9 through 12 as part of the San Juan Unified School District. Brian T. Ginter has been selected as the new principal for the coming year. Rio has consistently maintained one of the highest API scores in the state and currently has an API score of 807.
- In 2008, Newsweek ranked Rio as number 595 on their list of the top 1,300 public schools in the United States, effectively placing it in the top 3% of high schools nationwide.
- Rio Americano students come from the surrounding areas of Arden Park, Arden Oaks, Sierra Oaks, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Gold River, and to a much lesser extent, the La Sierra community. In recent years, more students have been transferring from other districts and areas, partly due to the shift of Sacramento High School to a charter school. Rio's two rival schools are Jesuit High School and to a lesser degree El Camino Fundamental High School because of its close proximity to the Arden Park area.
- As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,769 students and 66.9 classroom teachers (on a FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 26.4.
- Awards and recognition
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During the 1994-96 and 2006-07 school years, Rio Americano High School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.
- History
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Rio Americano High School was established in 1963 as a temporary high school, built to offset a huge baby boomer population increase. It was supposed to be a temporary solution for education shortages, to be demolished 20 years later and used for housing purposes. As demand increased and Rio's academic and extracurricular programs proved strong, the school has remained a permanent fixture in the community.
- Demographics
- Curriculum
- Courses
- Advanced Placement
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Rio Americano offers 12 AP courses in addition to various Honors classes. Although there is no official class, students have been known to take the AP Statistics, AP Music Theory, AP World History and AP European History exams.
- AP Biology - Ruggiero
- AP Calculus AB - Baker
- AP Calculus BC - Dunkum
- AP Chemistry - Montbriand
- AP Comparative Government - Blenner
- AP Macroeconomics - Casazza
- AP English - Mahoney
- AP Physics - Baird
- AP Psychology - Casazza
- AP Spanish - Losada
- AP US Government - Blenner and Mason
- AP US History - Blenner and Deville
- AP French - Murray
- Accelerated College Entrance (ACE) Program[1]
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Rio Americano offers Accelerated College Entrance courses in cooperation with Sacramento State.
- Rio course Sacramento State Course
Introduction to Philosophy—Philosophy 6
National, State and Local Government—Government 1
International Relations, World Politics—Government 35
Spanish 3—Spanish 1A/B
Spanish 4—Spanish 2A/B
AP Spanish—Spanish 2A/B - Electives
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The following are elective courses available at Rio Americano
- Anthropology
- AVID
- Art I
- Auto Technology
- Ceramics
- Computer Graphics
- Concert Band
- Digital Aerobics
- Digital Art
- Drama
- Drawing & Painting
- Film & Literature
- Foreign Language (French or Spanish)
- Health
- Instrumental Ensemble
- International Relations
- Jazz Ensemble
- Journalism (Newspaper)
- Psychology
- Radio/Television
- Reader's Theatre
- Sociology
- Speech & Debate
- Speech
- Website Design
- Weight Training
- Woodshop
- Teacher/Office Assistant
- Technical Theatre (Stagecraft)
- U.S. Government
- Yearbook
- Band
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The Rio Americano band program is nationally recognized, having 4 levels of concert band and 3 levels of jazz ensemble. The AM Jazz Ensemble has been recognized as one the United States' top 15 high school jazz bands at the Essentially Ellington Jazz competition in New York City in 2001, 2002, 2006, and 2007. The Rio AM Jazz Ensemble has also won the Monterey Jazz Festival in the High School Big Band category an unprecedented 7 times, and most recently finished 2nd in 2008. They have also won the Reno Jazz festival in their division and/or in the sweepstakes every year since 1993, except for 2006. They have toured Japan, Europe, China, and most recently Australia in the summer of 2008. They plan to tour Argentina in the summer of 2010.The program is under direction of Mr. Josh Murray and Mr. Max Kiesner. From 1982-2007 Mr. Craig Faniani was director and shaped the music program at Rio Americano to what it is today. Mr. F. has accepted a new position at the district office (2007-present)as the Coordinator for the Visual and Performing Arts for the San Juan Unified School District.
- Extracurricular Activities
- Academic Decathlon
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In 2005, the Academic Decathlon team placed 15th out of 17 school in the regional competition. With the arrival of new coaches and students in 2006, a team of eight juniors and one senior placed 6th out of 18. Coaches of other regional schools reportedly commented positively on Rio's improvement and success. In 2007, with six team members (the minimum number of students required to complete), Rio placed 5th out of 23 competing teams with five gold medals, four silver, and four bronze.
- Mock Trial
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Mock Trial is a year round program that places students in a courtroom environment in which they act the parts of attorneys, witnesses, court clerks and bailiffs, in order to better their knowledge in the field of law. Each year the Team participates in competitions organized through the Constitutional Rights Foundations.[2] Rio Americano's Mock Trial Team is known for its continuous record of success at both the County and State level Competitions. The Team has won 11 Sacramento County Championships: 1980, 1982, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and, 2008. The coach of Rio's Mock Trial Team is local attorney James "Jay" R. Greiner.
- Moot Court
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Rio Americano's Moot Court team won the GDS Sacramento County competition in 2006 and 2007, placing in semi-finals in 2009.
- Radio & TV
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The Radio & Television program has won the award for best High School News show in Sacramento several times, last awarded to them in 2002, by the Sacramento Educational Cable Consortium. The program has been reportedly falling apart by students and graduates after Gebhardt retired.
- Science Bowl
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Science Bowl is an academic competition that tests students on their science in seven different categories (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, General Science, Math, and Physics). There exist three 2008 teams (A, B and C), each consisting of five members. At the 2007 Sacramento Regional Competition, Team A placed 2nd and Team B 3rd. The 2008 Regional Competition took place on March 1 at Rio, in which Team A placed 3rd and Team B 5th. Team C was unranked, as they were not permitted to move on to the double elimination stage. Rio's 2009 Team A took 2nd at the Sacramento Regional Competition, losing to the eventual national champion team from Mira Loma.
- Science Olympiad
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A science competition with various events. Their '08-'09 team placed 4th in the 2009 regional competition which took place at Sacramento State University.
- The Mirada
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The Mirada is the school newspaper. It is put together by students of all grade levels. Mostly juniors and seniors are editors, two seniors for editor-in-chief, and junior and seniors for News, Opinions, Features and Sports. The Mirada also has three graphic artists, and one main photographer. There are many staff writers of all grade levels. The paper even has a business manager. There are about 21 staff members overall, with one teacher supervising. The features are: Bachelor and Bachelorette, Prep of the Issue, Car of the Issue and sometimes food reviews. The paper has an issue every month and has won various awards. The raider icon on the front page to the side of the heading changes every month.http://www.riomirada.com
- Awards
- Gold Medal Standing From Columbia University Journalism Review Program.
- Two individual awards from the International Quill and Scroll Competition.
- The Tesoro
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The school's yearbook. Each year the Tesoro has a different theme; "The Grass is Greener", "Something in Common", "What's the Difference", "Curious", "Continued Inside", and "Raided R" are the most recent. The yearbook also features clubs, sports, outside-of-school ports, senior favorites, quotes and pictures. Parents of seniors can submit a page dedicated to their son or daughter in the "Diapers to Diploma" section.
- Other active extracurriculars on campus include Speech and Debate, Interact Club, and Student Government.
- Athletics
- Rio Americano Fight Song
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Go Rio Raiders!
Battle the foe for Green and Gold!
Ready to meet all invaders
With our heads held high we will hear the victory cry
And when the battle is over
And on high you’ll hear our name
You will know the Rio Raiders
Have won another game! - Football
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1991 Future Pro Bowl lineman, Mike Flanagan, graduated from Rio Americano high school. Mike played for the Green Bay Packers from 1996-2005 and for the Houston Texans from 2006-2007.
- 1989-1991 season: The varsity football team went undefeated during regular season play and lost to the Nevada Union High School in the City Championship. The team produced 6 Division I college players: Mike Flanagan - UCLA; Chad Overhauser;UCLA; Mike Baeta - UC Berkeley; Eric Roof - Weber State University; Chris Lee - Weber State University, later Sacramento State; Tony York - Utah State University, later Sacramento State;
- 1994-1995 season: The varsity football team went undefeated during regular season play and lost to Del Oro High School in the Division 2 Section Final, played at University of the Pacific stadium.
- 1997-1998 season: The varsity football team won SVC league and lost to West HS in the playoffs.1998-1999 season: The varsity football team were second seed in league and lost to Rio Linda in the playoffs.
- In the 2002-2003 season the Raiders were 4-6.In the 2003-2004 the Raiders finished 5-5.In the 2007-2008 Football Season the Raiders went 5-5, Chad Tannenbaum - Sacramento State; Alfred Kikau - Utah State Pierce Burton - San Jose State..
- So far in the 2008-2009 season, the Varsity football Raiders finished 8-3, 4-1 in the CAL league and undefeated at home.They competed in the playoffs for the 1st time in 10 years.
- Boy's Soccer
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1995 Sasha Victorine graduated. Victorine played in the 2000 Summer Olympics, for the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Kansas City Wizards and currently Chivas USA.
- The Varsity Boys tied Jesuit High School in an exhibition match on Oct. 17th 2007, 0-0, and have consistently made it to the playoffs. They shared the Capital Athletic League title with Bella Vista in 2008-2009 finishing the regular season with a record of 12-3-6.
- Water Polo
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A school sport since 1995, Girls Water Polo has won 6 straight Division 2 Sac-Joaquin Section titles. Rafael Ruano has coached the girls water polo team since 1997. Dozens of players have gone on to play in college, including UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, USC, Santa Clara, Brown, Pomona, Claremont, Redlands, CSU Monterey Bay, American River College and Cuesta College. All-Americans for girls water polo include: Danielle Hall, Veronica Ruano, Lisa Moss, Annie Marszal, Lauren Calnero, Christie Miller, Whitney Morgan, Janelle Gyorffy, Gillian Morgan, Blair Moody and Rachele Gyorffy.
- Section champions in 1996 and 2003, Men's Water Polo has produced Division I players such as Brian Kinsel and Matt Hillard, both of whom played for UC Berkeley. The current Head Coach is Zac Koerner. In 2007, the team lost to Granite Bay in the Section Division II Championship.
- Cross Country
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The Rio Americano cross-country teams are coached by Gordon Hubble. The varsity boys cross-country team placed 5th in the 2006 Sac-Joaquin Division III Section Finals Meet at the Willow Hills course in Folsom, CA. The varsity boys also received two CAL (Capital Athletic League) All-League awards. The varsity girls placed 7th in the 2006 Sac-Joaquin Division III Section Finals Meet and also received two CAL All-League awards. Both teams placed second in the Capital Athletic League. The freshman boys team placed first in the Capital Athletic League, the SJS Div. III Sub-Sections Meet, and the SJS Div. III Sections Meet. In 2007, Patrick Nilan placed 8th at the SJS Div. II Section Finals being the first Rio Americano High School cross-country runner to qualify for the CIF State Championships in 9 years.
- Basketball
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Starting the season with a Jack Scott Tournament win in 2002, the Rio Varsity Boy basketball team won the Division II Section title at ARCO Arena and continued on to the state semi-finals held at UC Davis, finishing 3rd in the state.The boys basketball team won the 2006 and 2007 Jack Scott Tournament, a tournament hosted by Rio.During the 2007-2008 season, the Raiders won their second Jack Scott Tournament in a row. This was the first time they had won the jack Scott tourney 3 years in a row.
- Wrestling
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The wrestling team is coached by Kelly Lanthier. She has coached there for three years.
- Golf
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The team is coached by Brady Yount (2007-current) and assistant coach Mark Shepherd.
- 2007 Varsity Golf: Aaron Kim, Jordan Mills, Bryson Boatwright, Philip Lee, Matt Shepherd, Stan Jorgenson and Zachary Shannon.
- Led by Jordan"The Mormon" Mills along with strong players such as Bryson Boatwright and Matt Shepherd, the team finished third in the Capital Athletic League. Del Campo and Casa Roble placed first and second in the league, the only teams to defeat Rio Americano in matches during the regular season.
- 2007 season for Boy's Varsity Golf was 6 wins - 4 losses
- Girl's Soccer
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The Varsity Girls Soccer has been a consistently strong team. They were national ranked in 1999 and 2000. They were second place finishers in Division II Section in 2001, losing 4-1 to Saint Francis. They won the section title in 2007, defeating Bella Vista 6-0 in the championship game. They remained undefeated throughout their 2008-2009 season and won the Division III Section title.
- Swimming & Diving
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The head coach of Rio Americano Swimming is Chris Nissen, who lead the Varsity Girls to a Section title in the 2008 season, and the Varsity Boys to a second place finish. Seniors Kevin Ferguson and Tomi Petty were the Capitol Athletic Swimmers of the Year, leading the team to victory at the Cal Champs meet.At the 2008 San Jauqin Sections meet the Raider's finished 2nd overall to Jesuit High.The Raiders's finished first in 2,the 200 and 400 yard free relay. Lead Nolan Bethely(Senior)(22.34),Cashel Barnett (junior)(22.56)(47.80),Connor McGill(senior)(21.80)(48.40),Kevin Ferguson(20.97)(46.65),and Michael Franz (sophomore)(48.70)were under All American Standards. Sophomore Michael Franz also acquired an All-American time in his 500 yard Freestyle, finishing second, and Ferguson also won second place in his two individual events, the 200 yard Individual Medley and the 100 yard Backstroke, with two more All-American times.
- Boy's Tennis
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The Boys Tennis Team has been division champions for the past six years since. In 2008, Rio's tennis team lost in the section semifinals to Granite Bay High School. Ted Bruchett and Aaron Goldwyn lost in the section finals for doubles to Oak Ridge High School. Robert Rugen, the four time number one player was unable to compete in singles section competition because of an illness.
- Track & Field
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The track & field teams are coached by Gordon Hubble and assistant coaches Tay Moore and Eric Smith. In 1990 Rio Americano's 4x100 relay team led by Tony York, Jeff Younger, Ato White and Mike Baeta led superior California with a time of 41.80 set at the Sacramento meet of Champions. Tony York went on to win the CVC league title in the 200 and SJS Sub-Section title in the 100 and 200 meters.Younger won the CVC league title in the 100. York and Younger were named first team all league. Rio Americano's track team produced four CAL All-League award winners in 2006 also and four more during the 2007 track season. The Rio Americano varsity boys team won the 2007 SJS Division II Section title with a total of 46 points, beating Oak Ridge High School by 3 points. At the 2007 SJS Section Masters meet, the track team qualified four athletes to the CIF State Meet.
- Track & Field Records
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- Note: Times followed by a "y" were converted from yards to meters.Times followed by an "c" were converted from hand timing to FAT (by adding .24 seconds for the 100m and 200m, and .14 seconds for the 400m).
- Rugby
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Rio, although lacking an officially-sanctioned rugby team, does have a team that plays under the name "Rio Rugby." The Team is coached by Jason Crothers, and took 4th place in the Sacramento Valley High School Rugby Conference. This is the 7th year of the Rio Rugby Club. Players do not come exclusively from Rio, some come from nearby El Camino High School.
- Clubs
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The following clubs were featured at Rio Americano for the 2008-2009 school year
- Anime and Manga Club
- Big Sis Little Sis Club
- Buffer Club
- Chess Club
- Civitas Club
- Creative Writing Club
- Didjeridoo Club
- Extremely Savage Sports Club
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes
- French Club
- Friday Night Live
- Greek Culture Club
- Gay-Straight Alliance Club
- Inconvenient Youth
- Interact Club
- Invisible Children's Club
- Jewish American Culture Club
- Junior State of America
- Key Club
- Lilu handbag club
- Math Club
- Metal and Friends
- Mongolian BBQ Club
- Not of This World (NotW)
- Quidditch League
- Raider Support
- Rio Americano Peace Club
- Rio High School Host Club
- Rio Republicans
- Rio Rugby
- Rio Science and Engineering Society
- Rods and Cones
- Save Darfur Club
- Science Bowl
- Scrubs Club
- Snowboard/Ski Club
- Spanish Club
- Tecktonik
- The Red Heads
- The Wolf Pack
- Totally Frickin' Amazing Club of Dancing
- Twilight
- Universal Culture Club
- Young Democrats Club
- Civitas
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Rio Americano offers Academia CIVITAS, a four-year program of political studies. The Civitas program provides students with advanced and specialized learning in the social sciences and an enriched sense of citizenship.
- Teacher Controversy
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A former history teacher at Rio Americano High School was arrested on 17 charges of alleged sexual misconduct on March 5. Gregory J. Rayburn, 54, was arrested at his Grass Valley home shortly after 8:30 a.m. on March 5 2008, on a warrant detailing 15 counts of child molestation and two counts of sexual battery. His trial is scheduled to begin on July 7, 2008.
- Notable alumni
- Barbi Benton (1968) - Former Playboy Playmate and girlfriend of Hugh Hefner
- John Bowker (2001) - first baseman for the San Francisco Giants
- Merrin Dungey (1989) - actress
- Mike Flanagan (1991) - former center for the Houston Texans and the Green Bay Packers
- Jonathan Karsh (1990) - independent film and television producer
- Trevor Matich (1979) - 12-year NFL lineman.
- Debbie Meyer (1970) - three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
- Doug Ose (1973) - Former Congressman who represented from 1998-2004.
- Jane Sibbett (1980) - actress best known for playing Carol Willick on Friends
- Sasha Victorine (1996) - midfielder for Chivas USA of Major League Soccer
- James Williams (2003) - member of the 2008 Summer Olympics United States fencing team
- Tyler Coppin (1974) - Australian actor and playwright. Notably The Road Warrior and "Lyrebird "
- Johnny Rabb (1990) - Professional Touring Drummer. Also plays in a duo named BioDiesel.
- External links
- Official Website
- Rio Americano Band Website
- Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.
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