- San Marino High School (SMHS) is one of the best public high schools in California, located in San Marino, California, United States. It is part of the San Marino Unified School District in Los Angeles County. San Marino High School’s Academic Performance Index (API) of 935 as determined by the California Department of Education, makes it the #1 public high school in L.A. County and 4th highest in the state for comprehensive high schools in the 2008-2009 school year.
- Philosophy
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San Marino High School will provide the fundamentals of literacy, communication, and mathematical applications for students to succeed in their later studies and/or working lives. School personnel will partner with parents and the community to maximize resources necessary to provide students a quality education in a supportive and positive climate. Students will develop global awareness, civic responsibility and critical thinking skills to respond and adapt to the changes of the 21st century.
- Achievements
- San Marino High School’s Academic Performance Index (API) of 935 as determined by the California Department of Education, is 4th highest in the state and highest in Los Angeles County for comprehensive high schools for the 2008-2009 school year.
- In March 2005, four students got a 2400 on the first administration of the new SAT I, the highest score possible. There were only 104 students who achieved the perfect score, 24 of them in California.
- San Marino High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2006 and a Gold Medal school by U.S. News and World Report in December 2007, ranking #82 in the nation. San Marino High remains the top high school in the Los Angeles County and one of the top schools in the state. San Marino High School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges through the Focus on Learning process.
- In 2008, SMHS was announced as a co-winner of the prestigious Bravo Award, recognizing the top school arts program in the country, recognizing the top school arts program in the county.
- California Business for Education Excellence (CBEE) has once again named San Marino High to its Honor Roll for 2008 in the “Scholar Schools” category. This category recognizes schools for academic excellence, regardless of demographics or any other factor.
- The 2007-08 school yearbook Titanian was named an All-American by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
- In 2009, San Marino was again recognized as a California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education (CDE). Only 341 schools in the state of California met the eligibility criteria based on their student achievement, and only 261 California middle and high schools were awarded.
- The Class of 2009, consisting of 276 students, features 12 National Merit semi-finalists and 42 commended students.
- More than 60% of students attend a six week summer school program primarily for enrichment and advancement.
- San Marino High School has produced many royal court members for the annual Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game such as followed: Suzanne Gillaspie `83; Aimee Richelieu `86; Cara Rullman `91; Keli Hutchins `96; Caroline Hsu `02 and Alexandra Wucetich `03 have earned titles as Tournament of Roses Queens for the Rose Parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena. As for the Princesses, Carrie Gastos, Amy Gordinier & Kristin Henry `88; Tisha Mei-Lin Kong `91; Shannon Marie Hall `94; Melissa Dittmar & Chelseah Perth `95; Katherine Kingston `96; Kristen Kneier & Grace Huang `98; Cristina Wucetich `99; Grace Chen & Carol Huang `00; Allison Ude `01; Katherine Stroud `02; Natalie Matsumoto `04; Carolyn Loo `06 and Courtney Rubin `08 have received the honor.
- Alma mater
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Music by Oscar Rasbach
Words by Cheryl Foote '57 -
'Neath the blue majestic mountains,
Fine and strong she proudly stands.
San Marino Alma Mater,
We pledge our hearts and hands.
Symbol of a higher purpose,
Blue and white her banners fly.
Long may voices praise her glory,
Hail, Hail, Hail.
Long may voices praise her glory,
San Marino High!
- History
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San Marino High School was founded in 1955 after 50 years of utilizing South Pasadena High School in nearby South Pasadena.
- The high school is situated on the former site of Carver Elementary School. School reconstruction began in 1996 and is now complete. The school is equipped with new laboratories, classrooms, and ethernet connections, supported mostly by bond issues and rigorous fund-raising by the San Marino Schools Endowment. The new buildings include a brand new cafeteria, orchestra and band room, dance studio, journalism lab, and renovated auditoriums, as well as a renovated baseball field and a brand new football field/track.
- San Marino High School is part of the San Marino Unified School District. Its public funding is supplemented by private donations raised through the San Marino Schools Foundation.
- San Marino High School's upper football practice field was the location of where Kathy Fiscus fell into an abandoned water well in 1949. It was subsequently capped and covered by the local water district.
- Student population
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As of the 2008-09 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,096 students (276 seniors) and 59 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 18.6. The school's racial composition is 64% Asian, 33% White, 1% Hispanic, 0.2% African American, and 1.4% other.
- Classes
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San Marino High School currently has a 59 member teaching faculty. SMHS offers a variety of AP Classes in mathematics (Calculus AB and BC, Statistics), science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science), foreign languages (Spanish, French, Japanese, Mandarin), English (Language and Literature), social science (Government), and music theory/art.
- Extracurricular classes include small business, fashion merchandising, computer graphics, three courses in media arts (digital film making, animation, and field work), the school newspaper Titan Shield , the award-winning school yearbook Titanian, Speech and Debate, band, choirs, an orchestra, and the drama program.
- The school features a fully wired state-of-the-art Math/Science complex, BRAVO Award-Winning Performing Arts program, and a recently renovated television/video production studio.
- Athletics
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San Marino has a history of athletic rivalry with South Pasadena High School, a high school in the neighboring city. Due to tradition, games against South Pasadena tend to have a larger crowd and hold more significance versus games against other schools.SM has the second most C.I.F. Southern Section Championships, behind Long Beach Poly. The school's most recent C.I.F. title was Division II Boys' Varsity Tennis in 2007. In 1998, the school won five straight CIF tennis titles and ranked number one in USA Today's High School Tennis Teams.
- Extracurricular Activities
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San Marino High School features numerous clubs and organizations which are run by members of the student body.The various clubs include:
- A Capella Society - Increases appreciation of A Cappella style singing and performs for senior citizens.
- ACTS - Promotes school/community service and Christian fellowship.
- Altrusia AIDS - To provide help for those whose lives are affected with HIV or AIDS.
- Amicians - Although historically a prominent member of the SMHS club scene, Amicians was mysteriously disbanded in June 2010 (which hasn't even happened yet) shortly after the induction of a new club president.
- Amnesty International - To fight for human rights and to address other related issues.
- AniManga - Strengthens animation awareness, builds a higher sense of creativity within students, and motivates the school community to participate in the arts.
- Badminton Club - To raise interest regarding badminton in SMHS.
- Chamber Music - To unite those who play string instruments together in ensembles that perform for the young and old.
- Cosmopolites - Increases the awareness and understanding of other cultures.
- Eyes Around the World - To promote volunteerism among high school students to collect and ship used eyeglasses to citizens of countries that need eyeglasses but cannot afford them.
- FBLA - Brings business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.
- Film Club - Promotes interest in filmmaking.
- Frisbee Club- Promotes community interaction through the sport of Frisbee.
- Gay Straight Alliance - Provides a safe place for students to meet, support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation, and work to end homophobia.
- Interact - Promotes interest in community service and publicize available service opportunities.
- Jazz Band - To recruit students to pursue their musical interests by promoting the musical genre of jazz.
- Key Club - Develops initiative and leadership, provide experience in living and working together, and to serve the school and community for useful citizenship.
- Math Club - Promotes involvement in mathematics to high school students.
- Omegas - Provides service for the school and community.
- P.A.W.S. (Pets and Wildlife Society) - To interest students in the upkeep of the environment and well being of animals.
- PPC (Ping Pong Club) - Promotes interest in the sport of Ping Pong.
- Project Kid - Raises money to host events for local orphanages and less fortunate children.
- Red Cross - Provides service to the school, community, and neighboring areas.
- Robotics - Promotes hands on experience in an engineering feat by building a robot out of scratch and have it accomplish a specific task.
- Rubik's Cube Club - Promotes interest in the Rubik's Cube.
- San Marino Fencing Club - To promote both physical and mental discipline through fencing.
- Save The Music - Hosts concerts to raise money for charities.
- Science Club - Promotes interest in sciences.
- Self-Defense Club - To promote interest in self-defense and the martial arts.
- SM Ventures - Provides service for the school and community.
- Thespians - Promotes interest in theater arts.
- TIC TAC - Encourage the student body interest in many forms of art.
- Tyler's Team - Raises money for leukemia research.
- Wushu Club - Promotes a broad range of Chinese Martial Art forms and techniques.
- Young Life - Promotes service to school/community and promote Christian fellowship.
- Zethusians - Provides a means for students to take part in community service activities in a fun, enjoyable environment along with others.
- The various honors societies include:
- California Scholarship Federation (CSF) - Recognizes the scholarship at SMHS.
- National Forensics League - Promotes interest in speech activity.
- National Honor Society (NHS) - Scholarship, leadership, and service.
- National Thespian Society - Promotes drama.
- Prometheans - Honors seniors for scholarship and service.
- Quill and Scroll - Promotes clarity and interest in communication.
- All of the clubs on campus are governed by the Associated Student Body, or "ASB." This student government group is composed of elected officers and representatives from grades 9 through 12.
- School events
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The high school holds events several events, including sports, theater, and others. The Associated Student Body puts on the Coronation Ball, a dance held to crown the Homecoming Queen and Princesses. These young ladies will then be honored throughout Homecoming. The ball is held on the Saturday directly before the Homecoming game, takes place in the home of a student, and also features an annual theme. During the week before the homecoming game, the ASB usually holds lunch- and snack-time rallies to boost school spirit. Finally on the Thursday night before homecoming day, the ASB will stay over night at school to decorate the campus. In the afternoon of Homecoming day, students hold a homecoming parade with the assistance of the San Marino Police Department and Fire Department. The parade is attended by community figures such as the mayor, the principal, and San Marino Unified School District Board members. Floats include each class' advisory board and community service clubs. The Marching Band usually leads the parade. The homecoming game takes place that night, with the marching band and color guard performing during half-time.
- Notable alumni
- Jim Gott - 1980 (MLB Player).
- Bill Redell, football coach and member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Christian Wheel - 1997 (Radio host).
- Stephan Pastis - 1986 (Cartoonist).
- External links
- San Marino High School
- San Marino Unified School District
- San Marino ROP Media Arts
- San Marino High School Library
- 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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