Granada Hills Charter High School
Encyclopedia
Granada Hills Charter High School (often called "GHCHS" or "Granada") is an independent public school consisting of over 4,200 students in grades 9–12, located in Granada Hills, California. It currently holds the record as the top comprehensive public senior high school in Los Angeles. Granada also has a high Academic Performance Index (API) score of 876, which greatly exceeds the target API score of 800 for all schools in California. On April 12, 2011, Granada was named a 2011 California Distinguished School.
(LAUSD). In 1994, the school opened a LAUSD magnet school
with emphasis in math, science and technology in conjunction with the California State University at Northridge. However, as of 2010, the magnet program at Granada was closed. The magnet campus now serves as the school's online campus, Kirk Douglas. The online program can aid failing students by providing virtual classes online, rather than requiring students to take classes on campus. The school maintains a successful and credible program for the deaf and hard of hearing
. In 2003, the school was awarded charter status which granted it fiscal and instructional autonomy in order to improve student academic performance.
The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
.
, is used by the Los Angeles Rampage
women's soccer team and is the former home ground of the San Fernando Valley Quakes
United Soccer Leagues
Premier Development League
soccer team. While playing for University of Southern California
, Reggie Bush
used the school's track to train and stay in shape.
led Granada to the title over Crenshaw High
, which featured future major leaguers Chris Brown
and Darryl Strawberry
.
team at Granada won the 2009 Varsity LD Championship at Pepperdine University
. (Yellow River)It was also the 2008 CHSSA State Champion in Thematic Interpretation
.
The Academic Decathlon team won the National championships in 2011.
History
Granada Hills High School is a comprehensive public high school, founded back in 1960 as part of the Los Angeles Unified School DistrictLos Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
(LAUSD). In 1994, the school opened a LAUSD magnet school
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
with emphasis in math, science and technology in conjunction with the California State University at Northridge. However, as of 2010, the magnet program at Granada was closed. The magnet campus now serves as the school's online campus, Kirk Douglas. The online program can aid failing students by providing virtual classes online, rather than requiring students to take classes on campus. The school maintains a successful and credible program for the deaf and hard of hearing
Hearing impairment
-Definition:Deafness is the inability for the ear to interpret certain or all frequencies of sound.-Environmental Situations:Deafness can be caused by environmental situations such as noise, trauma, or other ear defections...
. In 2003, the school was awarded charter status which granted it fiscal and instructional autonomy in order to improve student academic performance.
The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
.
Facilities
The school's sports stadium, the John Elway StadiumJohn Elway Stadium
The John Elway Stadium is a 4,000-seat sports stadium on the campus of Granada Hills High School in Granada Hills, California, a district of the city of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley....
, is used by the Los Angeles Rampage
Los Angeles Rampage
Los Angeles Rampage is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2007. The team is a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League, the third tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada...
women's soccer team and is the former home ground of the San Fernando Valley Quakes
San Fernando Valley Quakes
San Fernando Valley Quakes was an American soccer team based in Calabasas, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...
United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
soccer team. While playing for University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush
Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
used the school's track to train and stay in shape.
Athletics
In the 1978 L.A. City Championship Baseball game, John ElwayJohn Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
led Granada to the title over Crenshaw High
Crenshaw High School
Crenshaw High School is a secondary school located in South Los Angeles, California.The school first opened in 1968 and currently enrolls an average of 2,600 students. Its address is 5010 11th Avenue, near the corner of 50th Street. The school colors are blue and gold, and its mascot is the...
, which featured future major leaguers Chris Brown
Chris Brown (baseball player)
John Christopher Brown was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball during the 1980s, most notably with the San Francisco Giants.-Early life:...
and Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Eugene Strawberry is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder who is well-known both for his play on the field and for his controversial behavior off it...
.
Activities
The Lincoln-Douglas DebateLincoln-Douglas debate
Lincoln–Douglas debate is sometimes also called values debate because it traditionally places a heavy emphasis on logic, ethical values, and philosophy...
team at Granada won the 2009 Varsity LD Championship at Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
. (Yellow River)It was also the 2008 CHSSA State Champion in Thematic Interpretation
Thematic interpretation
Thematic Interpretation is the practice of verbal and non verbal communication, using illustrated and non illustrated techniques, used by interpretive naturalists, Natural and cultural interpretive specialists, tour guides and others to present complex and sometimes dry subject matter in an...
.
The Academic Decathlon team won the National championships in 2011.
Notable alumni
- Doug BakerDoug BakerDouglas Lee Baker is a former infielder in Major League Baseball player who played with the Detroit Tigers from - and the Minnesota Twins from -. Baker played in 136 Major League games and had a .207 batting average with 51 hits, 38 runs, 22 RBIs, and 11 doubles.-External links:...
, professional baseball player - Valerie BertinelliValerie BertinelliValerie Anne Bertinelli is an American actress, best known for her roles as Barbara Cooper Royer on the television series One Day at a Time , Gloria on the television series Touched by an Angel and Melanie Moretti on the sitcom Hot in Cleveland .- Early years :Bertinelli was born in Wilmington,...
, actress - Gary FrankGary FrankGary Frank is a British comic book artist, notable for pencilling on Midnight Nation and Supreme Power, both written by J. Michael Straczynski...
, actor and director - Ryan BraunRyan BraunRyan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
, All Star major league baseball player - Jamal BrooksJamal BrooksJamal Benjamin Brooks is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football at Hampton....
, professional football player - John ElwayJohn ElwayJohn Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
, Hall of Fame quarterback for the Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Robert EnglundRobert EnglundRobert Barton Englund is an American actor, voice-actor and director, best known for playing the fictional serial killer Freddy Krueger, in the Nightmare on Elm Street film series. He received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors in...
, actor - Kameron LoeKameron LoeKameron David Loe is a professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.He previously pitched in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers. At 6' 9" tall, Loe is one of the tallest players in the game, and also has a 7 foot boa constrictor named Angel which he keeps in the clubhouse...
, professional baseball player - Gary Matthews, Jr.Gary Matthews, Jr.Gary Nathaniel Matthews, Jr. is an outfielder who is currently a free agent. Matthews is the son of Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Gary Matthews, who played 16 years in the majors as an outfielder. Matthews, Jr...
, professional baseball player - Blanchard MontgomeryBlanchard MontgomeryBlanchard Montgomery III is a retired American football linebacker who played professionally in the National Football League....
, professional football player - Michael MorhaimeMichael MorhaimeMichael "Mike" Morhaime is the president and a co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment , a video game developer located in Irvine, California, currently owned by Activision Blizzard...
, videogame producer and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment - David MullichDavid MullichDavid Mullich is an American game producer and designer best known for creating the cult classic 1980 adventure game The Prisoner, producing the 1995 adaptation I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, and developing many games in the Heroes of Might and Magic franchise...
, videogame producer - Neal MorseNeal MorseNeal Morse is an American multi-instrumentalist and progressive rock composer based in Nashville, Tennessee.-Background:...
, progressive rock musician - Jeffrey Lee PierceJeffrey Lee PierceJeffrey Lee Pierce was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was one of the founding members of the 1980s punk band The Gun Club...
, guitarist of The Gun Club - Dave SchmidtDave SchmidtDavid Joseph Schmidt , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched twelve seasons in the majors from until . He is currently the pitching coordinator for the Orioles.-External links:...
, professional baseball player - Tamlyn TomitaTamlyn TomitaTamlyn Naomi Tomita is an actress, who has appeared in many Hollywood films and television series.-Early life:Tomita was born in Okinawa, the daughter of Shiro and Asako Tomita. Her father then later became a Los Angeles Police Officer, rising to the rank of sergeant. He succumbed to cancer in...
, actress - Lisa WilhoitLisa WilhoitLisa Marie Wilhoit is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing Danielle Chase on the television show My So-Called Life and for being the voice of Connie D'Amico on the television series Family Guy.-Biography:...
, actress - Jennifer Clavin, musician