Kearny High School (San Diego, California)
Encyclopedia
Kearny High School is a public high school in San Diego, California
. Kearny High School serves students in grades 9-12 from the Linda Vista
, Serra Mesa
and Kearny Mesa communities. The school is part of the San Diego Unified School District
. Kearny's mascot is the Komet.
. The camp was named in honor of General Stephen W. Kearny
, a leader in the Mexican-American War.
Kearny Senior High opened its doors in 1943 in Linda Vista
. In 1956 the high school moved to its present location at 7651 Wellington Way.
The small school system is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Kearny is one of three such small schools in the San Diego area, the other two being San Diego High School
and Crawford Educational Complex. The class of 2005 was the first graduating class from Kearny's small school system. The small schools are distinct from one another with different principals, teaching staff and course requirements. Each school offers specialized classes only available through their specific program.
Since Kearny has specialized academies, each school is able to offer a variety of elective courses not commonly taught in public schools. Each academy offers individual AP, ROP
, and electives pertaining to their specific theme. All four schools have come together with a common emphasis on planetary changes and global warming, using various technological skills to educate the student body.
Exclusive to Kearny High, students who display academic excellence are able to take Mesa Fast Track their junior and senior years. This program allows students to enroll in college courses at Mesa College
for both high school and college credit during the school day, and further enables the students to succeed post high school.
Kearny participates in California Interscholastic Federation
(CIF) sports.
The current Athletic Director is former cross country coach Patty Peisner.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. Kearny High School serves students in grades 9-12 from the Linda Vista
Linda Vista, San Diego, California
Linda Vista is a community in San Diego, California, United States. It is east of Mission Bay, north of Mission Valley, and south-east of Tecolote Canyon. It lies on a mesa overlooking Mission Valley...
, Serra Mesa
Serra Mesa, San Diego, California
Serra Mesa is a community in San Diego, California. It is located between Interstate 805 and Interstate 15, north of Friars Road and south of Aero Drive. Serra Mesa is named for Father Junípero Serra, a Majorcan Franciscan friar who founded the Mission San Diego de Alcalá...
and Kearny Mesa communities. The school is part of the San Diego Unified School District
San Diego Unified School District
San Diego Unified School District is the school district of San Diego, California. It was founded in 1854...
. Kearny's mascot is the Komet.
History
The school is named for its neighborhood of Kearny Mesa, which took its name from a former military base on the land, Camp KearnyCamp Kearny
Camp Kearny was a U.S. military base in San Diego, California, on the site of the current Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. It operated from 1917 to 1946.-Establishment and early years:...
. The camp was named in honor of General Stephen W. Kearny
Stephen W. Kearny
Stephen Watts Kearny surname also appears as Kearney in some historic sources; August 30, 1794 October 31, 1848), was one of the foremost antebellum frontier officers of the United States Army. He is remembered for his significant contributions in the Mexican-American War, especially the conquest...
, a leader in the Mexican-American War.
Kearny Senior High opened its doors in 1943 in Linda Vista
Linda Vista, San Diego, California
Linda Vista is a community in San Diego, California, United States. It is east of Mission Bay, north of Mission Valley, and south-east of Tecolote Canyon. It lies on a mesa overlooking Mission Valley...
. In 1956 the high school moved to its present location at 7651 Wellington Way.
Small schools
During the 2004-2005 school year, Kearny transformed from a traditional high school into a campus with four specialized small schools, each with an emphasis on a different field of study. The schools are:- The School of Science, Connections, and Technology (SCT)
- The School of Digital Media Design (DMD)
- The Stanley E. Foster Construction Tech Academy (CTA)
- The School of International Business (SIB)
The small school system is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Kearny is one of three such small schools in the San Diego area, the other two being San Diego High School
San Diego High School
San Diego High School is an urban public educational complex comprising six small schools located on the southern edge of Balboa Park, in San Diego, California. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District. It is the oldest high school in the San Diego Unified School District and one of the...
and Crawford Educational Complex. The class of 2005 was the first graduating class from Kearny's small school system. The small schools are distinct from one another with different principals, teaching staff and course requirements. Each school offers specialized classes only available through their specific program.
Curriculum
Kearny High uses a 4x4 block schedule, which means that students are able to complete four full classes a semester (fall term and spring term) totaling eight full classes a year, rather than the traditional six year-long courses. This enables students to complete a year’s full curriculum in a more condensed term and allows them to enroll in additional electives or ROP courses.Since Kearny has specialized academies, each school is able to offer a variety of elective courses not commonly taught in public schools. Each academy offers individual AP, ROP
California Association of Regional Occupational Centers and Programs
The California Association of Regional Occupational Centers and Programs is an organization that promotes and supports ROCPs in providing career education, career development, and workforce preparation that contributes to student academic and career success and to the economic development of...
, and electives pertaining to their specific theme. All four schools have come together with a common emphasis on planetary changes and global warming, using various technological skills to educate the student body.
Exclusive to Kearny High, students who display academic excellence are able to take Mesa Fast Track their junior and senior years. This program allows students to enroll in college courses at Mesa College
Mesa College
Mesa College may refer to:*Mesa Community College, a public, two-year community college in Mesa, Arizona*Mesa State College, a public, liberal-arts college in Grand Junction, Colorado; previously named as Mesa College...
for both high school and college credit during the school day, and further enables the students to succeed post high school.
Athletics
Kearny offers a wide array of sports:- Fall: Football, Cross Country, Women's Volleyball, Women's Tennis.
- Winter: Soccer, Basketball, and Wrestling
- Spring: Track and Field, Men's Volleyball, Badminton, Softball, Baseball, Men's Golf, Men's Tennis
Kearny participates in California Interscholastic Federation
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
(CIF) sports.
The current Athletic Director is former cross country coach Patty Peisner.
Notable alumni
- Darnay ScottDarnay ScottDarnay Scott is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft.-High school career:...
, Class of 91, Scott played in eight NFL seasons from 1994 to 1999 and 2001 to 2002. In 1994 he was drafted in the second round (30th pick overall) of the NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. - Tess GerritsenTess GerritsenTess Gerritsen, M.D., is a Chinese-American novelist and retired physician. Her first name is really Terry; she decided to feminize it when she was a writer of romance novels.-Early life:...
, The New York Times-bestselling thriller novelist. - Harold GreeneHarold GreeneHarold Greene is a former award-winning journalist, best known for working at KCAL 9 News and CBS 2 News in Los Angeles. Before joining the CBS duopoly, Greene enjoyed a long television news career, mostly in Southern California....
, Anchorman - Cliff HicksCliff HicksClifford Wendell Hicks, Jr. is a former professional American football defensive back who played for four NFL teams from...
, Class of '82, played in three Super Bowls during his 9½-year NFL career. - Cleavon LittleCleavon LittleCleavon Jake Little was an American film and theatre actor.Little was widely known for his lead role as Sheriff Bart in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles. He also was the irreverent Dr...
(1939–1992), actor, Blazing Saddles. - Bob MosleyBob MosleyBob Mosley is principally known as the bass player and one of the songwriters and vocalists for the band Moby Grape. He has also developed a career as a solo artist. Three of his best known songs with Moby Grape are "Mr...
, musician (Moby GrapeMoby GrapeMoby Grape is an American rock group from the 1960s, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting and that collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz together with rock and psychedelic music...
) - Darnay ScottDarnay ScottDarnay Scott is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft.-High school career:...
, Class of '90 ex-professional football player for the Cincinnati Bengals - Alan TrammellAlan TrammellAlan Stuart Trammell is a retired American baseball shortstop of the Detroit Tigers from to . Trammell, nicknamed "Tram", played his entire career with the Tigers, highlighted by a World Series championship in and an American League East division championship in . Although his arm was not...
, Major League Baseball player and manager for the Detroit Tigers - Phil TippettPhil TippettPhil Tippett is a movie director and an award-winning visual effects supervisor and producer, who specializes in creature design and character animation.-Early career:...
, Visual Effects Artist, Model Maker (Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back) - Jim Smith (defensive back)Jim Smith (defensive back)James McCoy Smith is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played high school football at Kearny High School , college football at the University of Oregon and was drafted in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft...
Jim "Yazoo" Smith, Class of '64 (Oregon) Washington Redskins - John RichardsonJohn Richardson (American football)John Edward Richardson is a former professional American football player who played defensive tackle for seven seasons for the Miami Dolphins and the St. Louis Cardianls John was a graduate of Kearny High School . He was a member of the 1966 College Football All-America Team....
, Class of '64 (UCLA) Miami Dolphins - Lucious SmithLucious SmithLucious Irvin Smith is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League. He was signed by the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 1980. He played college football at Cal State-Fullerton and San Diego State.Smith also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills,...