Los Alamos High School
Encyclopedia
Los Alamos High School, often called LAHS, is the public high school in Los Alamos, New Mexico
, USA. The school opened in 1946, and was originally supported by the Atomic Energy Commission
. It has been academically recognized by Newsweek
, U.S. News & World Report
, and the New Mexico Public Education Department
. The school has been visited by two U.S. Presidents
: John F. Kennedy
and Bill Clinton
. LAHS currently competes in the New Mexico Activities Association
's District 2, AAAA division for athletics, and has won 85 state championships in the school's history.
functioned as a boarding school for wealthy easterners that combined elements of a college preparatory school with a rugged frontier life. In 1942 Los Alamos was chosen to be the site of the Manhattan Project
. The US Government acquired the property of the Ranch School through eminent domain
, and the school was shut down in 1943.
During wartime, structures in Los Alamos were temporary because people were expecting to leave after the wartime project was completed. In August 1945, following the Allied victory in Japan, it was decided the Los Alamos National Laboratory's
nuclear research would continue in order to counter a rising Soviet threat
. In 1946 Los Alamos begin erecting permanent structures, including Los Alamos High School. Life during the war and post-war transition was difficult for the first students of LAHS. "'[We were] normal teenagers trying to have a normal life in very adverse conditions," said Dan Nelis, one of the school's original students.
In 1946, much of the budget for construction and operation of the high school was provided directly by the Atomic Energy Commission
instead of state or local taxes. This arrangement persisted under the Department of Energy
and Washington has traditionally paid for a third of the school system's budget. Support from the federal government has been declining and was only 22% in the 2008–2009 academic year.
During the 1960s, LAHS began to attract attention for its consistent academic performance, low drop-out rate, and innovative teaching methods. President
John F. Kennedy
noted LAHS and other local schools during his visit to Los Alamos in 1962: "I've admired from some years ago, from reading an article about the kind of schools that you run here and the kind of boys and girls that you're bringing up." In 1964, after the assassination of President Kennedy, the community of Los Alamos erected a permanent memorial in his honor at the high school football field.
President Bill Clinton
spoke at the school in 1993. In Clinton's speech, he marked the community's technological contributions to national security, and envisioned a new Post-Cold War role for the town in promoting technological advancement and prosperity.
In October 1995 a delegation of nuclear scientists from Sarov
(Los Alamos's Russian sister city) visited Los Alamos to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Allied Victory in WWII and the end of the Cold War. During their visit members of the delegation both attended and taught classes at Los Alamos High School and the University of New Mexico, Los Alamos
. Clinton made an unscheduled appearance at LAHS in 1998 following a speech he gave at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. After passing students who had gathered to cheer his motorcade on his way to the speech, Clinton returned to greet the students and play saxophone.
In 2000, two students were slain before daylight on Good Friday
while making a traditional religious pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayó
. On May 10 many students lost their homes in the Cerro Grande Fire
. The blaze also devastated the scenic forests and hillsides surrounding the school.
The school was used as a filming location for 2010's Let Me In
, the American remake of the Swedish cult-classic horror film Låt den rätte komma in. Students from LAHS and the surrounding community participated as extras in the cast.
Magazine. In 1998, LAHS was identified as a top performing public high-school in Class Struggle, a book by Washington Post education reporter Jay Mathews examining the public education system in America. The strength of LAHS's academic record has been associated
with the academic nature of Los Alamos County
, which has the highest concentration of PhDs per capita in the United States. LAHS is not a magnet school and does not have an admissions exam; Any student living in Los Alamos is free to attend. Every year students from LAHS students are recognized for the achievements by the National Merit Scholarship Program, the National Hispanic Recognition Program, and the College Board's AP Scholar awards.
LAHS does not rank
students, arguing that a focus on rank by potential universities can cause many excellent students to be overlooked. The GPAs of top students at LAHS are separated from each other by thousandths of a point.
63% of LAHS faculty have earned an advanced degree.
LAHS is accredited by the North Central Association of the New Mexico State Department of Education. The Department of Education frequently awards LAHS with an "Exemplary" rating for its academics. LAHS has consistently exceeded the Adequate Yearly Progress
Math and Reading proficiency requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act
for its student body at large. However, LAHS has sometimes failed to meet the requirements of AYP due to inadequate test scores among students with disabilities or insufficient participation of Caucasian students.
Los Alamos Branch Campus
which is located adjacent to the high school. Students who desire a different approach to education can apply to the School of Choice, a project oriented, cooperative learning, interdisciplinary program. Comprehensive special education programs are available at all levels including work study and vocational training. Work-related courses for credit include student assistant and student intern (stipend), which involve work on campus; MAPS (Mentorship, Apprenticeship, Partnership), which places students in the community (credit only); and Co-op Work Experience, which employs students throughout the community.
Los Alamos High School is a suburban high-school serving the entire county of Los Alamos, including White Rock
. The median household income in Los Alamos County is $88,870 and no economically disadvantaged students attend LAHS. Elsewhere in New Mexico, LAHS is sometimes characterized as a school for the "rich". Most of the students at LAHS originate from Los Alamos Middle School
, the only middle school in Los Alamos County.
Ethnic composition
Los Alamos High School competes in the New Mexico Activities Association
District 2-AAAA. Since its transition from a AAA to a AAAA school in 2000–2001, the students of LAHS have won over 30 state titles in competitive high school sports. LAHS was honored with the AAAA Girls all-sports trophy in 2000–01, 2001–02, and 2003–04. In 2003–04 LAHS also received The "New Mexico Athletic Director of the Year" award.
Española Valley High School
is a rival basketball school.
, won the AAAA State Championship with a perfect score of 15 (i.e. their runners finished in places 1–5). The LAHS Girls Cross Country Team participated in the inaugural Nike Cross Nationals championship in the 2004 season. .
, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Four Choir
s (2 Women's, 1 Men's, 1 Co-ed), and a Symphonic Orchestra
. The LAHS Topper Marching Band won first place in their category at the tournament of the bands in 2006 and 2008, swept Pageant of Bands in 2008, won first place in their category at Zia Marching Band Festival in 2009. The Concert Band has taken home state titles most recently 2008, 2009, and 2011. All four LAHS choirs received superior ratings at the District Large Group Festival in 2009
The mascot of Los Alamos High School is the Hilltopper. Sometimes LAHS students are referred to with the abbreviation Toppers or Toppers.
In the 1960s the Hilltopper was chosen as the mascot in a vote by the student body. (Previously, the school teams were iconified by a top-hat and gloves). In 1964 a mural of the Hilltopper was painted in Griffith Gymnasium. In this mural the Hilltopper was prominently depicted as a rugged Mountain Man
with a walking stick
atop the scenic Jemez Mountains
that overlook LAHS. In 2004, the mural was destroyed during renovations to the Gymnasium's HVAC system when a series of fans were installed on the gym's interior south wall.
In 2010, construction began on the high school to replace aging buildings at the center of the campus. A-D wings were torn down to make room for a new three-story building. The new main building is projected to be be complete in late 2011 with classes beginning in January 2012. This is the most recent in a series of capital renovations at the high school including the addition of a new science wing and the newly remodeled R-Wing (formerly the cafeteria). In 2010 Los Alamos Public Schools were commended by Energy Education for their efforts in promoting energy efficiency. LA Schools achieved over a million dollars in energy cost savings during a 56 month period.
Los Alamos County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*87.8% White*0.6% Black*0.8% Native American*6.0% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.6% Two or more races*2.2% Other races*14.7% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, USA. The school opened in 1946, and was originally supported by the Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
. It has been academically recognized by Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
, U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
, and the New Mexico Public Education Department
New Mexico Public Education Department
New Mexico Public Education Department is the New Mexico state agency that oversees public schools. The agency is headquartered in the Jerry Apodaca Education Building in Santa Fe....
. The school has been visited by two U.S. Presidents
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
: John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. LAHS currently competes in the New Mexico Activities Association
New Mexico Activities Association
The New Mexico Activities Association is a nonprofit organization that regulates interscholastic programs for junior and senior high schools in New Mexico. It hosts the statewide sports championship games each year...
's District 2, AAAA division for athletics, and has won 85 state championships in the school's history.
History
Los Alamos High School was the second high school built in Los Alamos. Prior to the Second World War, the Los Alamos Ranch SchoolLos Alamos Ranch School
Los Alamos Ranch School was a private boarding school for boys in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, near Otowi, in what would eventually become Los Alamos, New Mexico...
functioned as a boarding school for wealthy easterners that combined elements of a college preparatory school with a rugged frontier life. In 1942 Los Alamos was chosen to be the site of the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
. The US Government acquired the property of the Ranch School through eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
, and the school was shut down in 1943.
During wartime, structures in Los Alamos were temporary because people were expecting to leave after the wartime project was completed. In August 1945, following the Allied victory in Japan, it was decided the Los Alamos National Laboratory's
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security , located in Los Alamos, New Mexico...
nuclear research would continue in order to counter a rising Soviet threat
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. In 1946 Los Alamos begin erecting permanent structures, including Los Alamos High School. Life during the war and post-war transition was difficult for the first students of LAHS. "'[We were] normal teenagers trying to have a normal life in very adverse conditions," said Dan Nelis, one of the school's original students.
In 1946, much of the budget for construction and operation of the high school was provided directly by the Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
instead of state or local taxes. This arrangement persisted under the Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
and Washington has traditionally paid for a third of the school system's budget. Support from the federal government has been declining and was only 22% in the 2008–2009 academic year.
During the 1960s, LAHS began to attract attention for its consistent academic performance, low drop-out rate, and innovative teaching methods. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
noted LAHS and other local schools during his visit to Los Alamos in 1962: "I've admired from some years ago, from reading an article about the kind of schools that you run here and the kind of boys and girls that you're bringing up." In 1964, after the assassination of President Kennedy, the community of Los Alamos erected a permanent memorial in his honor at the high school football field.
President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
spoke at the school in 1993. In Clinton's speech, he marked the community's technological contributions to national security, and envisioned a new Post-Cold War role for the town in promoting technological advancement and prosperity.
In October 1995 a delegation of nuclear scientists from Sarov
Sarov
Sarov is a closed town in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia. Until 1995 it was known as Kremlyov ., while from 1946 to 1991 it was called Arzamas-16 . The town is off limits to foreigners as it is the Russian center for nuclear research. Population: -History:The history of the town can be divided...
(Los Alamos's Russian sister city) visited Los Alamos to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Allied Victory in WWII and the end of the Cold War. During their visit members of the delegation both attended and taught classes at Los Alamos High School and the University of New Mexico, Los Alamos
University of New Mexico, Los Alamos
The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos, is a branch campus of the University of New Mexico located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. UNM-LA offers 14 certificate programs and 18 associate degree programs. Upper division and graduate courses are available on campus through Extended University...
. Clinton made an unscheduled appearance at LAHS in 1998 following a speech he gave at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. After passing students who had gathered to cheer his motorcade on his way to the speech, Clinton returned to greet the students and play saxophone.
In 2000, two students were slain before daylight on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
while making a traditional religious pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayó
El Santuario de Chimayo
El Santuario de Chimayó is a Roman Catholic church in Chimayó, New Mexico, USA. This shrine, a National Historic Landmark, is famous for the story of its founding and as a contemporary pilgrimage site...
. On May 10 many students lost their homes in the Cerro Grande Fire
Cerro Grande Fire
The Cerro Grande Fire was a disastrous forest fire in New Mexico, United States of America that occurred in May 2000. The fire started as a controlled burn, and became uncontrolled owing to high winds and drought conditions. Over 400 families in the town of Los Alamos, New Mexico lost their homes...
. The blaze also devastated the scenic forests and hillsides surrounding the school.
The school was used as a filming location for 2010's Let Me In
Let Me In (film)
Let Me In is a 2010 American romantic horror film directed by Matt Reeves and starring Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloë Grace Moretz. It is based on the 2008 Swedish film Let the Right One In , directed by Tomas Alfredson, and the novel of the same name by John Ajvide Lindqvist...
, the American remake of the Swedish cult-classic horror film Låt den rätte komma in. Students from LAHS and the surrounding community participated as extras in the cast.
Academics
Los Alamos High School's academic achievements have been recognized by a number of national publications. LAHS was awarded a Silver Medal in US News and World Report's Best High School Search 2008. In 2005 LAHS was named one of the "1,000 Best High Schools in America" (#649) by NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
Magazine. In 1998, LAHS was identified as a top performing public high-school in Class Struggle, a book by Washington Post education reporter Jay Mathews examining the public education system in America. The strength of LAHS's academic record has been associated
with the academic nature of Los Alamos County
Los Alamos County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*87.8% White*0.6% Black*0.8% Native American*6.0% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.6% Two or more races*2.2% Other races*14.7% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, which has the highest concentration of PhDs per capita in the United States. LAHS is not a magnet school and does not have an admissions exam; Any student living in Los Alamos is free to attend. Every year students from LAHS students are recognized for the achievements by the National Merit Scholarship Program, the National Hispanic Recognition Program, and the College Board's AP Scholar awards.
LAHS does not rank
Class rank
Class rank is a measure of how a student's performance compares to other students in his or her class. It is commonly also expressed as a percentile. For instance, a student may have a GPA better than 750 of his or her classmates in a graduating class of 800...
students, arguing that a focus on rank by potential universities can cause many excellent students to be overlooked. The GPAs of top students at LAHS are separated from each other by thousandths of a point.
63% of LAHS faculty have earned an advanced degree.
LAHS is accredited by the North Central Association of the New Mexico State Department of Education. The Department of Education frequently awards LAHS with an "Exemplary" rating for its academics. LAHS has consistently exceeded the Adequate Yearly Progress
Adequate Yearly Progress
Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, is a measurement defined by the United States federal No Child Left Behind Act that allows the U.S. Department of Education to determine how every public school and school district in the country is performing academically according to results on standardized...
Math and Reading proficiency requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
for its student body at large. However, LAHS has sometimes failed to meet the requirements of AYP due to inadequate test scores among students with disabilities or insufficient participation of Caucasian students.
| AYP Testing Results | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Year | Proficiency Math (Goal) | Proficiency Reading (Goal) | School Rating | Designation | Reason if AYP not met |
| 2010–11 | 79.01% (53%) | 84.02 (64%) | Not Met | SI-2 | Insufficient Math Proficiency among Students with Disabilities (24.14%) |
| 2009–10 | 66.30% (46%) | 77.50% (60%) | Not Met | SI-1 | Insufficient Participation rate of Caucasian Students for AYP Math Test (93%) Insufficient Math Proficiency among Students with Disabilities(22.2%) |
| 2008–09 | 69.50% (40%) | 73.50% (56%) | Not Met | SI-1 | Insufficient Math and Reading Proficiency among Students with Disabilities (17.1% and 20.0% respectively) |
| 2007–08 | Meets AYP | None | |||
| 2006–07 | 75.31% (22%) | 79.01 (41%) | Meets AYP | None | |
| 2005–06 | Meets AYP | ||||
| 2004–05 | 89.00% (35%) | 92.00% (44%) | Not Met | Insufficient Participation rate of Caucasian Students for AYP Reading Test (94%) |
Curriculum
The Los Alamos High School has a standards-based curriculum and allows students to develop an individualized four-year plan. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered in German, Spanish, French, physics, biology, chemistry, calculus, statistics, English, American history, European history, psychology, and computers. Students also participate in NJROTC, educational work study, a building trades program, an automotive program, marketing and office technology courses, and concurrent enrollment at the University of New Mexico'sUniversity of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
Los Alamos Branch Campus
University of New Mexico, Los Alamos
The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos, is a branch campus of the University of New Mexico located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. UNM-LA offers 14 certificate programs and 18 associate degree programs. Upper division and graduate courses are available on campus through Extended University...
which is located adjacent to the high school. Students who desire a different approach to education can apply to the School of Choice, a project oriented, cooperative learning, interdisciplinary program. Comprehensive special education programs are available at all levels including work study and vocational training. Work-related courses for credit include student assistant and student intern (stipend), which involve work on campus; MAPS (Mentorship, Apprenticeship, Partnership), which places students in the community (credit only); and Co-op Work Experience, which employs students throughout the community.
Student body
White Rock, New Mexico
White Rock is a census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 6,045 at the 2000 census. It is largely a bedroom community for employees of Los Alamos National Laboratory and their families...
. The median household income in Los Alamos County is $88,870 and no economically disadvantaged students attend LAHS. Elsewhere in New Mexico, LAHS is sometimes characterized as a school for the "rich". Most of the students at LAHS originate from Los Alamos Middle School
Los Alamos Middle School
Los Alamos Middle School is the middle school for Los Alamos, NM, USA and is part of the Los Alamos Public School District.Los Alamos Middle School is the only middle school for the Los Alamos Public School District....
, the only middle school in Los Alamos County.
Ethnic composition
- White, not Hispanic: 77%
- HispanicHispanicHispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
: 17% - Asian/Pacific IslanderPacific IslanderPacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
: 4% - American IndianNative Americans in the United StatesNative Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
/Alaskan Native: less than 1% - Black, not Hispanic: less than 1%
Athletics
New Mexico Activities Association
The New Mexico Activities Association is a nonprofit organization that regulates interscholastic programs for junior and senior high schools in New Mexico. It hosts the statewide sports championship games each year...
District 2-AAAA. Since its transition from a AAA to a AAAA school in 2000–2001, the students of LAHS have won over 30 state titles in competitive high school sports. LAHS was honored with the AAAA Girls all-sports trophy in 2000–01, 2001–02, and 2003–04. In 2003–04 LAHS also received The "New Mexico Athletic Director of the Year" award.
Española Valley High School
Española Valley High School
Española Valley High School is a Title-1 public senior high school of the Española Public Schools District, located in Española, New Mexico. EVHS has a large Hispanic student body population, known for recent academic improvements and the successful AAAA boys' basketball program...
is a rival basketball school.
| Athletic Classification / District Alignment | |
|---|---|
| LAHS Athletic Districts | Year: |
| 2-A | 1954–1967 |
| 1-AA | 1968–1969 |
| 1-AAAA | 1970–1992 |
| 2-AAA | 1993–2000 |
| 2-AAAA | 2001–present |
Cross country
In 2007, the LAHS boy's cross country team (competing as the Los Alamos XC) placed second at the 2007 Nike Cross Nationals. The LAHS Boys Cross Country team also participated in the Nike Cross Nationals in the 2006 season. In 2002 the LAHS Girls Cross CountryCross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, won the AAAA State Championship with a perfect score of 15 (i.e. their runners finished in places 1–5). The LAHS Girls Cross Country Team participated in the inaugural Nike Cross Nationals championship in the 2004 season. .
State championships
LAHS has won over 85 state championships in athletics, the second-most number of state titles won by any high school in New Mexico.| Table of State Championships | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Sport | Fall | Football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... |
1 | 1966 |
| Boys' Cross Country Cross country running Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road... |
2 | 2003, 2007 | |||
| Girls' Cross Country | 14 | 1981, 1982, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010 | |||
| Boys' Soccer | 2 | 1986, 2010 | |||
| Girls' Soccer | 6 | 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1998, 2003 | |||
| Volleyball | 3 | 1987, 1995, 1996 | |||
| Winter | Boys' Basketball | 1 | 1964, 2000 | ||
| Girls' Basketball | 0 | ||||
| Boys' Swimming | 17 | 1971, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 2004, 2005 | |||
| Girls' Swimming | 13 | 1970, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 2004 | |||
| Wrestling Wrestling Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position... |
0 | ||||
| Spring | Baseball | 2 | 1966, 1978 | ||
| Cheerleading Cheerleading Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate... |
0 | ||||
| Boys' Golf | 4 | 1969, 2004, 2005, 2006 | |||
| Girls' Golf | 5 | 1984, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007 | |||
| Softball Softball Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand... |
0 | ||||
| Boys' Track | 3 | 1965, 1995, 2008 | |||
| Girls' Track | 5 | 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011 | |||
| Boys' Tennis | 3 | 2001, 2002, 2003 | |||
| Girls' Tennis | 7 | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 | |||
| Total | 86 (Ranked 2nd in state) |
||||
Music
LAHS directs several musical groups, many of which are offered for academic credit. These groups include a Marching BandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Four Choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
s (2 Women's, 1 Men's, 1 Co-ed), and a Symphonic Orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
. The LAHS Topper Marching Band won first place in their category at the tournament of the bands in 2006 and 2008, swept Pageant of Bands in 2008, won first place in their category at Zia Marching Band Festival in 2009. The Concert Band has taken home state titles most recently 2008, 2009, and 2011. All four LAHS choirs received superior ratings at the District Large Group Festival in 2009
Other clubs and organizations
- LAHS literary magazine, Pegasus 2004, was "Recommended for Highest Award" in the 2004 NCTENational Council of Teachers of EnglishThe National Council of Teachers of English is an American professional organization dedicated to "improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education...
Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines. - In 2010 LAHS's NJROTC Unit was designated a "Distinguished Unit With Honors" for the seventh year in a row. This designation included academic honors, which are reserved for only a handful of units.
Mascot
In the 1960s the Hilltopper was chosen as the mascot in a vote by the student body. (Previously, the school teams were iconified by a top-hat and gloves). In 1964 a mural of the Hilltopper was painted in Griffith Gymnasium. In this mural the Hilltopper was prominently depicted as a rugged Mountain Man
Mountain man
Mountain men were trappers and explorers who roamed the North American Rocky Mountains from about 1810 through the 1880s where they were instrumental in opening up the various Emigrant Trails allowing Americans in the east to settle the new territories of the far west by organized wagon trains...
with a walking stick
Walking stick
A walking stick is a device used by many people to facilitate balancing while walking.Walking sticks come in many shapes and sizes, and can be sought by collectors. Some kinds of walking stick may be used by people with disabilities as a crutch...
atop the scenic Jemez Mountains
Jemez Mountains
The Jemez Mountains are a volcanic group of mountains in New Mexico, United States. The highest point in the range is Chicoma Mountain at an elevation of 11,561 feet . The town of Los Alamos and Los Alamos National Laboratory adjoin the eastern side of the range while the town of Jemez Springs...
that overlook LAHS. In 2004, the mural was destroyed during renovations to the Gymnasium's HVAC system when a series of fans were installed on the gym's interior south wall.
Facilities
Notable alumni
- Anthony SandovalAnthony SandovalAnthony "Tony" B. Sandoval was a world class marathon runner, most noted for winning the 1980 U.S. Olympic Marathon trials, in the year the U.S. boycotted the Moscow Olympics...
, winner of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Marathon trials, Olympic hopeful for the boycotted Moscow Olympics1980 Summer OlympicsThe 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
. - Lynn BjorklundLynn BjorklundLynn Bjorklund is an American long-distance runner originally from Los Alamos, New Mexico. She holds the U.S. high school record in the 3000 metres, set in 1975, and female course records for the Pikes Peak Marathon, set in 1981...
National High School record 3000 metres - Carol CadyCarol CadyCarol Therese Cady is a retired female shot putter and discus thrower from the United States. She competed for her native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1984. During the 1980s Cady was one of the first women to compete in hammer throw...
, two time competitor in the Olympic games: Shotput in 1984, Discus in 1988. Held US Women's Discus record for 21 years. - Drew GoddardDrew GoddardDrew Goddard is an American film and television screenwriter and producer best known for his collaborations with Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams .Goddard joined the crew of Lost as a freelance writer for the first season in 2004...
(class of 1993), screenwriter and a co-executive producer of LostLost (TV series)Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
. - Kolinda Grabar-KitarovićKolinda Grabar-KitarovicKolinda Grabar-Kitarović is a Croatian diplomat. She currently serves as the Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy at NATO. She is the first woman ever to be appointed the position of Assistant Secretary General at NATO. From 2008 to 2011, she was the Ambassador Extraordinary and...
(class of 1986), foreign minister of CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ... - Kim PaffenrothKim PaffenrothKim Paffenroth is a religious scholar, professor, and contemporary American horror author, best known for his Bram Stoker Award-winning book Gospel of the Living Dead: George Romero’s Visions of Hell on Earth.- Biography :...
, author, winner of the Bram Stoker AwardBram Stoker AwardThe Bram Stoker Award is a recognition presented by the Horror Writers Association for "superior achievement" in horror writing. The awards have been presented annually since 1987, and the winners are selected by ballot of the Active members of the HWA...
for horror writing. - Steven Preeg (class of 1989), 81st Academy Award81st Academy AwardsThe 81st Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2008 and took place February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST...
for Best Visual Effects for The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button (film)The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a 2008 American fantasy-drama film directed by David Fincher. The screenplay by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord is loosely based on the 1922 short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald...
.