Samuel F. B. Morse High School
Encyclopedia
Samuel F. B. Morse High School, also called Morse High School or simply Morse, is an urban public high school located in southeastern
San Diego in the neighborhood of Skyline Hills serving grades 9-12 in the American K-12
education system. Named after inventor Samuel Finley Breese Morse, it first opened its doors in 1962. Morse has produced several notable athletes among its alumni and has sent its graduates to numerous colleges and universities throughout the United States including San Diego State University
, Stanford, MIT, Yale
, University of California
& California State University
campuses, Hampton University
, Columbia University
, USC
, Caltech, & many more.
Morse High School, the most populous of all high schools in the San Diego Unified School District
, serves the predominantly working-class, culturally diverse urban communities of Alta Vista, Bay Terraces, Encanto, Jamacha-Lomita, Paradise Hills, and Skyline in Southeast San Diego
. As of 2006-2007, demographics from the California Department of Education
show that 35% of the students are Filipino
, followed by Hispanic
-Latino
(34%), Black
(21%), and non-Hispanic White
(4.0%). Nearly 70% of the student body is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
Academic Performance Index
place the school in schoolwide API of 640 (growth) in 2007 from 648 (base) in 2006 where 800 is the targeted California state goal. As of 2006, Morse High School has an API Statewide Rank of 3 out of 10, and an API Similar Schools Rank of 6 out of 10.
Amid criticism of the school's declining performance after its administrative shake-up in 2002, then-superintendent Carl Cohn brought in Todd Irving, a Co-Principal from East Palo Alto High School, as Co-Principal to assist Principal Rocio Weiss for the 2006-2007 school year. Following Rocio Weiss's departure as Co-Principal in 2008, Todd Irving has retained his role as Principal of Morse High School.
With the closing of Gompers High School in 2007, Morse High School and the rebuilt Lincoln High School
remain the only public senior high schools in Southeast San Diego
. Additionally, Lincoln's reopening in 2007 has brought back a renewed, spirited crosstown rivalry between the two Southeast San Diego high schools.
and Monique Henderson
).
Southeast San Diego
Southeast San Diego is the southeastern portion of the City of San Diego, generally represented by the urban neighborhoods directly east of Downtown San Diego, bordered by Interstate 5 and south of the Martin Luther King Jr...
San Diego in the neighborhood of Skyline Hills serving grades 9-12 in the American K-12
K-12
K–12 is a designation for the sum of primary and secondary education. It is used in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand where P–12 is also commonly used...
education system. Named after inventor Samuel Finley Breese Morse, it first opened its doors in 1962. Morse has produced several notable athletes among its alumni and has sent its graduates to numerous colleges and universities throughout the United States including San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, Stanford, MIT, Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
, University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
& California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
campuses, Hampton University
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, USC
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...
, Caltech, & many more.
Morse High School, the most populous of all high schools in 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...
, serves the predominantly working-class, culturally diverse urban communities of Alta Vista, Bay Terraces, Encanto, Jamacha-Lomita, Paradise Hills, and Skyline in Southeast San Diego
Southeast San Diego
Southeast San Diego is the southeastern portion of the City of San Diego, generally represented by the urban neighborhoods directly east of Downtown San Diego, bordered by Interstate 5 and south of the Martin Luther King Jr...
. As of 2006-2007, demographics from the California Department of Education
California Department of Education
The California Department of Education is a California agency that oversees public education. The department oversees funding and testing, and holds local educational agencies accountable for student achievement...
show that 35% of the students are Filipino
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
, followed by Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic 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 ...
-Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
(34%), Black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
(21%), and non-Hispanic White
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
(4.0%). Nearly 70% of the student body is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
Academic Performance Index
Academic Performance Index
The Academic Performance Index is a measurement of academic performance and progress of individual schools in California, United States. It is one of the main components of the Public Schools Accountability Act passed by the California legislature in 1999...
place the school in schoolwide API of 640 (growth) in 2007 from 648 (base) in 2006 where 800 is the targeted California state goal. As of 2006, Morse High School has an API Statewide Rank of 3 out of 10, and an API Similar Schools Rank of 6 out of 10.
Amid criticism of the school's declining performance after its administrative shake-up in 2002, then-superintendent Carl Cohn brought in Todd Irving, a Co-Principal from East Palo Alto High School, as Co-Principal to assist Principal Rocio Weiss for the 2006-2007 school year. Following Rocio Weiss's departure as Co-Principal in 2008, Todd Irving has retained his role as Principal of Morse High School.
With the closing of Gompers High School in 2007, Morse High School and the rebuilt Lincoln High School
Abraham Lincoln High School (San Diego)
Abraham Lincoln High School , is an urban public high school in San Diego, California. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District. It serves approximately 2100-2700 students in grades 9-12 in the American K-12 education system...
remain the only public senior high schools in Southeast San Diego
Southeast San Diego
Southeast San Diego is the southeastern portion of the City of San Diego, generally represented by the urban neighborhoods directly east of Downtown San Diego, bordered by Interstate 5 and south of the Martin Luther King Jr...
. Additionally, Lincoln's reopening in 2007 has brought back a renewed, spirited crosstown rivalry between the two Southeast San Diego high schools.
Athletics
Morse offers a full range of athletic teams. These teams compete against other schools in the district and in the surrounding area. Tryouts for the teams usually take place the previous semester. Morse High School is one of very few high schools to have produced two Olympic Gold Medalists (Arnie RobinsonArnie Robinson
Clarence Earl "Arnie" Robinson, Jr. won the gold medal for the men's long jump in the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal. That was an improvement on the bronze medal he won at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.-Career:Robinson stayed in the San Diego area throughout his career, first at...
and Monique Henderson
Monique Henderson
Monique Henderson is a track and field athlete, competing internationally for the United States. She was a gold medalist in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China....
).
| Fall & Winter Sports | Spring Sports | Military & Pep Squads |
|---|---|---|
Fall Football Field Hockey Girls & Boys Cross Country Girls Volleyball Soccer Girls Tennis Boys Water Polo Winter Girls & Boys Basketball Girls Water Polo Girls & Boys Soccer Wrestling |
Academic League Boys Tennis Football Boys Volleyball Girls & Boys Swimming Golf Boys Baseball Girls Softball Track & Field Badminton |
Cheer Letterettes Twirl Flags Drill Team Tigerettes Step Team Tall Flags All-Male All-Female Co-Ed Dance/Drill JROTC Drum Corps Armed Drill Team Unarmed Drill Team |
Clubs
- ASB Executive Councils
- French Club
- California Scholarship FederationCalifornia Scholarship FederationThe California Scholarship Federation, or CSF, started in 1921 by Charles F. Seymour, seeks to recognize students living in the state of California who possess high standards in academic scholarship, community service and citizenship....
- Kaisahan
- Academic League
- ParkourFreerunning Club
- Ichiban
- One World
- Dark Room
- AVID Club
- FNL
- Honors Society
- Humane Society
- Black Student Union
- AP Club
- FNL Mentoring
- Gay Straight Alliance
- Key ClubKey ClubKey Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
- Guitar Club
- Independent Studies
- MESA
- Fashion Club
- YogaYogaYoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
Club - Circle of Friends
- Drama Club
- Terra Nova
- Green Squad
- Chess Club
- The Raven Society(poetry club)
- Socratic Society
- Bowling Club
- MECHAMEChAM.E.Ch.A. is an organization that seeks to promote Chicano unity and empowerment through political action. The acronym of the organization's name is the Spanish word mecha, which means "fuse"...
- Soran Buchi
- Hands Helping Humanity
- Anime ClubAnime clubAn anime club is an organization that meets to discuss, show, and promote anime in a local community setting and can also focus on broadening Japanese cultural understanding. Anime clubs are increasingly found at universities and high schools. Organizers may also utilize public meeting spaces such...
- PIA
- Asian Drama
- Technology Thursdays
- Wrtirz blok/DJ Club
- The Warriors
Advanced Placement
The following AP classes are offered at Morse. Which gives high school and college credit to students if they pass the AP test in May with a 3 or higher.- AP English Language
- AP English Literature
- AP European History
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Computer Science
- AP Statistics
- AP Environmental Science
- AP Chemistry
- AP Physics B
- AP Psychology
- AP Art History
- AP US Government
- AP US History
- AP Spanish Language
- AP French Language
Notable alumni
- Archie AmersonArchie AmersonArchie Amerson is a former running back in the Canadian Football League, spending most of his career with the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats....
, football, c/o 1993 - Tommy BennettTommy BennettTommy Bennett is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He has an afro.Bennett was arrested for possession of cocaine and was suspended by the NFL for violating no-steroid use policies....
, football, c/o 1991 - Marcus BradyMarcus BradyMarcus Brady is a former professional Canadian football quarterback and is currently a wide receivers coach for the Montreal Alouettes. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Toronto Argonauts in 2002...
, football c/o 1997 - Rashard CookRashard CookRashard Cook is a former professional American football safety in the National Football League.-Professional career:...
, football c/o 1995 - Terrell DavisTerrell DavisTerrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 to 2001. Davis was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. Davis is the Denver Broncos all-time leading rusher, with 7,607 rushing...
, football, attended Morse but later transferred to Lincoln High SchoolAbraham Lincoln High School (San Diego)Abraham Lincoln High School , is an urban public high school in San Diego, California. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District. It serves approximately 2100-2700 students in grades 9-12 in the American K-12 education system...
. - Richwell A. Doria; SSG, U.S. ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
; casualty Iraq War c/o 2000 - David DunnDavid Dunn (American football)David Dunn is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 1995 NFL Draft...
, football c/o 1992 - Lonnie FordLonnie FordLonnie Ford is an Arena Football League fullback–defensive end for the Los Angeles Avengers.-Professional career:Ford signed a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers following the 2002 NFL Draft, but was released...
, football c/o 1997 - Monique HendersonMonique HendersonMonique Henderson is a track and field athlete, competing internationally for the United States. She was a gold medalist in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China....
, track and field c/o 2001 - Sam HornSam HornSamuel Lee Horn is a former baseball player who spent parts of 8 seasons in MLB and was an anchor for New England Sports Network, the flagship station of Boston sports teams.-Pro career:...
, baseball c/o 1982 - Adam Jones, baseball c/o 2003
- Lincoln KennedyLincoln KennedyTamerlane Lincoln Kennedy Jr. is a former American football offensive tackle and currently is a broadcaster for Fox Sports and Premiere Radio Networks.-High school career:...
, football, c/o 1988 - Cliff LevingstonCliff LevingstonClifford Eugene Levingston is a retired American basketball player in the NBA. Levingston starred at Wichita State University before being drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1982...
, basketball, c/o 1979 - Charles Lewis, councilperson c/o 1984
- Samuel Madden (MIT)Samuel Madden (MIT)Samuel R. Madden is a computer scientist specializing in database management systems. He is currently an associate professor of computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.-Career:...
, professor of computer science at MIT, c/o 1994 - Mark McLemoreMark McLemoreMark Tremell McLemore is a former second baseman and utility player in Major League Baseball....
, baseball c/o 1982 - Conrad Mora, SSG, U.S. Army; casualty OEF-AWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
c/o 2004 - Rafael PeraltaRafael PeraltaSergeant Rafael Peralta assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, was a United States Marine killed in combat during Second Battle of Fallujah in the city of Fallujah, Iraq...
, Sergeant, USMCUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
; Navy CrossNavy CrossThe Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
recipient; casualty Iraq War c/o 1997 - Arnie RobinsonArnie RobinsonClarence Earl "Arnie" Robinson, Jr. won the gold medal for the men's long jump in the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal. That was an improvement on the bronze medal he won at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.-Career:Robinson stayed in the San Diego area throughout his career, first at...
, track and field - Marcus Smith, football c/o 2003
Notable faculty
- Elizabeth, Ahlgren; Math Teacher, NEANational Education AssociationThe National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
Boards Director, SDEA Association Representative & a Representative for California Teachers Associations VEBA Board. - Crandallyn Graham, English/Art History teacher (retired), 1993 Milken Foundation American Hero in Education Award Winner and subject of the TV documentary "Uncommon Americans"
- Dr. Patricia Oyeshiku, English Teacher (retired), 1981 California State Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the YearNational Teacher of the YearThe National Teacher of the Year is a professional award in the United States. The program began in 1952, as a project by the Council of Chief State School Officers , and aims to reward excellence in teaching...
Finalist - John Shacklett (retired), Hall of Fame Football Coach who led Morse to 18 league championships