Santa Barbara High School
Encyclopedia
Santa Barbara High School, "Home of the Dons," is situated on a beautiful 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) campus in, Santa Barbara, California
and is part of the Santa Barbara School Districts
. One of the oldest high schools in California, it was established in 1875, and moved to its current site in 1924. Until the creation of two "rival high schools" in 1959 and 1966, it was the sole public high school serving the city of Santa Barbara
. In November 2005, its 18th century Spanish influenced design was named an official California and City historic landmark. Today, Santa Barbara High School has an enrollment of roughly 2,200 pupils and certified staff numbering 108.
The school's newspaper, The Forge, has been in continuous publication since 1914, making it the second oldest high school newspaper in California.
From 2006-2008 SBHS has advanced in Newsweek's national survey of the top 1,300 public high schools. In 2008, it ranked 800 putting it in the top 5% of schools in the United States
. Also, in the 2008 year SBHS ranked high above the state average in SAT scores. On a scale out of 2400, over 75 percent of SBHS students tested ≥ 1500, compared to the state average of less than 50 percent. Also the class of 2011 displayed their knowledge in 2009, when more the 85% of them passed the California Exit exam, best record at the High school.
Santa Barbara High School is widely known nationally for its achievements in athletics. While many schools celebrate league championships, Santa Barbara High School only recognizes CIF and California State Championships. Santa Barbara High School has always had some of the best athletes in the Nation attend the school. The Dons went to five CIF finals in the 2007–2008 year alone. One team even proceeded to State Championships. Santa Barbara has a rich history of CIF championships as well. The school has 51 titles to their name as well as many runners-up.
SBHS embraces and is known for its diversity where Latin@ students consist of approximately 55 percent of the student population. Students looking for creativity, can choose from two long standing academies—the first studies Visual Arts and Design known as VADA, and the other studies Multimedia Arts and Design, or MAD Academy. SBHS also promotes student expression through its award winning Performing Arts Department, consisting of Vocal Music under the direction of Phil McLendon; the award winning Marching Band- the Marching Dons, and other instrumental musical groups under the direction of Charles Ortega, and Theatre, under the direction of Otto Layman. The theatre at Santa Barbara has a long and storied history, having been performed continuously for over a hundred years. Its current venue, in the heart of the campus, is an 800 seat state of the art complex first built in 1924 and restored in 1970 and again beginning in 1996 to the present (new seating, sound and lighting was installed beginning in 2007) Two major shows are produced each year, with professional designers, musical director and choreographer on staff (for the past 10 years Mike Madden of the Ensemble Theatre Company has done sets and lights, while Lise Lange is the resident Costume Designer and Christina McCarthy the resident Choreographer). The students also produce, direct, and act in their own musical revue MUSIC OF THE NIGHT early each February. More detail about the theatre can be seen at www.sbhstheatre.com.
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
and is part of the Santa Barbara School Districts
Santa Barbara School Districts
The Santa Barbara School Districts is the main public school district that serves Santa Barbara, California. Its high school system serves Goleta as well. The district consists of one administrative system and school board wrapped around two different elementary and secondary "districts" which...
. One of the oldest high schools in California, it was established in 1875, and moved to its current site in 1924. Until the creation of two "rival high schools" in 1959 and 1966, it was the sole public high school serving the city of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. In November 2005, its 18th century Spanish influenced design was named an official California and City historic landmark. Today, Santa Barbara High School has an enrollment of roughly 2,200 pupils and certified staff numbering 108.
The school's newspaper, The Forge, has been in continuous publication since 1914, making it the second oldest high school newspaper in California.
From 2006-2008 SBHS has advanced in Newsweek's national survey of the top 1,300 public high schools. In 2008, it ranked 800 putting it in the top 5% of schools in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Also, in the 2008 year SBHS ranked high above the state average in SAT scores. On a scale out of 2400, over 75 percent of SBHS students tested ≥ 1500, compared to the state average of less than 50 percent. Also the class of 2011 displayed their knowledge in 2009, when more the 85% of them passed the California Exit exam, best record at the High school.
Santa Barbara High School is widely known nationally for its achievements in athletics. While many schools celebrate league championships, Santa Barbara High School only recognizes CIF and California State Championships. Santa Barbara High School has always had some of the best athletes in the Nation attend the school. The Dons went to five CIF finals in the 2007–2008 year alone. One team even proceeded to State Championships. Santa Barbara has a rich history of CIF championships as well. The school has 51 titles to their name as well as many runners-up.
SBHS embraces and is known for its diversity where Latin@ students consist of approximately 55 percent of the student population. Students looking for creativity, can choose from two long standing academies—the first studies Visual Arts and Design known as VADA, and the other studies Multimedia Arts and Design, or MAD Academy. SBHS also promotes student expression through its award winning Performing Arts Department, consisting of Vocal Music under the direction of Phil McLendon; the award winning Marching Band- the Marching Dons, and other instrumental musical groups under the direction of Charles Ortega, and Theatre, under the direction of Otto Layman. The theatre at Santa Barbara has a long and storied history, having been performed continuously for over a hundred years. Its current venue, in the heart of the campus, is an 800 seat state of the art complex first built in 1924 and restored in 1970 and again beginning in 1996 to the present (new seating, sound and lighting was installed beginning in 2007) Two major shows are produced each year, with professional designers, musical director and choreographer on staff (for the past 10 years Mike Madden of the Ensemble Theatre Company has done sets and lights, while Lise Lange is the resident Costume Designer and Christina McCarthy the resident Choreographer). The students also produce, direct, and act in their own musical revue MUSIC OF THE NIGHT early each February. More detail about the theatre can be seen at www.sbhstheatre.com.
Alumni
- Matti Anttila, Entrepreneur, founder Cabana CachaçaCabana CachaçaCabana Cachaça was launched in 2006 by Matti Anttila, an entrepreneur with a passion for Brazil]]. Cachaça is the national spirit of Brasil and the oldest spirit in the Americas. It was first produced in the early 15th century, and while all Cachaça comes from Brasil, Cabana Cachaça is the only...
(1997) - Cindy Lea Arbelbide, USA T&F team (1973), pioneer victim advocate, presidential historian (1967)
- Tanya AtwaterTanya AtwaterTanya Atwater is an American geophysicist and marine geologist who specializes in plate tectonics, in particular the evolution of the San Andreas fault plate boundary. Her educational work has focused on the creation of computer-animated multimedia products and presentations depicting plate...
, geophysicist (1960) - Timothy BottomsTimothy Bottoms-Early life:Bottoms was born in Santa Barbara, California, the eldest son of Betty and James "Bud" Bottoms, who is a sculptor and art teacher. He is the brother of actors Joseph Bottoms , Sam Bottoms and Ben Bottoms . In 1967, Bottoms toured Europe as part of the Santa Barbara Madrigal...
, actor, producer (1970) - Josh BrolinJosh BrolinJosh James Brolin is an American actor. He has acted in theater, film and television roles since 1985, and won acting awards for his roles in the films W., No Country for Old Men, Milk and True Grit.-Early life:...
, Academy award nominee actor - Daryl CagleDaryl CagleDaryl Cagle is the editorial cartoonist for msnbc.com.Cagle worked with The Muppets from 1979 through 1993. He drew a daily editorial cartoon panel titled, "TRUE!" for Tribune Media Services in 1995 and went on to draw local editorial cartoons for Hawaii's Midweek newspaper...
, MSNBC.com's daily editorial cartoonist (1974) - Pearl Chase, pioneer in the fields of conservation, preservation, social services, and civic planning (1903)
- Kami CraigKami CraigKami Craig is an American water polo player. She was a member of the US water polo team that won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.Craig attended Santa Barbara High School and the University of Southern California...
, Olympic silver medalist (2008), water polo (2005) - Randall CunninghamRandall CunninghamRandall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
, former NFL Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and All-Pro player (1981) - Sam CunninghamSam CunninghamSamuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:...
, USC All-American and Player of the Game (1973 Rose Bowl), College Football Hall of Fame 2011; former NFL New England running back (1969) - Tom CurrenTom CurrenTom Curren Tom Curren Tom Curren (born July 3, 1964, in Santa Barbara, California is an American surfer. He was born to father Pat (big-wave legend and shaper) and mother Jeanine. His brother Joe is also a professional surfer and popular photographer and he also has a sister, Anna....
, professional surfer (three time world champion), and musician (1982) - Robert DennoRobert DennoRobert F. Denno was an influential scientist in the field of entomology, specifically a lepidopterist. He wrote more than 130 research papers and his personal worldwide collection of butterflies numbered over 36,000 specimens....
, professor, entomology (1945–2008) - Thomas DibbleeThomas DibbleeThomas Wilson Dibblee, Jr. was an American geologist best known for his extensive geological mapping...
, legendary figure in geological and topographical work in mapping the state of California (1931) - Don FordDon FordDonald J. Ford is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He was a 6'8½" , 215 lb forward. In high school, he played at Santa Barbara High School and the other forward on his teams was future UCLA and NBA star Keith Wilkes...
, former NBA Los Angeles Laker and Cleveland Cavalier player (1971) - Al GeibergerAl GeibergerAllen Lee Geiberger, Sr. is an American professional golfer who has won numerous golf tournaments.Geiberger was born in Red Bluff, California...
, professional golfer, record score (59) in a PGA Tour event (1955) - Martha GrahamMartha GrahamMartha Graham was an American modern dancer and choreographer whose influence on dance has been compared with the influence Picasso had on modern visual arts, Stravinsky had on music, or Frank Lloyd Wright had on architecture.She danced and choreographed for over seventy years...
, pioneer of modern dance (1913) - Natalie Guerra, named 2008 CIF Div. 1A Volleyball Player of the Year (2008)
- Taylor HackfordTaylor HackfordTaylor Edwin Hackford is an American film director, and the current president of the Directors Guild of America.-Early life:Hackford was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Mary , a waitress, and Joseph Hackford...
, Academy award-winning filmmaker (1963) - Brad HallBrad HallWilliam Brad Hall is an American writer and actor, best known as a Saturday Night Live news anchor on Saturday Night News. He was also the creator of the TV series The Single Guy and Watching Ellie...
, Saturday Night Live news anchor (early years), creator of TV's The Single Guy, environmental activist (1972) - Gary K. HartGary K. HartGary K. Hart is an American politician and education activist in southern California.-Early life and education:He was born August 13, 1943 in San Diego, California, and graduated from Santa Barbara High School. He entered Stanford University on a football scholarship, spent six months based in...
, former California Secretary of Education and state legislator (1961) - Percy Heckendorff, legendary District Attorney of Santa Barbara 1939-1942 (1915)
- Vayne Marue Kadlubek, pioneer women's water polo, 1979 FINA World Cup gold medalist (1976)
- Karen Kane, fashion designer (1974)
- Karch KiralyKarch KiralyCharles Frederick "Karch" Kiraly , is an American volleyball player who is the only person to have won Olympic gold medals in both the indoor and beach versions of the sport.-High school career:...
, three-time Olympic gold medalist and professional indoor and beach volleyball great (1978) - Bill LeavyBill LeavyBill Leavy is an American football official in the National Football League since 1995 and is a retired San Jose, California Police Officer and Firefighter, serving for 27 years. As of the 2006 NFL season, Leavy has been assigned to nine playoff games and two Super Bowls in his NFL officiating...
, NFL referee Super Bowl XLSuper Bowl XLSuper Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
(1965) - Leon Litwack, Pulitizer Prize winner for History for his book Been in the Storm So Long (1947)
- Lance LoudLance LoudAlanson Russell "Lance" Loud was an American magazine columnist and new wave rock-n-roll performer. Loud is best known for his 1973 appearance in An American Family, a pioneer reality television series that featured his coming out, leading to his status as an icon in the gay community.-Early...
, part of the first reality TV show "An American Family" (1970) - Alma Martinez, Olympian for Mexico (2004), women's football (1999)
- Eddie MathewsEddie MathewsEdwin Lee "Eddie" Mathews was an American Major League Baseball third baseman. He is regarded as one of the greatest third basemen ever to play the game.-Early life:...
, Baseball Hall of Famer (1949) - Amoretta Matthews, former Undersecretary of the U. S. Army (1959)
- Aaron McLendon, jazz drummer (1998)
- Thalia MunroThalia MunroThalia Janina Munro is an American water polo player for the UCLA Bruins and the US National Team, who won the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics...
, Olympic bronze medalist (2004), water polo (2000) - Daniel NguyenDaniel Nguyen (tennis)Daniel Nguyen is the first Vietnamese American to play in the United States Open of tennis.-Background:He graduated from Santa Barbara High School and currently attends the University of Southern California, .-Biography:...
, named the 2008 Santa Barbara News Press Tennis Player of the Year (2008) - John NorthropJohn Knudsen NorthropJohn Knudsen "Jack" Northrop was an American aircraft industrialist and designer, who founded the Northrop Corporation in 1939.-Entering aviation:...
, aviation (1913) - Raan Parton, clothing entrepreneur and philanthropist, founder of Apolis Activism (2000)
- Lutha Maria Riggs, architect and, along with Pearl Chase, responsible for Santa Barbara's dominant building style (1914)
- Charles SchwabCharles SchwabCharles Schwab may refer to:*Charles M. Schwab , American steel magnate*Charles R. Schwab , founder of the eponymous brokerage*Charles Schwab Corp., an American based brokerage firm...
, founder of the world famous discount brokerage firm and innovative philanthropist (1955) - Ron SheltonRon SheltonRon Shelton is a U.S. film director and screenwriter, most notable for making movies about sports.Shelton is an alumnus of Santa Barbara High School and of the University of Arizona and Westmont College...
, writer/director of film including Bull Durham and White Men Can't Jump (1963) - Ryan SpilborghsRyan SpilborghsRyan Adam Spilborghs is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Colorado Rockies.The Rockies drafted Spilborghs in the seventh round of the 2002 draft out of the University of California, Santa Barbara. He played for the Madison Mallards during the summer of during his collegiate career...
, Major League Baseball outfielder (1997) - John WhittemoreJohn WhittemoreJohn Whittemore of Montecito, California, has been credited as being the "world's oldest athlete". A long time Masters Track athlete, his last competition was on October 5, 2004, just six weeks before his 105th birthday. He threw the javelin and discus on that occasion...
, World's Oldest Athlete (1917) - Jamaal WilkesJamaal WilkesJamaal Wilkes is a retired American basketball player who played the small forward position and won four NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Wilkes was also a key player in the run of NCAA championships accumulated during the John Wooden era of UCLA basketball...
, former NBA Los Angeles Laker and Golden State Warrior player with four NBA Championships (1970)