Tucson High Magnet School
Encyclopedia
Tucson High Magnet School (ˈtuːsɒn), commonly referred to as THMS, THS, Tucson High, and Tucson Magnet, is a 2009 Performing Plus Tucson
public high school and is part of the Tucson Unified School District
with magnet programs
in Science, Mathematics, Technology, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts. The school is located adjacent to the University of Arizona
and is close to the Downtown Arts District. It is the oldest high school in Arizona
, being established in 1892 and then re-established in 1906. The school celebrated its centennial in 2006. In terms of enrollment, THMS is the largest high school in southern Arizona, with just over 3,000 students enrolled.
resolved that as of September 1, 1906, students from all Arizona cities, having a population of more than 5,000, must have completed the 9th grade before enrolling in the University of Arizona Preparatory Department. Then the voters of Tucson School District No. 1 approved the formation of a high school district on August 8, 1906.
The first day of class in the newly established Tucson High School was on September 10, 1906 with 45 students who began classes in the Plaza School at 13th Street and 4th Avenue. After a few weeks, the high school students were relocated to a two-room building located at 1010 E. 10th Street, the current location of Tucson Unified School District headquarters.
In 1908, they moved to the newly constructed Tucson High School building at 501 E. 6th Street, which is currently Roskruge Elementary and Bilingual Magnet Middle School, and remained at that location until they completed their high school years. By 1910, only ten students from that original class remained as students.
Construction on the current Tucson High School Main Building began in 1923 and was completed in 1924, in time for the fall classes. Tucson High's Main Building was designed by Henry Jaastad
and cost $750,000. The grand building with its ornate details, such as Corinthian columns
, stood as an architectural masterpiece then and remains the same today. A magnificent icon, the 14 towering columns of the Main Building welcomed classes ranging in size from 175 in 1924 to the largest class of 930 in 1956. In the fall of that year, a second high school, Pueblo High School (3500 S. 12th Ave.) opened its doors in the southern part of Tucson and, in 1957, Catalina High School (3645 E. Pima) opened in the northeast part of the town to accommodate the increasing number of students in the fast-growing city of Tucson. Although Amphitheater High School
had been operating at this time, it was a very small school that served just a few students living in what was then far northwest area of Tucson.
, starring Patrick Dempsey
and Amanda Peterson
, was also shot on location at the school when it was known as Tucson High School.
The School's Yearbook Publication, The Tucsonian, is a nationally recognized and awarded publication often receiving First Class ratings from the National Scholastic Press Association
, and a nomination for a Pacemaker Award, the highest national honor in the field of student journalism, for the 2010 volume of the book.
, Pima Community College
, and the Downtown Arts District; award-winning marching band and jazz ensembles; vocal music; orchestra; mariachi; guitar; musical theater; folklorico; piano lab; film acting; studio photography; commercial arts; steel drums; environmental biology; integrated technology; robotics; and desktop publishing; and advanced placement classes are available in ten academic areas.
The Badger Foundation Board of Directors is made up of twenty-one members who are alumni, teachers, and administrators. Judy Jones is the current President.
and Performing Arts
, Science
, Mathematics
and Technology
. The magnet program involves 1,182 students.
Magnet programs in the Tucson Unified School District
were established in compliance with a desegregation
lawsuit. In order to escape the de facto racial segregation caused by neighborhoods feeding certain schools being predominantly of one minority, special funds were alloted to certain schools to develop special programs in areas such as the aforementioned, as well as ROTC, aviation and others. Students interested in studying these fields can opt to be bused to schools that are not their home schools, thus bringing a heterogeneous array of students to predominantly homogeneous schools. However, this has historically had questionable success.
Located in the Main Building: Attendance Office, Registrar, Counseling Offices, College and Career Center, Activities and Athletics Offices, Administrative Offices, Auditorium, Library, Gallery, and Theatre.
The Re- Construction of the Building was competed in January 2011.
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
public high school and is part of the Tucson Unified School District
Tucson Unified School District
Tucson Unified School District is the largest school district of Tucson, Arizona in terms of enrollment. As of 2006 TUSD has more than 60,000 students and approximately 3,700 faculty members....
with magnet programs
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...
in Science, Mathematics, Technology, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts. The school is located adjacent to the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
and is close to the Downtown Arts District. It is the oldest high school in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, being established in 1892 and then re-established in 1906. The school celebrated its centennial in 2006. In terms of enrollment, THMS is the largest high school in southern Arizona, with just over 3,000 students enrolled.
History
Tucson High is the oldest operating public high school in the state of Arizona. On April 10, 1906, the Arizona Board of RegentsArizona Board of Regents
The Arizona Board of Regents is the governing body of Arizona's public university system, providing policy guidance to Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona and their branch campuses.-Organization:...
resolved that as of September 1, 1906, students from all Arizona cities, having a population of more than 5,000, must have completed the 9th grade before enrolling in the University of Arizona Preparatory Department. Then the voters of Tucson School District No. 1 approved the formation of a high school district on August 8, 1906.
The first day of class in the newly established Tucson High School was on September 10, 1906 with 45 students who began classes in the Plaza School at 13th Street and 4th Avenue. After a few weeks, the high school students were relocated to a two-room building located at 1010 E. 10th Street, the current location of Tucson Unified School District headquarters.
In 1908, they moved to the newly constructed Tucson High School building at 501 E. 6th Street, which is currently Roskruge Elementary and Bilingual Magnet Middle School, and remained at that location until they completed their high school years. By 1910, only ten students from that original class remained as students.
Construction on the current Tucson High School Main Building began in 1923 and was completed in 1924, in time for the fall classes. Tucson High's Main Building was designed by Henry Jaastad
Henry Jaastad
Henry Jaastad was an influential Tucson, Arizona architect. His firm created over 500 buildings and Jaastad was Mayor of Tucson for 18 years.-Extant buildings:*Patagonia City Hall, Patagonia, Arizona. 1900...
and cost $750,000. The grand building with its ornate details, such as Corinthian columns
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
, stood as an architectural masterpiece then and remains the same today. A magnificent icon, the 14 towering columns of the Main Building welcomed classes ranging in size from 175 in 1924 to the largest class of 930 in 1956. In the fall of that year, a second high school, Pueblo High School (3500 S. 12th Ave.) opened its doors in the southern part of Tucson and, in 1957, Catalina High School (3645 E. Pima) opened in the northeast part of the town to accommodate the increasing number of students in the fast-growing city of Tucson. Although Amphitheater High School
Amphitheater High School
Amphitheater High School, also known as Amphi High, is a public high school, located in central Tucson, Arizona, United States. Amphi is the flagship high school of Amphitheater Public Schools of Tucson, and serves grades 9–12. The school mascot is the panther, and the school colors are kelly green...
had been operating at this time, it was a very small school that served just a few students living in what was then far northwest area of Tucson.
Achievements
First-place photography awards in AGFA national competition and other national recognition programs; five gold keys in Scholastic Art competitions; winners in the District graphic design competitions; band, orchestra, choral, and drama groups have rated “superior” in local and state competitions; Academic Decathlon honors and high placement in the Southern Arizona Mock Trial competition; District recognition for “Outstanding Young Scientist;” students in the Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program have placed high in state competition; several Regional Science Fair student awards; two National Merit Scholar Finalists. The 1987 film, Can't Buy Me LoveCan't Buy Me Love (film)
Can't Buy Me Love is a 1987 teen comedy feature film starring Patrick Dempsey and Amanda Peterson in a story about a nerd at a high school in Tucson, Arizona who gives a cheerleader $1,000 to pretend to be his girlfriend for a month. The film was directed by Steve Rash.-Plot:Ronald Miller is a...
, starring Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Galen Dempsey is an American actor, known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Prior to Grey's Anatomy he made several television appearances and was nominated for an Emmy Award...
and Amanda Peterson
Amanda Peterson
Amanda Peterson is an American actress. Peterson gained fame during the late 1980s when she portrayed Cindy Mancini, a Tucson, Arizona high-school student, in the movie Can't Buy Me Love.-Career:...
, was also shot on location at the school when it was known as Tucson High School.
The School's Yearbook Publication, The Tucsonian, is a nationally recognized and awarded publication often receiving First Class ratings from the National Scholastic Press Association
National Scholastic Press Association
The National Scholastic Press Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1921 for high school and secondary school publications in the United States. The association is membership-based and annually hosts high school journalism conventions across the country...
, and a nomination for a Pacemaker Award, the highest national honor in the field of student journalism, for the 2010 volume of the book.
Programs
Noteworthy programs at THMS include performing and visual arts; technological education providing comprehensive curriculum to all students with the most current technology available in these areas; an integrated program in humanities, arts, math, science, computers, bilingual and block English/social studies classes; the unique location enables students to take advantage of programs at the University of ArizonaUniversity of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, Pima Community College
Pima Community College
Pima Community College is an American two-year institution of higher education in Pima County, Arizona serving the Tucson metropolitan area. The community college district consists of six campuses, four education centers, and several adult education learning centers. It provides traditional and...
, and the Downtown Arts District; award-winning marching band and jazz ensembles; vocal music; orchestra; mariachi; guitar; musical theater; folklorico; piano lab; film acting; studio photography; commercial arts; steel drums; environmental biology; integrated technology; robotics; and desktop publishing; and advanced placement classes are available in ten academic areas.
Badger Foundation
Tucson High School's alumni foundation is the Badger Foundation. Founded in 1982, it began as a group raising funds for a Jazz Band trip. By 1984, it became a 501(c)(3) organization. As of 2008, the group aims to provide financial assistance to Tucson High people and to coordinate alumni activities.The Badger Foundation Board of Directors is made up of twenty-one members who are alumni, teachers, and administrators. Judy Jones is the current President.
Magnet program
Obtaining magnet status in 1982, Tucson High boasts four areas of specialized study: VisualVisual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
and Performing Arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
, Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and Technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
. The magnet program involves 1,182 students.
Magnet programs in the Tucson Unified School District
Tucson Unified School District
Tucson Unified School District is the largest school district of Tucson, Arizona in terms of enrollment. As of 2006 TUSD has more than 60,000 students and approximately 3,700 faculty members....
were established in compliance with a desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
lawsuit. In order to escape the de facto racial segregation caused by neighborhoods feeding certain schools being predominantly of one minority, special funds were alloted to certain schools to develop special programs in areas such as the aforementioned, as well as ROTC, aviation and others. Students interested in studying these fields can opt to be bused to schools that are not their home schools, thus bringing a heterogeneous array of students to predominantly homogeneous schools. However, this has historically had questionable success.
Main Building
Tucson High's Main Building was constructed in 1924 and was designed by famous architect Henry O. Jaastad. It cost $750,000. It has been placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in Washington, D.C. Second Avenue once ran North and South in front of the Main Building on the West side, and 7th Street once ran East and West along the South side of the Main Building before the campus expanded and eliminated these through streets, an area now known as “The Mall”.Located in the Main Building: Attendance Office, Registrar, Counseling Offices, College and Career Center, Activities and Athletics Offices, Administrative Offices, Auditorium, Library, Gallery, and Theatre.
East Wing
1965: music rooms become the east part (E-Wing) of the Main Building. The East wing is composed of music rooms and computer classrooms.Vocational Building
1958: Vocational Building (V-Building) is built in a modern architectural style, containing 48 classrooms and 13 shops. This building also contains the security offices, and the freshmen councilors. Not all of the building is in use; one wing is locked and serves as storage rather than a teaching area.Technology Building
The Technological Sciences & Fine Arts Building (T-Building or Tech) was designed to mimic the facade of the historic Main Building with a more modern feel to it, and was completed in 1996, it is the largest building on the campus today. The Majority of the schools Visual and Performing Arts Classes are held in the western end of the Tech Building as well as the Tucsonian Yearbook and Cactus Chronicle Publication workrooms. The majority of the schools Math and Science classes are located in the Tech Building's eastern end. Constructed along with the Building was a 2 floor Bridge which connects the upper floors of the Tech Building to the Main Building.Gymnasium
1939: The Physical Education Annex, including a gymnasium, is built. In the gymnsasium sports as well as school wide events are held.The Re- Construction of the Building was competed in January 2011.
Cafeteria
1945: The Physical Education Building is remodeled and a cafeteria is built inside this building.Notable alumni
- Abdi Abdirahman Olympic Long-Distance Runner.
- Dr. Selwa Al-HazzaaSelwa Al-HazzaaDr. Selwa Al-Hazzaa is a Saudi ophthalmologist at King Faisal Specialist Hospital as the head of the ophthalmology department. She is considered as one of the most influential personalities in Saudi Arabia, and the Arab World in general...
Ophthalmologist and influential Saudi Arabian personality. - Dave BaldwinDave Baldwin (baseball)David George Baldwin is a retired American professional baseball player, a right-handed, sidearm/submarine Major League pitcher.-Life and career:...
Major League Baseball pitcher. - Frank BormanFrank BormanFrank Frederick Borman, II is a retired NASA astronaut and engineer, best remembered as the Commander of Apollo 8, the first mission to fly around the Moon, making him, along with fellow crew mates Jim Lovell and Bill Anders, the first of only 24 humans to do so...
NASA astronaut and engineer, Commander of Apollo 8Apollo 8Apollo 8, the second manned mission in the American Apollo space program, was the first human spaceflight to leave Earth orbit; the first to be captured by and escape from the gravitational field of another celestial body; and the first crewed voyage to return to Earth from another celestial...
. - Judith Rich HarrisJudith Rich HarrisJudith Rich Harris is a psychology researcher and the author of The Nurture Assumption, a book criticizing the belief that parents are the most important factor in child development, and presenting evidence which contradicts that belief.Harris has been a resident of Middletown Township, New...
psychologist and author. - Ron HasseyRon HasseyRonald William Hassey is a retired Major League Baseball catcher. Hassey began his career with the Cleveland Indians after the Indians drafted him in the 18th round of the 1976 MLB amateur draft...
Major League Baseball catcher. - Eddie LeonEddie LeonEduardo Antonio Leon is a former Major League Baseball infielder of Mexican American descent, who played for eight seasons, splitting time as a shortstop and second baseman...
Major League Baseball infielder. - Dan SchneiderDan SchneiderDan Schneider may refer to:* Dan Schneider , American actor and television producer* Dan Schneider , American poet, writer, and film critic* Dan Schneider , former American baseball player...
Major League Baseball pitcher. - Tom WilhelmsenTom WilhelmsenThomas Mark Wilhelmsen is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners.Prior to playing professionally, Wilhelmsen attended Tucson High School, out of which he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh round of the 2002 amateur draft...
Major League Baseball pitcher. - Mike DawsonMike Dawson (American football)Michael Daniel Dawson was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round of the 1976 NFL Draft. A 6'4", 256 lb...
St. Louis Cardinals (Pro Football)