Santa Barbara High School, "Home of the Dons," is situated on a beautiful 40-acre (160,000 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.
| Santa Barbara High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1875 |
| School district | Santa Barbara School Districts |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Color(s) | Olive and Gold |
| Athletics conference | Channel League |
| Mascot | Dons |
| Rivals | San Marcos High School, Dos Pueblos High School |
| Website | [1] |
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.[citation needed]
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 Cachaça (1997)
- Cindy Lea Arbelbide, USA T&F team (1973), pioneer victim advocate, presidential historian (1967)
- Tanya Atwater, geophysicist (1960)
- Timothy Bottoms, actor, producer (1970)
- Josh Brolin, Academy award nominee actor
- Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com's daily editorial cartoonist (1974)
- Pearl Chase, pioneer in the fields of conservation, preservation, social services, and civic planning (1903)
- Kami Craig, Olympic silver medalist (2008), water polo (2005)
- Randall Cunningham, former NFL Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and All-Pro player (1981)
- Sam Cunningham, 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 Curren, professional surfer (three time world champion), and musician (1982)
- Robert Denno, professor, entomology (1945–2008)
- Thomas Dibblee, legendary figure in geological and topographical work in mapping the state of California (1931)
- Don Ford, former NBA Los Angeles Laker and Cleveland Cavalier player (1971)
- Al Geiberger, professional golfer, record score (59) in a PGA Tour event (1955)
- Martha Graham, pioneer of modern dance (1913)
- Natalie Guerra, named 2008 CIF Div. 1A Volleyball Player of the Year (2008)
- Taylor Hackford, Academy award-winning filmmaker (1963)
- Brad Hall, Saturday Night Live news anchor (early years), creator of TV's The Single Guy, environmental activist (1972)
- Gary K. Hart, 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 Kiraly, three-time Olympic gold medalist and professional indoor and beach volleyball great (1978)
- Bill Leavy, NFL referee Super Bowl XL (1965)
- Leon Litwack, Pulitizer Prize winner for History for his book Been in the Storm So Long (1947)
- Alma Martinez, Olympian for Mexico (2004), women's football (1999)
- Eddie Mathews, Baseball Hall of Famer (1949)
- Amoretta Matthews, former Undersecretary of the U. S. Army (1959)
- Aaron McLendon, jazz drummer (1998)
- Thalia Munro, Olympic bronze medalist (2004), water polo (2000)
- Daniel Nguyen, named the 2008 Santa Barbara News Press Tennis Player of the Year (2008)
- John Northrop, 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 Schwab, founder of the world famous discount brokerage firm and innovative philanthropist (1955)
- Ron Shelton, writer/director of film including Bull Durham and White Men Can't Jump (1963)
- Ryan Spilborghs, Major League Baseball outfielder (1997)
- John Whittemore, World's Oldest Athlete (1917)
- Jamaal Wilkes, former NBA Los Angeles Laker and Golden State Warrior player with four NBA Championships (1970)
- Lance Loud, part of the first reality TV show "An American Family" (1970)