Santa Barbara High School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa Barbara High School |
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Main Building is a designated landmark
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| Address | |
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700 East Anapamu Street
, California
93103
United States
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| Coordinates | 34°25′46″N 119°41′39″W / 34.42944°N 119.69417°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, high school |
| Motto | Once a Don, Always a Don |
| Established | 1875 |
| School district | Santa Barbara Unified School District |
| Principal | Fred Razo, |
| Teaching staff | 96.35 (FTE) |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 2,046 (2023-2024) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 21.24 |
| Color(s) | Olive and gold |
| Athletics conference | CIF Southern Section Channel League |
| Nickname | Dons |
| Rivals | San Marcos High School, Dos Pueblos High School |
| Newspaper | The Forge |
| Yearbook | Olive and Gold |
Santa Barbara Senior High School, also known as "Home of the Dons," is a public high school in Santa Barbara, California. It is part of the Santa Barbara Unified School District. The school sits on a large 40-acre campus.
Santa Barbara High School is one of the oldest high schools in California. It started in 1875. The school moved to its current location in 1924. Today, over 2,000 students attend the school. It has a diverse student body. The school also has special learning programs called academies. These include Visual Arts and Design (VADA), Computer Science (CSA), and Multimedia Arts and Design (MAD). The school also has a strong performing arts program.
Santa Barbara High School is a historic landmark in California. It gets help from the Foundation for Santa Barbara High School. This foundation raises money for school programs and improvements. This includes fixing up the Peabody Stadium and building new sports fields.
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History of the School
In 1916, people in Santa Barbara wanted a bigger high school. The old school was in a different part of town. Students and community leaders helped raise money to build a new school. Construction began in 1922. The new school opened in 1924 at 700 East Anapamu Street.
The main building was designed by a famous architecture firm, W.H. Weeks. This firm also designed other schools in Santa Barbara. These schools are known for their beautiful design. They are also official historic landmarks in the City of Santa Barbara.
The class of 1924 was the first to graduate from the new campus. On Thanksgiving Day in 1924, Frederick Forrest Peabody gave the school a new football stadium. It was named Peabody Stadium in his honor. In 1925, the first group of seniors who actually attended classes there graduated.
In November 2005, the school's building style was named an official California and City historic landmark. This style is called Spanish Colonial Revival.
For many years, Santa Barbara High School was the only public high school in the area. Other high schools, like San Marcos High School and Dos Pueblos High School, opened later in 1958 and 1966.
School Leadership
As of 2023, the principal of Santa Barbara High School is Fred Razo. Before him, Elise Simmons was the principal starting in 2018. She had worked in the school district for 19 years. Her goals were to help students get ready for college and careers. She also focused on sports and student well-being.
Student Population
In 2022, a report showed that Santa Barbara High School has a very diverse student body. About 65% of students are from minority groups. Many students also receive financial help for school meals.
Special Programs and Academies
Santa Barbara High School offers several unique programs. These help students focus on specific interests.
School Academies
The school has three special academies:
- Visual Arts and Design (VADA)
- Computer Science Academy (CSA)
- Multimedia Arts and Design (MAD)
Visual Arts and Design (VADA)
VADA started in 1999. It is a small learning community for students interested in art. Students can take classes in painting, drawing, digital art, and photography. In 2021, VADA built a new modern design lab and art studio. This new center has tools like laser cutters and 3-D printers for students to use.
Computer Science Academy (CSA)
The Computer Science Academy teaches students about computers and technology. Courses include computational art, software design, mobile programming, robotics, and 3-D printing. Students in this academy have even won awards for their projects. For example, a team of students created an app with an interactive map of Santa Barbara. This app helped boost local tourism.
Multimedia Arts and Design (MAD)
The MAD academy focuses on creative media. Students learn graphic design, web design, advanced film production, and advanced photojournalism. The academy also offers a trip to Mexico. On this trip, students help build homes for families in need.
Performing Arts
The Santa Barbara High Theater has been active for over 100 years. The performing arts department works with professional designers, choreographers, and musical directors. They also bring in guest artists to work with students. Students perform year-round in an 800-seat theater. The theater has modern lighting and sound systems. Past shows have included The Crucible, Chicago, Carrie, and Head Over Heels.
Some former students from the performing arts program have gone on to perform on Broadway.
Ethnic Studies
In 2015, a former student started a group to ask the Santa Barbara School Board to make ethnic studies a graduation requirement. Ethnic studies teaches about the history and cultures of different groups. In 2018, the School Board agreed. They decided that all high school students would need to take an ethnic studies course to graduate, starting in 2024.
School Mural
More than 20 students at Santa Barbara High School painted a large mural. They worked with alumni, including local artist Manuel Unzueta. The mural is 60 feet long and is outside the school cafeteria. It is called ‘La Loteria De Vida" (The Life Lottery). The mural shows symbols of Chicano and Chumash culture. It also honors the history of Santa Barbara and the high school. Many people came to see the mural when it was officially shown in 2021.
Academic Achievements
In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked Santa Barbara High School among the top schools in the nation. It was also ranked highly among public high schools in California. The school has a high graduation rate of 91%. Many students take Advanced Placement (AP) exams. These exams can earn students college credit.
Here are some proficiency scores from Smarter Balance tests:
- 37% of students were good at Math.
- 62% of students were good at Reading.
- 39% of students were good at Science.
In 2010, Newsweek magazine listed Santa Barbara High School as one of "America's Best High Schools."
School Sports
Santa Barbara High School offers many sports. These include baseball, softball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo, wrestling, frisbee, and surfing. The school is known for its athletic success. The Dons have won many titles. For example, in 2014, the girls' basketball team won a major championship.
The school also has a Surf Team. It even has a Surf History Hall of Fame. This hall honors famous surfers who attended the school. Students in the wood shop class learn to make surfboards.
In 2019, the women’s longboard surf team won a championship. In 2022, the high school surf club won their division in all categories.
Peabody Stadium Renovation
Peabody Stadium was renovated in 2020. This project cost $39 million. The Foundation for Santa Barbara High School helped pay for it. The stadium now has Olympic-quality fields. This allows the school to host big sports events. These include track, football, lacrosse, and international soccer tournaments.
Student Newspaper
The school's newspaper is called The Forge. It has been published continuously since 1914. This makes it the second-oldest high school newspaper in California to publish without stopping. The newspaper covers many topics. For example, in 2022, it featured articles about Ukrainians in Santa Barbara and donating hair for wigs.
Some former editors of The Forge have become very successful. Leon Litwack, a former editor, won a Pulitzer Prize for his history book. Manuel Unzueta, a former cartoonist for The Forge, is now a well-known mural artist in Santa Barbara.
Foundation for Santa Barbara High School
The Foundation for Santa Barbara High School is a non-profit group. It raises money to help the school. This money supports academics, counseling, sports, and other programs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation helped the school buy outdoor tents and air purifiers. It also gave money to families who needed help. The Foundation also helped raise $5 million for the Peabody Stadium renovation.
Famous Alumni
Many notable people have graduated from Santa Barbara High School. Here are a few:
- Tanya Atwater, a geophysicist known as the "Mother of Plate Tectonics" (Class of 1960)
- Josh Brolin, an Academy Award-nominated actor
- Kami Craig, an Olympic gold medalist in water polo (Class of 2005)
- Tom Curren, a professional surfer and three-time world champion (Class of 1982)
- Martha Graham, a pioneer of modern dance (Class of 1913)
- Karch Kiraly, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and famous volleyball player (Class of 1978)
- Leon Litwack, a Pulitzer Prize winner for History (Class of 1947)
- Eddie Mathews, a Baseball Hall of Famer (Class of 1949)
- Charles Schwab, who founded a famous brokerage firm (Class of 1955)
- Chris Shiflett, the lead guitarist for the band Foo Fighters
- Jamaal Wilkes, a former NBA player who won four NBA Championships (Class of 1970)
School Song
The school's alma mater, or school song, is "Santa Barbara, Hail to Thee!". It was written by Doris Holt, who was in the Class of 1944.
