Los Alamos High School

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Los Alamos High School
Los Alamos Hilltoppers
Image:Toppers.gif
Established 1946
School type Public, Grades 9-12
Principal Lynne Saccaro
Faculty Unknown
Students 1220
Colors Green and Gold
Location 1300 Diamond Drive
Los Alamos, NM 87544
United States
Information Main Office (505) 663-2510
Snow Line (505) 663-2223
Snow Line (505) 663-2512
Website http://lahs.laschools.net/

Los Alamos High School (or LAHS) is the public high school of Los Alamos, New Mexico. The mascot of Los Alamos High School is the Hilltopper.

Contents

[edit] History

During the Second World War Los Alamos was the site of the Manhattan project. During wartime, structures in Los Alamos were temporary because people were expecting to leave after the wartime project was completed. In August 1945, following the Allied victory in Japan, it was decided the Los Alamos Laboratory's nuclear research would continue in order to counter a rising Soviet threat. In 1946 Los Alamos begin erecting permanent structures, including Los Alamos High School.

Two U.S. Presidents have visited Los Alamos High School: John F. Kennedy in 1962[1] and William Jefferson Clinton in 1993[2] and also 1998[3].

[edit] Student body statistics

Typical Day at Los Alamos High School
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Typical Day at Los Alamos High School

Ethnic composition [4]

  • American Indian: < 1%
  • Asian/Pacific: 3%
  • Hispanic: 17%
  • Black: < 1%
  • White: 78%

Gender composition [5]

  • Male: 50%
  • Female 50%

Future Plans (2004 Graduating Class)[6]

  • 4 year college: 86.5 %
  • 2 year college: 3.7%
  • Technical / Vocational School: 3.2 %
  • Military: 4.3 %
  • Undecided: 2.3 %

[edit] Clubs and Organizations

LAHS has several clubs and organizations including:

  • Academic Award Letter
  • Anime Club
  • Art Club
  • Astronomy Club
  • Band
  • Business Professionals of America
  • Chess Club
  • Choir
  • Class of 06
  • Class of 07
  • Class of 08
  • Class of 09
  • DECA
  • Environmental Club
  • FCCLA (Family & Consumer Science)
  • Fencing Club
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes
  • French Club
  • Gay Straight Alliance
  • German Club
  • Hilltalkers
  • International Club
  • Key Club
  • LAHS Coalition for Peace
  • LAHS Film Society
  • Lookout Student Newsletter
  • Mock Trial
  • National Honor Society
  • Natural Helpers
  • NJROTC
  • Olions (Drama)
  • Orchestra
  • Pegasus (Student Literary and Art work)
  • Political Discussions Society
  • Robotics
  • Snow Club
  • Spanish Club
  • Student Council
  • Supercomputing Challenge
  • X-Scape Landscaping Club
  • Yearbook

[edit] Athletics

Griffith Gymnasium
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Griffith Gymnasium

Since its classification as a AAAA school in 2000, the students of LAHS have won over 40 state titles in competitive high school sports (see below). LAHS was honored with the AAAA Girls all-sports trophy in 2000-01, 2001-02, and 2003-04. In 2003-04 LAHS also received The "New Mexico Athletic Director of the Year" award.

In 2002 the LAHS Girls Cross Country team led by coaches Rob and Kathy Hipwood won the AAAA State Championship with a perfect score of 15.[7] Rob Hipwood was a 1982 LAHS graduate. That season the Girls Cross Country Team was ranked second nationally among high school teams.

In 2000 the Hilltoppers won state in boys' bastetball led by star player Chris Jackson. Jackson went on to play in the 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship for Utah.

In 1995 Kevin Dotson set the national high school record for the high jump at 7'2".

In 1975 Lynn Bjorklund set the national high school record for the women's outdoor 3000 meter at 9:08.6. This record still stands.[8]

[edit] State titles (since 2000)

Boys

  • Cross Country: 2003
  • Football:
  • Soccer:
  • Basketball: 2000
  • Swimming: 2005, 2004
  • Diving: 2004
  • Wrestling:
  • Golf: 2005, 2004
  • Baseball:
  • Tennis:2003,2002,2001
  • Track & Field: 2001, 2000

Girls

  • Cross Country: 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
  • Volleyball: 2001, 2000
  • Soccer: 2003,2002, 2001
  • Basketball:2002, 2001
  • Swimming: 2004
  • Diving: 2004
  • Golf: 2001, 2002, 2003
  • Softball:
  • Tennis: 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001
  • Track & Field: 2003, 2002, 2001

[edit] Recent awards

The Hilltopper, as once seen from Griffith Gymnasium
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The Hilltopper, as once seen from Griffith Gymnasium
  • In 2005 LAHS was named one of the "1,000 Best High Schools in America" (#649) by Newsweek Magazine[9].
  • A LAHS history teacher, Nancy Schick, was named the 2005 New Mexico Teacher of the Year.[10]
  • LAHS graduating classes of 2004 and 2005 had 12 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists each.
  • An LAHS student is one of six New Mexico semifinalists in the 2005 Presidential Scholars competition.
  • Five LAHS students were awarded Scholar designation in the National Hispanic Recognition Program, based on their performance on the 2004 PSAT and their five-semester transcripts.
  • The National Achievement Scholarship Program, established to recognized outstanding African-American students, has given a designation of commended student to an LAHS student.
  • In 2005 Los Alamos High School had 28 AP Scholar awards. 16 AP Scholar with Honor awards, 26 AP Scholar with Distinction awards, and 4 National AP Scholar awards.
  • LAHS literary magazine, Pegasus 2004, was "Recommended for Highest Award" in the 2004 NCTE Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines.
  • LAHS NJROTC Unit was designated a "Distinguished Unit" for the second year in a row. This year's designation includes academic honors, which is reserved for only a handful of units.
  • All four LAHS choirs received superior ratings at the District Large Group Festival. Two of these choirs also received "Best in Class" for Class AAAA schools.
  • LAHS Wind Ensemble Band received a superior rating from the New Mexico Music Educators Association Large Group Festival; Symphonic Band received an excellent rating.
  • LAHS Topper Marching Band won first place in their catagory at the tournament of the bands in 2006.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

Los Alamos High School sits below the scenic Jemez Mountains
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Los Alamos High School sits below the scenic Jemez Mountains

[edit] External links