Adolfo Camarillo High School

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Adolfo Camarillo High School is a high school located in Camarillo, California. It was recognized as a California Distinguished School in 1996 and a National Blue Ribbon School in 1998. It is part of the Oxnard Union High School District. The land was purchased for the school by Adolfo Camarillo for the construction of a high school. Its current principal is Glenn Lipman.

Contents 1 History 2 Academics & Athletics 3 Controversy 4 Mascot 5 Alma Mater 6 Publications 7 Notable alumni 8 External links

[edit] History

ACHS was established in 1956 on land donated by Adolfo Camarillo. In 2006, the school celebrated its 50th year anniversary; in attendance were students from 1956.

The school has undergone recent refurbishments, including a new approx. 6,000 capacity football/soccer stadium, as well as new baseball and softball fields. The landmark stadium steps which feature a large blue scorpion can be seen from the 101 freeway.

ACHS was one of the first High Schools in California to have a website representing the school. ACHS.org launched on April 6th, 1995. The site averages approx 20,000 hits per day, and holds two awards from the Scripps Howard Star Internet Awards. Students from every class visit the site's extensive Alumni pages.

[edit] Academics & Athletics

Camarillo High School students' Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores have ranked consistently among the highest in Ventura County, 29%. Test scores indicate that Camarillo's students also continue to rank well above the state and national averages. [1]

Because of it's strong academics, many of Camarillo's high school graduates advance to such institutions such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Pepperdine and USC.

ACHS has also produced star athletes, including the first overall pick of the 2003 MLB Draft, Delmon Young and multi-sport collegiate star Joe Borchard.

[edit] Controversy

In 2002, ACHS garnered attention when popular chemistry teacher and boys' tennis coach Chad Pridgen was arrested and charged with 20 felony counts of wrongful sex acts involving minors in the late 1990s. Pridgen, who himself is a father, is currently serving a 10-year sentence after pleading guilty to lesser charges. He was ordered to pay $12 million in a civil suit brought by his victims; the Oxnard Union High School District, his employer, settled a separate suit for $2.7 million.

[edit] Mascot

The ACHSmascot is "Scorpy" the Scorpion, after the F-89 Scorpion fighter aircraft based out of the former Oxnard Air Force Base, now Camarillo Airport.

[edit] Alma Mater

(sung to the tune of Far Above Cayuga's Waters)

In the heart of California's

Golden sun and dew

Proudly stands the school we honor,

Glorious to view.

Ever in our hearts she'll linger,

Memories never die.

Hail to thee our school so loyal,

CAMARILLO HIGH!

[edit] Publications

The school yearbook is El Alacran (The Scorpion). The school newspaper is The Stinger. There is also an art/culture magazine called the Veritas.

[edit] Notable alumni

• Mike Parrott (1973) - Major League Baseball player
• Jeff Tackett (1984) - Major League Baseball player (on the list of players that have hit a Home run in final at-bat)
• Joe Borchard (1997) - Major League Baseball player
• Delmon Young (2005) - Major League Baseball #1 draft pick
• Tom Lenk - actor
• Jessica Mendoza - Softball Olympic gold medalist

[edit] External links

• ACHS.org
• More ACHS information
• Oxnard Union High School District
• City of Camarillo education