Capistrano Valley High School
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Capistrano Valley High School (often called Capo Valley High School or CVHS, known informally as Capo) is a comprehensive public high school at the southern border of Mission Viejo, California that belongs to the Capistrano Unified School District. It is set on a hilltop overlooking the 5 freeway corridor and the Saddleback Mountains. It is located on Via Escolar, off the Avery exit of the I-5 freeway. The school currently serves students from eastern, southern, and northern Mission Viejo as well as most of San Juan Capistrano and Ladera Ranch. The principal is Mr. Tom Ressler who has proudly been with the school for years.
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[edit] History
CVHS opened in 1978 with one main building and 1,326 students. It was the third high school to be opened in Capistrano Unified after San Clemente and Dana Hills High Schools. Over the years the school grew adding various wings and improvements such as a pool and gym.
CVHS experienced several population shifts as the district opened the new schools of Aliso Niguel and Tesoro with the building boom in southern Orange County. Students were taken and replaced between these schools as attendance boundaries changed with each new school addition.
There was controversy over the addition of San Juan Hills High School which would serve San Juan Capistrano, and Capo would serve solely Mission Viejo with the new boundaries the district settled on. In the 2005-2006 school year over 2,800 students attended CVHS. The freshman class that entered 2006 is the largest ever with 1,000 students. The population will lower when San Juan Hills opens in fall 2007.
CVHS is a California Distinguished School, National Blue Ribbon Finalist, and was ranked 590 in Newsweek's list of the top 1000 schools nationwide.
The average class size is 29 students and there are 93 teachers and 90 have a full credential. 4.3% of the teachers hold doctorates, 52% hold a masters and 43% hold a bachelor's degree.
[edit] Facilities
Capistrano Valley has a unique brick architecture, seldom seen in the stucco pop up buildings that cover most of Southern California. There is a main building that has two story wings projecting from the main indoor quad area known as the "mall." From the mall are the administration offices, the food service area called the "Cougar Grill," the teachers' lounge, all centered by a stage where music and games are done during events like spirit week or before a school dance. The mall is also used as the auditorium after school when the stage area is enclosed.
Capo's second wings branch from a mini mall that is centered by a two story library and career center. The Activities office is in this hall. The school has eight computer labs and 600 computers for student use.
Outside the main building is a new two story brick addition built in 2006 called the "M wing" that replaces 16 older portable classrooms. Off the upper lot are 18 portable classrooms. There is a gymnasium and auxiliary gym that were newly remodeled also in 2006.
CVHS also boasts one of the largest high school swimming pools at 50 meters long. There are three soccer/football fields, six tennis courts, two softball fields, two baseball fields, and a turf field and track in the stadium.
[edit] Academics
The staff at CVHS works hard to maintain high standards at the high school. CVHS is honored to be one of two high schools in Capo Unified to be an International Baccalaureate School and has the Academy of Technology Math and Science.
There is also the Laptop Academy, in which students use their laptops in the classroom and interact with computers in all aspects of learning. Students often are found using the internet to find current events and go deeper into history than the textbook.
Counselors work with students to help them stay college bound if that is their desire as strong emphasis is put on college preparatory courses. There is a vast AP program with courses available in virtually everything from AP Calculus to AP Music Theory. CVHS is part of the AAA (Accelerated Academic Achievement) Program. The school's API is 789.
CVHS is the district's northern magnet campus due to having IB and the most established AP programs in the northern portion. San Clemente High represents the southern portion of the district for IB.
[edit] Sports
CVHS offers sports programs in football, water polo, swimming, cross country, roller hockey, volleyball, golf, tennis, soccer, baseball, basketball, track and field, lacrosse, surf, softball, cheerleading, and wrestling.
The baseball team is ranked 22 in California and has won CIF-SS numerous times. The basketball team is also a top performer. They are ranked number five in Orange County and usually win the league.
The football team has had some recent trouble making it into CIF Division Playoffs with constant losses to Mission Viejo High School and San Clemente High School. However,the freshman team in 2006 has been one of the best with no losses in the season. This will hopefully led to a great program.
The surf team has been league champions since 2003. Capo competes in the South Coast League against Aliso Niguel, San Clemente, Mission Viejo, Dana Hills, and Tesoro High Schools. Approximately 40 percent of students participate in competitive athletics.
The school mascot is the cougar, and the colors are black and gold. CVHS was awarded the high school with the best character and sportsmanship in 2006 by CIF.
For the 2006- 2007 season, Capo Varsity boys basketball placed 2nd in league after County Ranked #2 Mission Viejo. The team ended the season ranked #5 in the county and competed in CIF playoffs in the most prestigious Division 1- AA. Girls basketball placed 3rd in league and also qualified for playoffs. The girls waterpolo team placed second and will compete in the playoffs as well.
Senior Cara Freeman was selected for the Girls All League Golf Team, was voted as a player of the week, and is considered Orange County's best golfer. Also Senior Erin Griffith is running for the South Coast League All League Team and has continued CVHS's excellent girls' cross country program. Danny Tayenaka was voted co-player of the year for boys waterpolo in the South Coast League and made the First Team.
For the spring 2007 season the state reknown baseball team has been ranked number one in Orange County with this being the 30th season of Coach Bob Zamora. Michael Watt, an All County First Team player from 2006 is lead pitcher and is also ranked the fifth best player in the league. Watt is signed with Long Beach State for college ball. Tommy MacKoul another senior baseball player is signed with UC Riverside. Girls softball player Krista Donnenwirth is ranked the number one player in Orange County this season and hit .500 last year. She is attending Arizona State University. The girls track and field team is ranked number 9 in Orange County led by Erin Griffith in the 1,600m and Kristen Kiefer in the hurdle events. The girls sprint team and long jump events are also excellent.
[edit] Marching Band
The Capistrano Valley Marching Band, known throughout Southern California as the Black and Gold Brigade, participates in competitive field tournaments, parades and home football games. The ensemble consists of woodwind, brass, color guard and percussion.
The Black and Gold Brigade currently competes in the SCSBOA 1A division and has qualified for all SCSBOA championships since 2002. The marching band earned first place in the 2A division in 2002. It also earned first place in the 1A division in 2006 for colorguard, band, visual, and percussion categories.
