Torrey Pines High School

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Torrey Pines High School
Established 1974
Type Public secondary
Principal Brett Killeen
Teaching staff 135
Students 2,706
Grades 9-12
Location 3710 Del Mar Heights Rd,
San Diego, California, USA
District SDUHSD
Campus Suburban
Colors Cardinal and Gold
Mascot Freddy The Falcon
Yearbook 'Freeflight'
Newspaper 'The Falconer'
Website http://tp.sduhsd.net/

Torrey Pines High School is a high school in the North County Coastal area of San Diego, California. The school is named after the rare Torrey Pine tree that grows in the area. Torrey Pines High School is a member of the San Dieguito Union High School District and serves the communities of Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Solana Beach, and Carmel Valley (City of San Diego).[1]

Before the school opened, students in the district attended San Dieguito High School (now known as San Dieguito Academy). Students from middle schools such as Carmel Valley Middle School, Earl Warren, or Rancho Santa Fe often come to Torrey Pines to continue their education.

Contents

[edit] Academics

Torrey Pines has a reputation for being an "academic powerhouse"[2]. The school is a three-time National Blue Ribbon and California Distinguished School. In 2005 Torrey Pines was ranked as one of the 100 best High Schools in the nation by Newsweek magazine.[3] Torrey Pines offers thirty Advanced Placement courses and had a 2006-2007 API score of 998, and received a state rank of 10 meaning that it "falls in the top ten percent of all schools in the state with a comparable grade range".[4][5]

In 2007 Torrey Pines had numerous students who were designated AP scholars by the College Board[6]:

In 2005 the then Principal Rick Schmitt, "estimated that about a quarter of the seniors will graduate with at least a 4.0 grade-point average." [7] This is one reason why Torrey Pines does not compute numerical rankings.

[edit] Construction History

There were two expansions made to Torrey Pines High School. The first was Torrey Pines' media center which was completed in 1974 and won many awards for it's design. [8] Torrey Pines' football stadium cost 2 million dollars and was completed in 1987. [9] Since the original construction, a new English building was built and stairs were added leading up to the main building.

[edit] Demographics

Torrey Pines High School has a mostly Asian and White student body.[10] The student body is largely reflective of the surrounding areas, which is categorized mainly by affluent families: most adults in the area are married and close to 50% of household incomes are over $100,000. Most adults are educated, with a strong majority having either a Bachelor's or a Professional/Graduate degree. [11]

The student body is estimated to be about one third Jewish, based on absences on Yom Kippur. Starting in 2006 the district decided to officially recognize Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in Judaism. In previous years absences from the holiday meant losses of more than $55,000. [12]

[edit] Extracurricular activities

From the 2007 School Profile:[13]

“ Student success is supported by tutoring centers on campus, over 300 parent volunteers, 150 extra-curricular clubs, and the TPHS Foundation. Falcon students consistently earn top honors at academic competitions including a gold medal at the International Physics Olympiad, the San Diego Science Fair, the national journalism convention, and drama and video film events. We also offer a comprehensive Division I interscholastic athletics program with 26 different varsity-level sports whose athletes have earned 124 CIF champions since 1974, more than any other high school in San Diego County. ”

[edit] Music

Torrey Pines has a large and growing music program, including two orchestras, a wind ensemble, symphonic band, a chorus, and a jazz band. Unfortunately, most of the school's money goes to the football team, which did very badly this past season. These groups win numerous awards each year at competitions throughout California. AP Music Theory is also offered. Amy Willcox is the current music director at Torrey Pines. Erin Zoumaras teaches chorus and AP Music Theory.

[edit] Athletics

Torrey Pines is a long-standing athletic powerhouse of the Palomar league. Notable programs include Football, Wrestling, Basketball, Men's and Women's Volleyball, Softball, Cross Country, Cheerleading, Tennis, Track & Field, Soccer, Golf, Baseball, Lacrosse, Swimming and Water Polo. On October 11, 2007, Torrey Pines football was featured in a nationally televised game on ESPNU.[14] The boys basketball and girls golf coach, as of Fall 2007, is John Olive.
Fall sports are: Cross country, Girls golf, Boys water polo, Field hockey, Football, Girls Tennis, and Girls Volleyball. Season results according to The Falconer, as of 2007: Boys Cross Country: CIF title, 17th at state Girls Cross Country: 3rd at CIF, 6th at state Girls Golf: Undefeated season, CIF title, 6th at state Boys Water Polo: 2nd at CIF, league record 3-6, overall record 8-16 Girls Field Hockey: Shared league title with La Costa Canyon, defeated a Semi-finals. Football: 2-7 season Girls Tennis: 18th CIF title Girls Volleyball: league record 6-2-0, overall 12-5-0
Winter sports are: Basketball, Soccer, Girls Waterpolo, and Wrestling.
Sping Sports are: Baseball, Softball, Boys Golf, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Swimming, Boys Tennis, Track and Field, and Boys Volleyball.

[edit] Clubs

As of February 28, 2006, Torrey Pines High School has 116 Associated Student Body sponsored clubs.[15]

A few of these clubs have websites, available at http://tpclubs.com

[edit] Publications

[edit] The Falconer

The Falconer is the school newspaper. It placed first in the 2004 JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in San Diego.[16] A new issue is put out at the end of each month. All articles and graphics are made by the staff of the Falconer. Mia Boardman Smith is the current adviser to the staff. Like the TP Players, The Falconer receives no school funding, instead relying on money from advertisers.

[edit] First Flight

First Flight is the school literary magazine. Its 2005-2006 edition placed first in the 2006 JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in in Chicago, Illinois and the 2006-2007 edition won first place Best in Show at the 2007 JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.[17][18] Mia Boardman Smith is the faculty adviser.

[edit] FreeFlight

FreeFlight is the school yearbook. Mia Boardman Smith is the adviser. Freeflight 2006-2007 yearbook with the theme of IMPACT placed 4th at the JEA/NSPA National Convention in the Spring of 2008 in Anaheim, CA.

[edit] Academic teams

Torrey Pines High School's academic teams include Speech and Debate, Academic Team, and Science Olympiad Approximately 40 kids participate in Speech and Debate, 90 in Science Olympiad, and 35 in Academic Team. Speech and Debate and Academic Team require interested applicants to try out for the team. As of November 28th, 2007, the TPHS Academic Team is complete with 10 freshmen on the Freshmen Team, 15 on the JV Team, and 9 on the Varsity Team. The teacher currently involved with the academic team is Mrs. Swovlin, whom has been teaching over 27 years. [19]

[edit] Theater

The Torrey Pines black box theater program (TP Players) is widely acknowledged for achievements in the theatrical field. It received awards for best play in the region from the California Educational Theater Association for Metamorphosis in 2003 and Inherit the Wind in 2005.[20] TP Players performed at the International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland in the summer of 2006.[21] The current director, Marinee Payne, works hard with the student actors alone to produce college-level shows. The TP Players receive no outside funding and rely solely on ticket sales.

[edit] ASB

Torrey Pines ASB uses a $6 million budget every year for school activities.[citation needed]

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ SDUHSD Attendance Boundaries
  2. ^ Union-Tribune Article
  3. ^ Newsweek: The 100 Best High Schools in America
  4. ^ Torrey Pines High School 2007 Growth Academic Performance Index (API) Report
  5. ^ Torrey Pines High School Test Scores
  6. ^ North San Diego County School News Briefs: TPHS students earn AP Scholar Awards - North County Times - North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County News
  7. ^ SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education - Seniors follow different paths to get diplomas
  8. ^ Torrey Pines High School Expansion
  9. ^ Los Angeles Times: Archives
  10. ^ California School Ratings
  11. ^ Zip Skinny 92130
  12. ^ Chalk up Yom Kippur as San Dieguito school holiday
  13. ^ [tp.sduhsd.net/documents/TPHS%20School%20Profile%202007.pdf]
  14. ^ Falcons Athletics
  15. ^ ASB Sponsored Clubs (2005-2006)
  16. ^ NSPA Best of Show Winners, 2004 JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention
  17. ^ NSPA Best of Show Winners, 2006 JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention
  18. ^ [1],2007 JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention
  19. ^ ASB Sponsored Clubs (2005-2006)
  20. ^ Torrey Pines Players Online - Fringe 2006
  21. ^ Torrey Pines Players Online - Fringe 2006
  22. ^ John Allred Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com
  23. ^ NBA Development League: Rod Benson Playerfile
  24. ^ Jaime Chambers | News Staff | KTLA The CW | Where Los Angeles Lives
  25. ^ Chris Dudley Statistics - Basketball-Reference.com
  26. ^ Epstein at NFL.com
  27. ^ Signon Sandiego
  28. ^ Tony Hawk bio
  29. ^ Players page at databasefootball.com
  30. ^ Video News - iCOM Magazine
  31. ^ Stanford info
  32. ^ SDHOC
  33. ^ TheMusicEdge.com
  34. ^ Prince dies in tsunami, was grad of Torrey Pines | The San Diego Union-Tribune
  35. ^ Prince dies in tsunami, was grad of Torrey Pines | The San Diego Union-Tribune
  36. ^ AVP
  37. ^ John Lynch Foundation
  38. ^ Scot Pollard at HoopsHype
  39. ^ TheMusicEdge

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Booker T. Washington High School		 National Academic Championship champion
1993		 Succeeded by
East Brunswick High School

Coordinates: 32°57′28″N, 117°13′30″W