Wilson Classical High School
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| Official name | Woodrow Wilson Classical High School |
| Logo |  |
| Established | 1926 |
| Principals | Diane Brown, Lew Kerns |
| Activities Director | Erin Fekjar |
| Location | 4400 E Tenth Street Long Beach, California 90804 |
| Website | http://www.lbschools.net/wilson/ |
| Enrollment | 4800 students |
| Mascot | Bruin |
| School Colors | Cardinal and Gold |
| District | Long Beach Unified School District |
Woodrow Wilson Classical High School is a secondary school in Long Beach, California, USA.
Wilson High School, in the Long Beach Unified School District, opened in 1925 as the second school in the city (after Long Beach Polytechnic High School). In 2005 Wilson High School was recognized as a California Distinguished School for the second time.
Several areas in Long Beach, including Naples[1], are zoned to Wilson.
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[edit] Classical Diploma
Wilson is different from the other schools in the Long Beach Unified School District. Wilson offers a Classical Diploma, in which students take one (or more) extra classes than normal. The Classical Diploma requires: four (4) years of English, four (4) years of mathematics, four (4) years of foreign language, four (4) years of science, three (3) years of social sciences, two (2) years of fine arts, two (2) years of physical education and three and a half (3.5) years of electives normally a sport or interest classes. The Classical Diploma is ideal for students entering the California State University system or the University of California system since the Classical requirements meet or exceed requirements for admission.
[edit] School uniforms
Wilson is one of the few public high schools in the United States that requires a school uniform (one other high school, and all primary schools in the Long Beach Unified School District require school uniforms). The uniform is khaki trousers, skirts or shorts, with either white or burgundy collared shirts. [1]. The school colors are cardinal and gold, and the school mascot is the Bruin.
[edit] Sports
The Wilson Bruins are widely known for their outstanding water polo and swim teams (with high crossover between the two teams). The swim team has been undefeated Moore League Chapions for 36 years (as of 2008).
The Bruins are also known as a national powerhouse in baseball. In 2007, the Bruins were led by a talented team, en route to a 32-3 final record, a Moore League title, a CIF title, a state title, as well as being named National Champions by Baseball America.
Wilson's soccer, tennis and golf teams are also consistently among the top teams in the Moore League and in CIF titles.
[edit] Famous alumni
- Bruce Brown Documentary Filmmaker. Wrote, directed, and narrated Documentary films The Endless Summer and On Any Sunday.
- Aaron Hicks– drafted 14th overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Minnesota Twins
- Camryn Manheim is a television and film actress, best known as co-star of The Practice" and, "Ghost Whisperer".
- Donald Coscarelli is a successful motion picture director, best known for the "Phantasm" series of horror films.
- Bad Azz, is a west coast rapper, most notably known for collaborating with Snoop Dogg and other DPGC members.
- Tony Azevedo, driver for the Men's US Olympic Water Polo team and Stanford University.
- Rich D'Sa, Sweeper, 1st mens soccer coach at LB Wilson - LA Aztecs-jr, CA Surfs, LB Tornado's NASL.
- Sean Burroughs, third baseman for the Seattle Mariners 12/06 in Major League Baseball.
- Maureen O’Toole, American water polo player and coach, won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
- Jeremy Strohmeyer, is the Long Beach, California, teenager who molested and murdered 7-year-old African-American girl Sherrice Iverson in a casino in Primm, Nevada, on May 25, 1997.
- Lauren Wenger, defender for USC women's water polo team, and 2006 winner of the top individual honor in collegiate water polo, the Peter J. Cutino Award.
- Pat McCormick, a two-time Olympic platform and springboard gold medal diver (1952& 1956).
- Jeff Burroughs, Former MLB player
- Bruce McCandless II, Former NASA Astronaut
- Brad Nowell, Lead singer and guitarist of Sublime
- The "Freedom Writers", a group of students who compiled a collection of diaries in the mid 1990s, during an outbreak in interracial gang warfare in Long Beach, led by teacher Erin Gruwell. They were the subject of the 2007 film Freedom Writers, starring Hilary Swank.
- Ryan Dent*, 2007 1st Round Draft pick of the Boston Red Sox[2]
- Lashinda Demus one of the top American hurdlers, ran a 53.02 in 400m hurdles, National Junior Championships: 2002 (1st, 400m H) NCAA Indoor Championships: 2003 (1st, 400m) National Championships: 2005-2006 (1st, 400m H)
- Bobby Grich*, multiple selectee to Major League Baseball all star teams
- Cynthia Barboza*, Stanford University Women's Volleyball Team, USA National Women's Volleyball Team, Two time winner National Gatorade Volleyball Award,Currently training with 2008 USA National Women's Volleyball Team. Started for the US National Team at the 2007 Pan Am Games, leading the team to a bronze medal ... Also started for the US at the 2007 Pan Am Cup ... Played on the USA Senior team at the 2005 Pan Am Cup ... Earned a bronze medal as the youngest member of the USA Women's National Training Team at the 2003 Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic ... Placed fifth at the 2004 Under-18 World Beach Championship in Termoli, Italy ... Was the only high school player to be invited to train with the U.S. National Team in preparation for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, and was the first alternate ... Played for Club Long Beach ... Named to the U.S. National Team Training Roster for spring 2008.
[edit] Notable staff
- Klaus Barth, former Olympic medalist and Ironman competitor. He coached the boys' Soccer, Swimming and Waterpolo teams and taught Physical Education. He was still coaching at school until his death on October 2006 after six years of battling a brain tumor.
- Erin Gruwell, former English teacher who inspired a group of students who would later be called the "Freedom Writers", in reference to the civil movement of the Freedom Riders.
