South Pasadena High School
| South Pasadena High School | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Fair play, Strength, Scholarship, Leadership |
| Established | 1906 |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Principal | Janet Anderson |
| Students | 1,600 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Location |
1401 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena, California, USA |
| Mascot | Tigers |
| Newspaper | 'Tiger' |
| Website | sphstigers.org |
South Pasadena High School (SPHS or "South Pas") is the one public high school serving grades 9-12 in the city of South Pasadena, California. With the South Pasadena Middle School and three elementary schools (Arroyo Vista, Marengo, and Monterey Hills) it makes up the South Pasadena Unified School District.
Established in 1906, it is the first and only public high school in South Pasadena. The campus is situated on the west side of the city on Fremont Avenue. The school is composed of several main academic buildings, a performing arts auditorium, a swimming pool, three sets of tennis courts, two indoor gymnasiums, a 400-m outdoor track, and three athletic fields. The school's motto is "Scholarship, Leadership, Strength, and Fair Play." The school colors are orange and black, and the mascot is a tiger.
History
SPHS opened in 1906 after South Pasadena residents approved a measure to construct a public high school. Until 1955, South Pasadena High School was known as South Pasadena-San Marino High School and served both cities. San Marino opened their own high school in 1955.
In 2003, SPHS dedicated a concrete wall honoring former superintendent George C. Bush, who was murdered in 1940 by administrator Verlin Spencer. It was later determined that Verlin Spencer was high on prescription pain killers.[1] A patio dedicated to Bush stood on the campus until the school was rebuilt in 2000.
In 2005, SPHS students and faculty successfully saved principal Janet Anderson from reassignment, proposed by then-superintendent Rob Arias. Anderson had been principal of SPHS since 2001. Arias originally reassigned Anderson to a nearby elementary school. On March 18, 2005, faculty picketed outside of school, protesting the reassignments before school and students walked out of class to protest the reassignments as well. The Board of Education repealed the reassignments, leading to the resignation of Arias. Two school board members, both of whom favored the reassignments, were voted out months later in an election.
SPHS is an active member of the CIF Southern Section and competes in the Rio Hondo League
Achievements
SPHS's API score in the 800s place it high in California achievement lists.
The school's publications, The Tiger (newspaper) and Copa de Oro (yearbook), have been honored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Tiger was named the best high school newspaper by CSPA once, and the Copa de Oro, the best yearbook twice.
Notable alumni
- Steven Alvarez – actor/business entrepreneur
- Alison Brie – actress
- Wesley Chesbro - California Assemblyman and Senator[2]
- Edward Furlong – actor
- John Gabbert – Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeals
- William Holden - (William Beedle) – actor
- Porochista Khakpour - novelist, writer and reviewer for national and international publications
- Mary Bono Mack – politician
- Adrian Picardi – director
- Bronson Pinchot – actor
- Noelle Scaggs – singer (Fitz and the Tantrums)
- Shanice – singer
- Hilary Swank – actress
- Jaleel White – actor
References
- ↑ "A Principal's Bloody Rampage". LA Times. 20 July 1997.
- ↑ Wesley Chesbro
External links
Coordinates: 34°06′34″N 118°09′13″W / 34.10938°N 118.15373°W