Santa Barbara Senior High School, "Home of the Dons," is situated on a 40-acre (160,000Â m2) campus in Santa Barbara, California and is part of the Santa Barbara Unified School District. One of the oldest high schools in California, it was established in 1875, and moved to its current site in 1924. Until the creation of two rival high schools in 1959 and 1966, it was the sole public high school serving the city of Santa Barbara. In November 2005, its 18th-century Spanish influenced design was named an official California and City historic landmark. Today, Santa Barbara High School has an enrollment of roughly 2,200 pupils and certified staff numbering 108.
The school's newspaper, The Forge, has been in continuous publication since 1914, making it the second oldest high school newspaper in California.
From 2006-2008 SBHS has advanced in Newsweek's national survey of the top 1,300 public high schools. In 2008, it ranked 800, putting it in the top 5% of schools in the United States. In 2008 SBHS ranked high above the state average in SAT scores. On a scale out of 2400, over 75 percent of SBHS students tested ≥ 1500, compared to the state average of less than 50 percent. The class of 2011 displayed their knowledge in 2009, when more the 85% of them passed the California High School Exit exam (CAHSEE).
Santa Barbara High School is widely known nationally for its achievements in athletics. While many schools celebrate league championships, Santa Barbara High School only recognizes CIF and California State Championships. The Dons went to five CIF finals in the 2007â€"2008 year alone. Santa Barbara has a rich history of CIF championships as well. The school has 51 titles to their name as well as many runners-up. In 2014 the girls' basketball team, coached by Andrew Butcher, won the CIF 3A Southern Section and was the state champion runner up.
SBHS embraces and is known for its diversity, where Latino students consist of approximately 55 percent of the student population. Students looking for a creative outlet can choose from three academiesâ€"Visual Arts and Design (known as VADA), Computer Science (CSA), and Multimedia Arts and Design, or MAD. SBHS also promotes student expression through its award winning Performing Arts department, consisting of theatre/musical theatre under the direction of Otto Layman; vocal music under the direction of Mary La Face; and the award winning marching band, the Marching Dons, and other instrumental musical groups under the direction of Kearney Vandersal. The theatre at Santa Barbara has a long and storied history, having been performed continuously for over 100 years. Its current venue, in the heart of the campus, is an 800-seat state of the art complex first built in 1924 and restored in 1970 and again beginning in 1996 to the present (new seating, sound and lighting was installed beginning in 2007). Two major shows are produced each year, with professional designers, musical director and choreographer on staff. Former student participants in the performing arts program include Dana Costello (JEKYLL AND HYDE on Broadway) and Jessica Adcock Love (GRACE on Broadway). SBHS has had two finalists in the Youth Spotlight Awards (Geoffrey Hahn, runner-up, 2012 and Grant Bower, 2014). The students at SBHS also produce, direct, and act in their own musical revue, MUSIC OF THE NIGHT, early each February.
Notable alumni
- Cindy Lea Arbelbide, first USA T&F race walking team, International Cup bronze medalist (1973), pioneer victim's right advocate, presidential historian (1967)
- Tanya Atwater, geophysicist (1960)
- Dylan Axelrod, professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball
- Stephen Benton, pioneer in holographic imaging, and inventor of the rainbow hologram (1959)
- Timothy Bottoms, actor, producer (1970)
- Josh Brolin, Academy award nominee actor
- Booker Brown, USC consensus All-American, and offensive tackle with the NFL San Diego Chargers (1970)
- Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com's daily editorial cartoonist (1974)
- Pearl Chase, pioneer in the fields of conservation, preservation, social services, and civic planning (1903)
- Kami Craig, Olympic silver medalist (2008), and gold medalist (2012, 2016); water polo (2005)
- Randall Cunningham, former NFL Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and All-Pro player (1981)
- Sam Cunningham, USC All-American and Player of the Game (1973 Rose Bowl), College Football Hall of Fame 2011; former NFL New England Patriots running back (1969)
- Tom Curren, professional surfer (three-time world champion), and musician (1982)
- Robert Denno, professor, entomology (1945â€"2008)
- Thomas Dibblee, figure in geological and topographical work in mapping the state of California (1931)
- Macduff Everton, American photographer
- Don Ford, former NBA Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers player (1971)
- Al Geiberger, professional golfer, record score (59) in a PGA Tour event (1955)
- Martha Graham, pioneer of modern dance (1913)
- Taylor Hackford, Academy award-winning filmmaker (1963)
- Brad Hall, Saturday Night Live news anchor (early years), creator of TV's The Single Guy, environmental activist (1972)
- Gary K. Hart, former California Secretary of Education and state legislator (1961)
- Percy Heckendorff, District Attorney of Santa Barbara 1939-1942 (1915)
- Kristian Hoffman, singer/songwriter, keyboardist and DJ
- Vernon O. Johnson, world traveler/advocate for peace (1937)
- Vaune Marie Ann Kadlubek, pioneer US women's water polo player, 1979 FINA World Cup gold medalist (1976)
- Karen Kane, fashion designer (1974)
- Ward Kimball, Disney animator, Academy award winner for the cartoon It's Tough to be a Bird; creations include Jiminy Cricket, the Mad Hatter, and Pecos Bill (1932)
- Karch Kiraly, three-time Olympic gold medalist (indoor 1984, 1988; beach, 1996) and professional volleyball great (1978)
- Bill Leavy, NFL referee Super Bowl XL (1965)
- Leon Litwack, Pulitizer Prize winner for History for his book Been in the Storm So Long (1947)
- Lance Loud, part of the first reality TV show "An American Family" (1970)
- Jordan Maron, YouTube gaming personality
- Alma Martinez, Olympian for Mexico (2004), women's football (1999)
- Eddie Mathews, Baseball Hall of Famer (1949)
- Amoretta Matthews, former Undersecretary of the U. S. Army (1959)
- Kim Mearig, 1981 U. S. Women's Surfing Champion, 1983 World Champion (1982)
- Thalia Munro, U.S. Senior National Water Polo Teams, 2002-04, Pan American Games and FINA World Championships gold medalist (2003); Olympic bronze medalist (2004). (2000)
- John Northrop, aviation (1913)
- Jesse Orosco, Major League Baseball pitcher, record holder (with 1,252) for pitching appearances (1976)
- Charles A. Ott, Jr., United States Army Major General and Director of the Army National Guard (1937)
- Charles Schwab, founder of the discount brokerage firm and innovative philanthropist (1955)
- Ron Shelton, writer/director of film including Bull Durham and White Men Can't Jump (1963)
- Ryan Spilborghs, Major League Baseball outfielder (1998)
- Peter Vogt, marine geologist and geophysicist, explorer Norwegian-Greenland Sea (1957)
- John Whittemore, world's oldest athlete (1917)
- Jamaal Wilkes, former NBA Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors player with four NBA Championships (1970)
Alma mater
"Santa Barbara, Hail to Thee!"
Written by Doris Holt, Class of 1944
Santa Barbara Hail to Thee,
Strong Thy ties shall ever be.
Son and daughter praise Thy name,
Honor Thee and spread Thy fame.
Learning and fellowship always Thou art,
Deep graven these on every heart.
Strong Thy ties shall ever be,
Santa Barbara Hail to Thee!
References
External links
- Santa Barbara High School Wall of Fame
- Santa Barbara High School Theatre
