Gunn High School

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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008)
Gunn High School
Address
780 Arastradero Road
Palo Alto, California, 94306
United States
Information
Type Public
Established 1964
School district Palo Alto Unified School District
Oversight Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Schools
Superintendent Kevin Skelly
Assistant principals Kimberley Cowell, Tom Jacoubowsky, Wesley Cedros
Principal Katya Villalobos
Grades 9–12
Area Northern Santa Clara County
Color(s)           Red and Black
Mascot Timmy the Titan
Team name Titans
Newspaper The Oracle
Feeder schools Jordan Middle School
JLS Middle School
Terman Middle School
Website gunn.pausd.org

Henry M. Gunn High School is one of two public high schools in Palo Alto, California. Gunn High School is a four-year high school with a current enrollment of just over 1,900 students.[1]

The academic year has two semesters with 240 minutes of weekly instruction for every class. The school's schedule operates on a rotating bell schedule with classes assigned to lettered "periods" from A through G.

In the spring of 2010, Gunn High School was picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church. Rather than responding with violence, students and staff staged a successful counter-demonstration in the form of a Phelps-A-Thon. As a result, the school received favorable press and publicity and raised more than $1,100.00 for its gay-straight alliance.[2][3]

Gunn is well-known for its academically rigorous environment and enjoys a spirited academic and athletic rivalry with nearby Palo Alto High School.

Contents

[edit] History

Established in 1964, Gunn High School was named after the late Henry M. Gunn (1898–1988), who served as the Palo Alto superintendent from 1950 to 1961. In 1964, the Palo Alto Unified School District announced it would name the district's third high school after him. The Class of 1966 was the first class to graduate from Gunn High School.[4]

[edit] Academic reputation

 This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2009)

U.S. News & World Report rated Gunn High School 66th in 2007, 74th in 2008, and 64th in 2010.[5] Newsweek rated Gunn High School the 81st best high school in America in 2008 and 42nd in 2011.[6]

95.9% of the graduating class go on to attend college, with 80.2% going to four-year colleges. The average SAT score for Gunn seniors is 1942 for the Class of 2010 (633 CR, 673 M, 636 W).[7] Gunn has one of the highest average SAT scores for public high schools in the United States. Gunn also has many students who are selected as National Merit Semifinalists – 43 in 2007, 44 in 2008, 31 in 2009, 42 in 2010, 30 in 2011, and 36 in 2012.[8] In addition, 50 students received a National Merit letter of commendation in 2007, 50 in 2008, 60 in 2009, 68 in 2010 and 74 in 2011. Usually 25% of the Gunn senior class receives one of these two National Merit honors.

Gunn offers 22 AP classes and 8 Honors classes that count for the weighted GPA.[9] In May 2010, 657 students took 1820 AP tests. 93% scored 3 or higher and 54% scored a grade of 5. Gunn does not rank students individually – ranking is reported by decile.[10]

Education in mathematics and sciences is particularly strong. In 2004, 5 students qualified for the USAMO out of around 250 nationally, and during the 2004–2005 school year 5 out of the approximately 35 American students in the Gold Division of the USACO were from Gunn. In 2009, nine students qualified for the USAMO. Gunn also consistently places in the Top 3 at the Bay Area Mathematics Olympiad (BAMO). In 2011, the Gunn team placed 9th at the Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament.

In 2011, Gunn had four national semifinalists in the Siemens Competition and the Intel Science Talent Search, two of the most prestigious science competitions in America. In each competition, one individual went on to compete at the finalist stage.[11][12]

[edit] PLTW

Gunn is also host to PLTW, an organization that promotes science, technology, engineering, and math. Courses from this program include Digital Electronics and Intro to Engineering Design, as well as Principles of Engineering.[13]

[edit] Student body

The ethnic and racial makeup of the 2010–2011 student population is: Caucasian – 49.5%, Asian – 34.9%, Hispanic – 7.4%, Asian Indian – 5.5%, African American – 2.1%, Multiple or no response – 20.2%. Males make up 51.0% and females make up 49.0%.[14] Approximately 6% of the student body is economically disadvantaged and 4% are English Learners.

[edit] Student groups

Gunn offers over 80 student clubs, teams, and organizations that focus on art, community action, culture, environment, politics, music, dance, journalism, and more.

[edit] Newspaper

The Oracle is Gunn's official student newspaper publication. The organization was established in 1964. The newspaper publishes nine issues of approx. 28 pages every school year and concludes the year with the publication of a Senior Issue.[15]

[edit] Student government

The Gunn Associated Student Body Student Executive Council (SEC) is in charge of maintaining student funds and planning and executing activities that foster school spirit and make high school memorable.[16] SEC handles Homecoming Week, Spring Fling, school dances, special events, and rallies on campus. SEC is led by an elected President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Class Presidents and VP's, and various Commissioners.[17]

[edit] Theatre

Gunn students stage three major productions every year (Fall, Spring and One Acts) and occasional staged readings.[18] Current theatre director James Shelby has been with the program since 1983.

[edit] Music

The Gunn Music Program has a long and proud tradition of excellence, achieving outstanding group results while rewarding individual competence and dedication.[19] The program contains several music groups including a Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, and Concert Band.

[edit] Robotics Team

The acclaimed[20][21] Gunn Robotics Team (GRT), established in 1997 and advised by teacher and former NASA and Lockheed Martin employee Bill Dunbar, has consistently placed in the top 25 at the FIRST Robotics Competition. It is also the only FIRST Robotics team to have won the national animation award twice, in 1997 and 2006. They also won best models worldwide in their 2010 animation.[22]

[edit] Notable alumni

Matt Flynn, class of 1988 – drummer (The B-52's, Maroon 5)
Stephan Jenkins, class of 1983 – lead singer for Third Eye Blind

[edit] References

  1. ^ Palo Alto Unified School District September 23, 2008 Board Meeting Minutes (includes 2008–2009 11th day enrollment numbers). Retrieved September 25, 2008.
  2. ^ http://www.lahstalon.org/news/gunn-holds-phelps-a-thon-in-response-to-anti-gay-protester/
  3. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEiwBCpiA0E
  4. ^ "2007 School Profile" (PDF). http://gunn.pausd.org/home/web/files/profile07.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-22. [dead link]
  5. ^ "Henry M. Gunn High: Best High Schools". U.S. News & World Report. http://www.usnews.com/listings/high-schools/california/henry_m._gunn_high. Retrieved December 21, 2008. 
  6. ^ "The Top of the Class: The complete list of the 1,500 top U.S. high schools". Newsweek Magazine. http://www.newsweek.com/id/201160/?q=2009/rank/1. Retrieved June 8, 2009. [dead link]
  7. ^ "Gunn High School School Profile". http://gunn.pausd.org/PDFs/profile.pdf. 
  8. ^ http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=22734
  9. ^ "Gunn High School School Profile". http://gunn.pausd.org/PDFs/profile.pdf. 
  10. ^ "Gunn High School School Profile". http://gunn.pausd.org/PDFs/profile.pdf. 
  11. ^ http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=18970
  12. ^ http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=19843
  13. ^ www.gunnpltw.com.
  14. ^ "Henry M. Gunn Senior High School WASC Self-Study CHAPTER 1 – STUDENT / COMMUNITY PROFILE" (PDF). http://gunn.pausd.org/~info/wasc09/GunnWASC_Chapter1.pdf. Retrieved 2008-12-26. [dead link]
  15. ^ http://gunnoracle.com
  16. ^ https://sites.google.com/site/gunnstudentactivities/ASB-SEC/secstructure
  17. ^ https://sites.google.com/site/gunnstudentactivities/ASB-SEC/current-asb-officers
  18. ^ http://www.gunntheatre.org/about/program/program-overview
  19. ^ http://gunnmusic.org
  20. ^ "NASA Previews Robotics Engineers of the Future" (Press release). NASA Ames Research Center. March 10, 2006. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2006/06_14AR.html. Retrieved 2008-05-22. 
  21. ^ Malone, Michael S. (March 25, 2002). "The Fix-It Kids Take Over". Forbes Magazine (Forbes.com Inc.). http://www.forbes.com/asap/2002/0325/034.html. Retrieved 2008-05-22. 
  22. ^ Gunn Robotics Team Awards

[edit] External links


Coordinates: 37°23′56″N 122°07′59″W / 37.399°N 122.133°W / 37.399; -122.133

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