Torrance High School

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Torrance High School
Location
2200 W. Carson Street Torrance, California, USA
Coordinates	33°49′45″N 118°19′16″W / 33.82925°N 118.3211661°W / 33.82925; -118.3211661Coordinates: 33°49′45″N 118°19′16″W / 33.82925°N 118.3211661°W / 33.82925; -118.3211661
Information
Type	Public
Established	September 11, 1917
Principal	John O'Brien
Faculty	91
Enrollment	2,257 (as of 2007[update])[1]
Color(s)	Maroon and gray
Mascot	Tartar
Information	+1 310 533-4396
Website	torrancehigh.com
Statistics for 9–12 only, not 8th grade advanced course students.

Torrance High School, the oldest of four high schools in the Torrance Unified School District in Torrance, California, is one of the oldest high schools in continuous use in California and a popular location for television and motion picture production. It was founded in 1917, sharing its campus with an elementary school. It is most widely known for its appearance in high-profile television shows, including Beverly Hills 90210 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It is the alma mater of broadcaster Paul Moyer, Medal of Honor recipient Ted Tanouye, prisoner of war in World War II Louis Zamperini, and professional golfer Angela Park.

[edit] School history

The school first opened as a school under the control of the Los Angeles Unified School District on September 11, 1917 as a combination high school and elementary school to accommodate the area's rapid post-war growth brought on by its petroleum industry and iron works as well as the Pacific Electric Railway. Its first commencement ceremony took place June 18, 1918, during which three female students received their diplomas. In 1947 Torrance Unified School District was formed but was not certified for a high school. During the school year of fall 1946 to summer 1947, Torrance High School became part of the Redondo Union High School District. The very first graduating high school class from TUSD was the Class of 1948. In 2009, 97% of Torrance High's student passed the CAHSEE exam.

[edit] Demographics

In 2008-2009 School Year, Torrance High had an enrollment of 2,251.^[2]

• Caucasian - 35%
• Asian - 32.4%
• Hispanic - 25.2%
• Black - 4.4%
• Other - 3.0%

Nine percent of Torrance High students are English learners,^{[clarification needed]} and only 15% of the students have free or reduced price lunch due to the wealthy economy in the city of Torrance.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Campus

The distinctive façade of the front building serves as the primary filming location for many shows.

Torrance High has over 100 classrooms; a library; access to site, district, and county media resources; five computer labs; at least one computer per classroom; two gyms; and local athletic fields.

The Main Building with the 1921 L additions, the Senior Patio, original Science Building/current Home Economics Building (1921), the WPA Auditorium (1937) and the first Torrance Elementary School (1923 now referred to as the Annex) are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1983) and was Torrance's first such listing. It received a major facelift and indoor modernization in the late 1970s and is the building most often seen on film. A scenic Spanish Revival Mexican tile fountain and patio, was added along with a L shaped wing attached to the main building in 1921 and frequently seen in Beverly Hills 90210, has been known for decades as the "Senior Patio." The patio is traditionally off-limits to underclassmen.

The so-called Long Beach Earthquake on March 10, 1933 left its mark on the campus. The quake destroyed the upper part of the original auditorium and caused the ground near it to sink several feet. The replacement auditorium was built (1937) as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project while the elevated administrative offices were added in 1962.The area was nicknamed the "Sunken Garden" before the current building was built.^[3]

A memorial honoring Ted T. Tanouye, THS Class of 1938 and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, is directly across from THS. Tech Sgt Tanouye was part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, better known as the "Go For Broke" team. This memorial was dedicated in 2004 on the 60th Anniversary of the heroic acts of Ted Tanouye during World War II.

[edit] Filming history

The senior patio behind the main building

Torrance High's unique architecture and relative proximity to Hollywood make it an ideal location for major television programs and motion pictures. Among its credits:

• In TV, Torrance High served as the facade of fictitious West Beverly High School in the Fox Network series Beverly Hills 90210 and in the the CW's current spinoff, 90210; as Sunnydale High School, the alma mater of Buffy Summers in the WB Network series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and as a location for the short-lived Fox Network series Skin, and currently is the filming location of the hit NBC drama Medium.
• The movies saw Torrance High used as the high school setting for the Freddie Prinze, Jr. movie She's All That. Torrance High also played a prominent role in The Wild Life, Not Another Teen Movie, Whatever It Takes, Cursed, Wild Things 3 and Less Than Zero. In 1984, a documentary entitled All American High was filmed over a period of a several months by Keva Rosenfeld.

[edit] Activities

Marching Band in the Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade

Torrance High has had a long successful athletic history winning many league titles in the current Pioneer League and also in the past Bay League.

Historic records

• The Baseball team won over 30 league titles including over 15 CIF titles.
• The Football team has won more than 20 league titles including over 10 CIF titles with one state title.
• The Girl's Golf team has won many league titles including 5 consecutive CIF titles and 3 state titles.
• The Track & Field team won over 5 league titles including 1 CIF title and 1 state title.
• The Cross Country team won over 15 league titles including 3 CIF titles and 1 state title.
• The Wrestling team won more than 20 league titles including over 7 CIF titles.
• The Boy's Soccer team won over 10 league titles.
• The Boy's Basketball team won over 10 league titles.
• The Girl's Baseball team won many league titles including many CIF titles.
• The Torrance High Marching Alliance was considered one of the top marching bands in the state.
• The NJROTC has won many titles until the program was disbanded in 2008 due the infamous 2008 budget cut.

Latest achievements

• The Football team was the Pioneer League Champions in 2007-2008 being undefeated in the League.
• The Baseball team was the Pioneer League Champions in 2007-2008 being undefeated in the League.
• The Boys Volleyball team was the Pioneer League Champions in 2007-2008.
• The Softball team was the Pioneer League Champions in 2007-2008 being undefeated in the whole season.
• The Boys Baseball tea was the Pioneer League Champions (undefeated) and CIF Champions in 2007-2008.
• The Marching Alliance won the 2008 SCJA State Band Championships.
• The Girl's Golf team has won their 5th consecutive CIF Championship in 2008-2009.
• The Girl's Golf team has won their 3rd consecutive CIF State Championship in 2008-2009.
• The Boys Baseball team was the Pioneer League Champions(undefeated)and CIF Runner-Up Champions in 2008-2009.

As an unofficial tradition, Torrance High has been known for many of its graduates enlisting with the U.S. military, particularly the Marine Corps.^{[citation needed]} Many alumni have gone on to become professional players, some before they even graduated. Deon Thompson graduated in 2006, and went on to play Basketball for UNC as a Forward.^[4] Angela Park became a professional golfer in April before her graduation in 2006,^[5] and went on to tie for second place in the LPGA US Women's Open of 2007.^[6]

Student groups are a significant^{[citation needed]} part of student life, with service clubs like UNICEF and KIWIN'S, and academic groups such as Model United Nations and United States Academic Decathlon serving many interests. Cultural clubs are also available for students interested in another nationality's culture, the Korean Culture Club being the biggest with an attendance rate of around 200.

[edit] Academics

View of the main campus, the science building with two refurbished greenhouses on the right, band room and auditorium on the left

The school's alma mater is set to the ballad "Annie Lisle."

The school library is on the first floor, and multimedia classrooms are housed upstairs.

Torrance High offers^{[clarification needed]} 65,700 instructional minutes on a yearly basis and has nine minimum days for testing and/or staff development.^{[citation needed]}

In 2004, Torrance High instated its Schoolwide Academic Goals in an effort to raise its education standards. Comprising an acronym of the mascot's name, they outline goals of technical competency and other standards.^[7]

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Military

• Louis Zamperini (1936) – Track star and World War II hero^[8]
• Ted T. Tanouye (1938) – Medal of Honor Recipient in the Asian-American segregated unit during the Second World War, The 442nd Regimental Combat Team. A memorial is dedicated to him in front of the school. ^[9]

[edit] Entertainment

• Bobby Blotzer – drummer for Ratt^{[citation needed]}
• Juan Croucier – bass player for Ratt and Dokken.^{[citation needed]}
• Danny Gans – comedian^{[citation needed]}
• Gregory Hatanaka – film director^{[citation needed]}
• Lucy Lee – pornstar and model^{[citation needed]}
• Paul Moyer – television newscaster^{[citation needed]}
• David Pack – leader of the band Ambrosia^{[citation needed]}
• Julie Ronnie – actress^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Sports

• Fred Kendall – Major League Baseball player^{[citation needed]}
• Jason Kendall – Major League Baseball player^{[citation needed]}
• Justin Miller – Major League Baseball player^{[citation needed]}
• Lisa Moretti – professional wrestler: World Wrestling Entertainment champion under the name "Ivory"^{[citation needed]}
• Angela Park – professional golfer.^{[citation needed]}
• Chase Gormley – UFC fighter, wrestling alumni.
• Deon Thompson (2006) – basketball player, North Carolina Tar Heels.^[10]

[edit] Electronics

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Torrance High School

• Torrance High School official website

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