University High School (Fresno)
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| University High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 2611 E. Matoian Way MS/UH134 Fresno, CA 93740 |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Charter High School |
| Motto | Ad Astra Per Aspera |
| Established | Fall 2000 |
| School district | Fresno Unified School District |
| Principal | Dr. James Bushman |
| Grades | 9 - 12 |
| Enrollment | appx 400 (as of 2007-08) |
| Color(s) | Red, Gold, Black |
| Mascot | Phoenix |
| Information | 559-278-8263 |
| Website | University High School Official Website |
University High School (colloquially, UHS) is a charter high school on the campus of California State University, Fresno, in Fresno, California. The school emphasizes academics and music. UHS opened in 2000 with Dr. Brad Hufft as the founding Head of School, and its first seniors graduated in 2004. At the end of the 2004-2005 school year, approximately 370 students were enrolled. James Bushman, Ed.D., has been Head of School since 2006.
Prospective students must apply to UHS and need to have completed basic Algebra. They must have at least intermediate-level proficiency in instrumental or vocal music. The school accepts approximately 125 new freshmen per year. It is possible to transfer to the school as a sophomore or junior, but this requires taking the first-year Latin and musicianship courses in summer school or acquiring some exemptions from the administration. Although the school prides itself on its music-oriented curriculum, anecdotal reports from students indicate that the majority attend for the academic rigor.
UHS students study, in addition to normal high school courses, two years of Latin and four years of musicianship, entailing musicology, music theory, audiation, and musical analysis. Because of its location on the CSUF campus, students also have the opportunity to take a limited amount of classes through the university for college credit, some of which UHS itself requires. After protracted use of University Buildings and portables, the new building was completed in time for the 2011-2012 school year.
University High School is ranked as a Gold Medal School and the 36th best school in the nation by US World and News Report. The school is also the five time reigning champions in the Small School Academic Decathlon Online National Competition University High School also won the Fresno County Academic Decathlon in 2010.
Recently, construction of a new building has been completed near the Smittcamp Alumni House on the CSUF campus, and students and faculty moved into the new facility on November 16, 2010.
[edit] New Building
In October 2009, construction began on a brand new state-of-the-art facility for University high school, designed to replace the complex of portables that had held students for the previous nine years. The new building contains 10 new classrooms, four science labs, and three music rooms. The building is split into three wings: the leftmost administration wing, the center classroom wing, and the rightmost music wing. Every classroom is fitted with brand new technology such as interactive whiteboards and document cameras. All of the music rooms are acoustically engineered for the types of ensembles performing in them. The building also contains a fitness center, which the school won as a result of their achievement in the Governor's fitness challenge. On November 16, classes were cancelled at the school, and students and faculty all helped to move from the old portables, to the new facility. The building is dedicated to Dean Louis Costa, who played a major role in starting the school in 2000, and President John Welty, the current president of the university.
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