Van Nuys High School
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| Van Nuys High School | |
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| Location | |
|---|---|
| Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California |
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| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1914 |
| Principal | Dr. Judith Vanderbok |
| Enrollment | 3,064 |
| Campus | Country |
| Color(s) | Crimson, Grey |
| Website | Official website |
Van Nuys High School (VNHS) established in 1914, is a high school in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles, California, belonging to the Los Angeles Unified School District: District 2. The school is home to a Residential Program and three Magnet Programs: Math/Science, Performing Arts, and Medical.
Several neighborhoods, including much of Van Nuys, portions of Sherman Oaks, Magnolia Woods [1], and Victory Park [2], are zoned to this school.
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[edit] History
The Los Angeles Unified School District ordered Van Nuys High School, which was opened in 1895[1], to convert to year-round scheduling in 2001 due to reasons such as overcrowding. Even though it relieved the overcrowding of Van Nuys High School, the Magnet Programs separated tracks, along with the residential students. The Performing Arts Magnet and the Medical Magnet were only available on the A-Track Schedule, while the Math and Science Magnet was only available on the C-Track Schedule. B-Trackers could not take the same classes as C-Trackers, while C-Trackers could only take certain A-Track classes. Teachers that had both A-Track and C-Track students were frustrated because the curriculum had to be synchronized with both tracks.
Van Nuys High School returned to the Traditional School Calendar in 2005. The switch was caused by a decline in the school population and by a new district policy to eliminate year-round schools whenever possible.
The opening of Panorama High School in October 2006 [3] relieved overcrowding at Van Nuys High School[4].
Also very notable is the Van Nuys High School Marching Band and Drill Team. Some of their many awards include LAUSD 2A Champions, and sweepstakes winners at numerous SCSBOA competitions making it to SCSBOA finals during their 2005 season. Led by director Robert Eisenhart and assistant director Brian McGaffey, they continue to make great music and march challenging drill year in and year out.
[edit] Filming on the Van Nuys High School campus
The campus was used as a location for the 1982 movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Ridgemont High's mascot in the movie was the same as Van Nuys High School—a wolf, which remains VNHS' mascot today.
The horror films Christine and Sleepwalkers, both written by Stephen King, were filmed at Van Nuys High School.
Other movies filmed at Van Nuys High include Kid 'n Play's Class Act and My Stepmother is an Alien (featuring Kim Basinger.) Parts of Grease were also filmed at VNHS.
The Pilot episode of The Wonder Years, and several episodes of Highway to Heaven, as was The Ramones' punk rock movie classic Rock 'n' Roll High School.
The music video of Vitamin C's Graduation song was filmed at Van Nuys High School. An episode of Apple's Way 1974-1975 Vince Van Patten was filmed on the football field. An episode of Scrubs was filmed in the track field. An episode of 7th Heaven was filmed at Van Nuys High School, as was an episode of Twin Peaks.
In 2007 an episode of Miss Guided, ("High School Musical)," was filmed in the auditorium.
The 2008 music video for "About a Girl" by The Academy Is... was filmed at Van Nuys.[2]
[edit] Van Nuys Community Adult School
The Adult School is on the same campus as Van Nuys High School. It allows adults as well as high school students to take classes. Most Van Nuys High School students take courses in the Adult School for academic remediation. However, some take classes for Counselor-Identified High School Credit Deficiencies, while others take classes for personal necessities of flexible scheduling.
The Adult School is considered a work-at-your-own-pace program. A student can finish an entire course in just 2–3 weeks, but can take longer depending on the work effort of the student.
[edit] Notable Alumni
Van Nuys High School claims hundreds of notable alumni, including:[citation needed]
- Paula Abdul, Singer, Dancer, Choreographer
- Diane Baker, actress
- Ed Begley Jr., actor/environmental activist
- Julie Brown, actress, comedienne
- Tommy Bond, actor
- Russell Carpenter, cinematographer
- Vint Cerf, one of the "fathers" of the Internet
- Kim Darby, actress
- Tony Dow, actor
- Don Drysdale, baseball player
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt, actor/founder of www.hitRECord.org
- Steve Kanaly, actor
- Stacy Keach, actor
- David Klein, creator, Jelly Belly gourmet jelly beans
- Marilyn Monroe, actress/model
- Christian I. Nyby II, television director
- Robert Redford, actor/director
- Jane Russell, actress
- David J. Skorton, President of Cornell University
- Bob Walk, baseball player, broadcaster
- Bob Waterfield, football player/coach
- Alice Waters, revolutionized American cuisine
- Cindy Williams, actress
- Natalie Wood, actress
[edit] References
- ^ LAUSD School Profile
- ^ "Five things you didn't know about The Academy Is...'s new video, "About A Girl"". MTV.com. 2008-10-24. http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/292451/the-5-the-academy-iss-new-video-about-a-girl.jhtml. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
[edit] External links
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