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Coordinates: 33°50′33″N 118°2′14″W / 33.84250°N 118.03722°W / 33.84250; -118.03722
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Revision as of 21:12, 22 July 2014

John F. Kennedy High School
Address
Map
8281 Walker Street

Southern California

La Palma
,
Orange County
,
California
90623

United States
Coordinates33°50′33″N 118°2′14″W / 33.84250°N 118.03722°W / 33.84250; -118.03722
Information
School typePublic, High School
Established1964 (1964)
StatusOperational[1]
School districtAnaheim Union HS District
NCES District ID0602630[2]
SuperintendentElizabeth I. Novack[3][4]
CEEB code050379
NCES School ID060263000177[1]
PrincipalRussell Earnest[5]
Teaching staff91 teachers[1][6]
Grades9th-12th[1][6]
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment2401[1][6] (2009-2010)
 • Grade 9656[6]
 • Grade 10641[6]
 • Grade 11557[6]
 • Grade 12547[6]
Student to teacher ratio26.38[1][6]
Campus typeLarge Suburb[1][6]
Color(s)Kelly Green & Gold
   
Athletics conferenceCIF Southern Section
SportsFootball
MascotFighting Irish
RivalCypress High School
AccreditationWestern Association of Schools and Colleges[7]
USNWR ranking
  1. 1112[6]
NewspaperThe Shamrock
Feeder schoolsWalker Junior High
Websitekennedy.auhsd.us

John F. Kennedy High School is a public, four-year high school and International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in the city of La Palma, California. Kennedy gets most of its students from the junior high school across the street, Walker Junior High School.

History

John F. Kennedy High School opened to 1,488 students in the 10th and 11th grades on September 14, 1964. For its first year of operation, there was no senior class. Kenneth MacPherson was Kennedy's first principal. Most buildings were ready except the dressing rooms, the gym, and playing fields. The school was to be named Centralia, in keeping with Board policy to name high schools after an elementary school district in the area; however, the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 prompted a group of patrons to have the school (then under construction) renamed in his honor.[8] It was one of the first schools in the country to have been named after the assassinated president.

In the fall of 2011, the administration of Kennedy High School was criticized for its "Gold Card Program," in which students who performed well on the California Standardized Tests the previous year were given special recognition through special planners and ID cards, along with perks and bonuses at local businesses and throughout the school. Nearby Cypress High School had also implemented a similar program, but it did not receive as much media attention. Both schools have since removed or altered the program.[9][10][11][12]

Currently, Kennedy serves around 2,400 students in the 9th through 12th grades. Recent construction has added a quad area, a second practice gym, renovated classrooms, a new library and counseling center, a modular "4th court," as well as an extensive music building which includes an auditorium, two band rooms, two choir rooms, practice rooms, and a new pool.

Traditions

Emerald Chain

Emerald Chain is a Kennedy High tradition consisting of the top 10 male and 10 female students in the junior class based on cumulative grade point average. These 20 juniors have the honor of preceding the graduating seniors into the graduation ceremony dressed in white robes and wearing gold medallions. They then line the path for the seniors (forming an "academic honor guard") through which the graduates pass. The following year, when these students graduate as seniors, they again wear their Emerald Chain medallions in honor of their achievement.

Sports

Kennedy's sports teams are known as the Fighting Irish (the senior circle looks like a three leaf clover from above). They are a member of the Empire League in CIF's Southern Section. The school's main rival is Cypress High School. The Fighting Irish football team won the CIF-SS Southern Division Championship in 2006, adding to the AAA championship they had won in 1971.[13]: 76, 82  This 2006 championship team was led by legendary coach, Mitch Olson.[13]: 82  In the 2007-08 year, after 21 years as the head coach of football, Olson left to coach in Georgia.[14][15] In 2007, the Irish softball team was a CIF-SS Southern Section semifinalist, losing to Empire League rival Pacifica High School.[16] Kennedy boy's soccer (introduced in 1972) won the CIF-SS championships in 1980,[13]: 112  co-championed in 2003 and 2004,[13]: 114  and won Empire League Champions in 2011, while the girls' team won league titles in 1984 and 1988.[citation needed]

Programs

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a prestigious and rigorous course of education that prepares students for study in the most elite colleges and universities world-wide. Kennedy High School has been authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme since July 1999 and the programme is taught in English. Upon successful completion of all IB requirements and exams, students are awarded a second diploma (separate from their Kennedy diploma) that will grant one to two years of college credits. The University of California accepts IB Diploma holders as incoming sophomores. [citation needed]

Band and Colorguard

John F. Kennedy High School's band and colorguard is called the Shamrock Regiment. The band was formerly known as "The Guards." The band is a division 6A and is part of the SCSBOA. Since 1974, the marching band has traveled every four years to perform in Dublin's St. Patrick's Day parade. They also took part in Sydney's 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

Choir

The choir is known as the Kennedy Singers. The different groups are as follows: Harmonic Fusion, Treble Effects, Lyrical Tones, Vocal Motion, and Concert Choir.

JROTC

Kennedy also has a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corp program. Teams such as Raiders, Exhibition, color guard, Drill Team, Academic Team, and PT Team are optional parts of the program.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Search for Public Schools - John F. Kennedy High (060263000177)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved Aug 5, 2012.
  2. ^ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Anaheim Union High". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved Aug 4, 2012.
  3. ^ "Anaheim Union High School District Organizational Chart" (PDF). Anaheim Union High School District. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Superintendents's Message". Anaheim Union High School District. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Administrative Team". Kennedy High School. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "John F. Kennedy High School Overview". Best High Schools. U.S.News & World Report. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Directory of Schools: 2011-2012" (PDF). WASC Accrediting Commission for Schools. July 2011. p. 65. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  8. ^ Walker, Theresa (November 18, 2013). "JFK High: 'Representing eternal flame'". The Orange County Register. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  9. ^ Martindale, Scott (5 October 2011). "Principal defends color-coded IDs; expert 'horrified'". Orange County Register. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  10. ^ Martindale, Scott (6 October 2011). "Student IDs that reveal test scores deemed illegal". Orange County Register. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  11. ^ Diepenbrock, William (6 October 2011). "Anaheim Union kills color-coded ID program". Orange County Register. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  12. ^ Hibbard, Laura (6 October 2011). "John F. Kennedy High School Issues Illegal IDs To Students Based On Standardized Test Scores". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  13. ^ a b c d Simmons, Thom (January 2012). "CIF-Southern Section All Sports Press Guide and Record Book". California Interscholastic Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Henderson, Martin (4 February 2008). "Football: Kennedy's Olson trades one OC for another -- in Georgia". Los Angelos Times. Retrieved 6 August 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  15. ^ Starrs, Chris (24 August 2008). "Oconee County: Olson feels right at home". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  16. ^ Fryer, Steve (1 December 2007). "Pacifica grinds way past Kennedy". Orange County Register. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  17. ^ Mazza, Sandy; Mendoza, Mariecar; Manzer, Tracy (February 6, 2013). "Christopher Dorner: A look at the man behind the mayhem". Daily Breeze.
  18. ^ "Casey Fien Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved November 22, 2013.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_F._Kennedy_High_School_(La_Palma,_California)&oldid=618035179"