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Los Alamos High School

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Coordinates: 35°53′10″N 106°19′01″W / 35.886155°N 106.316893°W / 35.886155; -106.316893
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Los Alamos High School
File:Los Alamos High School logo.png
Location
Map
1300 Diamond Drive
Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544

United States
Information
TypePublic, Grades 9-12
Established1946
School districtLos Alamos Public Schools
PrincipalSandra Warnock
Faculty256[1]
Enrollment1200 (2008)
Color(s)    Forest Green & Gold[2]
YearbookLa Loma
InformationMain Office (505) 663-2510
Snow Line (505) 663-2226
Snow Line (505) 663-2512
Websitehttp://laschools.net/lahs

Los Alamos High School (or LAHS) is a nationally ranked[3] public high school in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The strength of LAHS's academic record is largely attributed to the academic nature of Los Alamos County, which has the highest concentration of PhDs per capita in the United States.[4] Additionally, 63% of LAHS faculty have earned an advanced degree.[5] The school is located across from the University of New Mexico's Los Alamos Branch Campus where some students occasionally take classes.

Los Alamos High School is a medium sized, suburban high-school serving the entire county of Los Alamos, including White Rock. On the whole, the student body is homogeneously middle class, although the attendance boundary does contain both upper middle class areas like Barranca Mesa and lower middle class areas like the Royal Crest Trailer Park. Elsewhere in New Mexico, LAHS is sometimes characterized as a school for the affluent, as Los Alamos has the highest average income in the country.[6]

LAHS is not a magnet school, but occasionally students from other school districts commute to attend there because the school is well known.

The mascot of Los Alamos High School is the Hilltopper, often depicted as a rugged Mountain Man with a walking stick atop the scenic Jemez Mountains that overlook LAHS.

History

During the Second World War Los Alamos was the site of the Manhattan Project. During wartime, structures in Los Alamos were temporary because people were expecting to leave after the wartime project was completed. In August 1945, following the Allied victory in Japan, it was decided the Los Alamos National Laboratory's nuclear research would continue in order to counter a rising Soviet threat. In 1946 Los Alamos begin erecting permanent structures, including Los Alamos High School.

Life during the war and post-war transition was difficult for the first students of LAHS. "'[We were] normal teenagers trying to have a normal life in very adverse conditions," said Dan Nelis, one of the school's original students.[7]

In 1946, much of the budget for construction and operation of the high school was provided directly by the Atomic Energy Commission instead of state or local taxes. This arrangement persisted under the Department of Energy and Washington has traditionally paid for a third of the school system's budget.[8]

During the 1960s, LAHS began to attract attention for its consistent academic performance, low drop-out rate, and innovative teaching methods. Students continue to excel because of a sense of hard work bred into the community.[9][10]

In October 1995, after the cold war had ended, a delegation of nuclear scientists from Sarov (Los Alamos's Russian sister city) visited Los Alamos to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Allied Victory in WWII. During their visit members of the delegation both attended and taught classes at Los Alamos High School and UNM-LA.[11]

The year 2000 was difficult for LAHS students. Two students, Ricky Martinez and Karen Castañon, were slain before daylight on Good Friday while making a traditional religious pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayó.[12] On May 10 many students lost their homes in the Cerro Grande Fire.

LAHS was the high school featured in the 2010 film Let Me In, the American remake of the Swedish cult-classic horror film Låt den rätte komma in.[13] Students from LAHS and the surrounding community participated as extras in the cast.

Two U.S. Presidents have visited Los Alamos High School: John F. Kennedy in 1962[14] and Bill Clinton in 1993[15][16] and 1998.[17]

In 2010, construction began on the high school to give it a complete makeover. A-D wings were torn down to make room for a new three-story building. The building is projected to be finished in the Winter of 2011.

Student body statistics


Typical Lunch Time at Los Alamos High School

Ethnic composition[18]

Gender composition[19]

  • Male: 51%
  • Female: 49%

Future Plans (2004 Graduating Class)[20]

  • 4 year college: 86.4 %
  • 2 year college: 3.7%
  • Technical / Vocational School: 3.2 %
  • Military: 4.3 %
  • Undecided: 2.3 %
  • Nothing: .2%

Clubs and organizations

Athletics

Griffith Gymnasium

Los Alamos High School competes in the NMAA District 2-AAAA, except in Swimming and Diving where it competes in District 1-(1A-5A).[2]

Since its transition from a AAA to a AAAA school in 2001, the students of LAHS have won over 30 state titles in competitive high school sports (see below). LAHS was honored with the AAAA Girls all-sports trophy in 2000-01, 2001–02, and 2003-04. In 2003-04 LAHS also received The "New Mexico Athletic Director of the Year" award.

In 2007, the LAHS boy's cross country team (competing as the Los Alamos XC team and led by coaches Rob and Kathy Hipwood) placed second at the 2007 Nike Team Nationals held in Portland, OR. Results: 1-Naperville XC Club (IL) 125 pts; 2-Los Alamos XC Club 127 pts; 3-Albuqerque XC Club (Academy HS, NM) 134 pts.[21] The LAHS Boys Cross Country team also participated in the Nike Team Nationals in the 2006 season.

In 2002 the LAHS Girls Cross Country, coached by Rob (LAHS '82) and Kathy Hipwood, won the AAAA State Championship with a perfect score of 15 (i.e. their runners finished in places 1-5).[22] The Girls Cross Country Team was ranked first nationally among high school teams in the pre-season ranking for the next year. The LAHS Girls Cross Country Team participated in the inaugural Nike Team Nationals championship in the 2004 season.

In 2000 the Hilltoppers won state in AAA boys' bastetball led by star player Chris Jackson.[23] Jackson went on to play in the 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship for Utah.

In 1995 Kevin Dotson set the national high school record for the high jump at 7'2".[24]

In the fall of 1977 the Hilltopper Soccer Team, coached by Luis Cernicek, outscored their opponents 66-19 on their way to winning the state championship.

In 1975 Lynn Bjorklund set the national high school record for the girl's outdoor 3000 meter at 9:08.6. This record still stands.[25]

See also: Notable alumni
LAHS Athletic Districts Year:
2-A 1954–1967
1-AA 1968–1969
1-AAAA 1970–1992
2-AAA 1993–2000
2-AAAA 2001–present

State championships

State Championships
Season Sport Number of Championships Year
Fall Football 1 1966
Boys' Cross Country 2 2003, 2007
Girls' Cross Country 13 1981, 1982, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009
Boys' Soccer 1 1986
Girls' Soccer 6 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1998, 2003
Volleyball 3 1987, 1995, 1996
Winter Boys' Basketball 1 2000
Girls' Basketball 0
Boys' Swimming 17 1971, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 2004, 2005
Girls' Swimming 13 1970, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 2004
Wrestling 0
Spring Baseball 2 1966, 1978
Cheerleading 0
Boys' Golf 4 1969, 2004, 2005, 2006
Girls' Golf 5 1984, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007
Softball 0
Boys' Track 3 1965, 1995, 2008
Girls' Track 5 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009
Boys' Tennis 3 2001, 2002, 2003
Girls' Tennis 7 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
Total 85
(Ranked 2nd in state)

Recent awards

Los Alamos High School sits below the scenic Jemez Mountains
  • LAHS was awarded Silver Medal in US News and World Report's Best High School Search 2008.[26]
  • In 2005 LAHS was named one of the "1,000 Best High Schools in America" (#649) by Newsweek Magazine.[3]
  • A recent LAHS history teacher, Nancy Schick, was named the 2005 New Mexico Teacher of the Year.[27]
  • LAHS graduating classes of 2004 and 2005 had 12 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists each. LAHS graduating class of 2011 had 13.
  • An LAHS student was one of six New Mexico semifinalists in the 2005 Presidential Scholars competition.
  • Five LAHS students were awarded Scholar designation in the National Hispanic Recognition Program, based on their performance on the 2004 PSAT and their five-semester transcripts.
  • The National Achievement Scholarship Program, established to recognized outstanding African-American students, has given a designation of commended student to an LAHS student.
  • In 2005 Los Alamos High School had 28 AP Scholar awards. 16 AP Scholar with Honor awards, 26 AP Scholar with Distinction awards, and 4 National AP Scholar awards.
  • LAHS literary magazine, Pegasus 2004, was "Recommended for Highest Award" in the 2004 NCTE Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines.
  • In 2010 LAHS's NJROTC Unit was designated a "Distinguished Unit With Honors" for the seventh year in a row. This designation included academic honors, which are reserved for only a handful of units.[28]
  • All four LAHS choirs received superior ratings at the District Large Group Festival. Two of these choirs also received "Best in Class" for Class AAAA schools.
  • LAHS Wind Ensemble Band nearly always receives a superior rating from the New Mexico Music Educators Association Large Group Festival, placing 1st in 2008 and 2009.
  • LAHS Topper Marching Band won first place in their category at the tournament of the bands in 2006 and 2008, swept Pageant of Bands in 2008, won first place in their category at Zia Marching Band Festival in 2009.
  • In 2010 the LAHS Science Bowl team wins first place in the Northern New Mexico Regional competition and advances to the national competition in Washington, DC.
  • In 2008-2010, Los Alamos had four students make the National level for National History Day. One placed 10th in her category.

No Child Left Behind Act

LAHS has a history of meeting the AYP requirements of No Child Left Behind, often achieving exemplary ratings from the New Mexico Public Education Department.[29][30] In 2004, LAHS failed to meet AYP. The 2004 AYP math and reading proficiency scores of 89% and 92% both exceeded the respective NCLB proficiency goals of 35% and 44%, but a participation rate of 95% of students is required to pass.[5]

Notable alumni

The Hilltopper, as once seen from Griffith Gymnasium

References

  1. ^ "Staff Directory". Los Alamos High School. 2007-09-01. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  2. ^ a b "NMAA Member Schools - Los Alamos High School". New Mexico Activities Association. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  3. ^ a b "1,000 Best High Schools in America". Newsweek. 2005. Retrieved 2006-01-01.
  4. ^ "Santa Fe's High-Tech Chaparral". Business Week. 2001-01-09. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  5. ^ a b "2004-2005 District Report Card" (PDF). New Mexico Public Education Department. 2005-02-07. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  6. ^ "In the "Hungriest" State, The USA's Richest County Is Fed by Nuclear Weapons Programs" (PDF). New Mexico Nuclear Watch. 2006-11-24. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  7. ^ Klein, Julia M. (2005-07-24). "The Manhattan Project's 'secret town'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
  8. ^ Brooke, James (1995-11-29). "City Seeks Renewal In Absence Of Bomb". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  9. ^ Huber, Robert E. (1967-12-30). "Los Alamos Schools Looked to As Guide". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
  10. ^ "Los Alamos Designs Schooling 'Adventure'". Los Angeles Times. 1968-05-09. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  11. ^ "Visitors from Russia Enjoy Visit to Los Alamos". Santa Fe New Mexican. 1995-11-13. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  12. ^ "Teens shot making Good Friday pilgrimage to northern New Mexico church". Associated Press. 2000-04-22. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  13. ^ "Hollywood comes to Los Alamos High School". Los Alamos Monitor News. 2009-12-20. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
  14. ^ "The President's Visit" (PDF). LASL News. 1962-12-13. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  15. ^ "President: Lab Can Affect The Future As It Has The Past" (PDF). LANL Newsbulletin. 1993-05-21. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  16. ^ Berke, Richard L. (1993-05-18). "Clinton Stumps For His Program In '92-Like Blitz". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  17. ^ "The Lab Forever Changed the 20th Century". LANL Newsbulletin. 1998-02-04. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  18. ^ "Los Alamos High School". GreatSchools.Net. 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  19. ^ "Los Alamos High School". PublicSchoolReview.com. 2002–2004. Retrieved 2007-12-20.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  20. ^ "Class of 2004 Statistical Overview" (PDF). Los Alamos High School. 2004. Retrieved 2006-01-01.
  21. ^ "Los Alamos Boys - Nike Team Nationals 2007". Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  22. ^ "State Cross Country Meet (Girls) 2002". Sports-Net.Org. 2002-11-11. Retrieved 2007-12-20. {{cite news}}: Text "58" ignored (help)
  23. ^ "Player Bio: Chris Jackson". Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  24. ^ "Dotson Does It: Four Years, Four State Titles for 'Topper". Santa Fe New Mexican. 1996-05-11. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  25. ^ "High School Records--Women". Track and Field News. 2003. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  26. ^ "Best High School Search". US News and World Report. 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  27. ^ "2005 New Mexico Teacher of the Year". Council of Chief State School Officers. 2005-04-20. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  28. ^ "NJROTC Designated Area 9 Distinguished Unit". Los Alamos Public Schools: Awards & Achievements. Los Alamos Public Schools. 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  29. ^ "2007-2008 AYP School Accountability Report" (PDF). New Mexico Public Education Department. 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  30. ^ "2003 Annual Report" (PDF). New Mexico Public Education Department. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  31. ^ Bloom, Marc (2005-05-23). "At 51, a Marathoner Has Shed the Weight of Disappointment". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  32. ^ "Carol Cady Biography & Statistics". Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  33. ^ "How to Throw the Discus featuring Carol Cady". Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  34. ^ "Nelson Martinez Farewelll". KOAT "Action 7" News. 2007-05-06. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  35. ^ "Nelson Martinez Mariachi Singer". Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  36. ^ Quintanilla, Ray (1996-05-21). "Gregson L. Barker, 78; Retired President Of Business Forms Firm". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-12-06.

Additional Images

  • Old Main Sign for LAHS
    Old Main Sign for LAHS
  • Science Wing
    Science Wing
  • ‎ Corridors
    ‎ Corridors
  • Duane W. Smith Auditorium
    Duane W. Smith Auditorium

35°53′10″N 106°19′01″W / 35.886155°N 106.316893°W / 35.886155; -106.316893

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