Liberty High School (Bakersfield, California)
Liberty High School | |
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Address | |
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925 Jewetta Avenue , 93312 United States | |
Coordinates | 35°22′00″N 119°07′51″W / 35.36667°N 119.13083°W |
Information | |
School type | Public |
Opened | August 30, 1999 |
School district | Kern High School District |
Principal | Libby Wyatt |
Grades | 9th through 12th |
Enrollment | 2801 |
Colour(s) | Navy, Red, and Silver |
Slogan | Patriot Pride and Excellence |
Athletics conference | Southwest Yosemite League |
Mascot | Patriot |
Rival | Centennial, Bakersfield, Stockdale |
Yearbook | Legacy |
Website | [1] |
Liberty High School is a public co-educational high school located in Bakersfield, California. Its athletics teams are known as the Liberty Patriots and the school colors are navy, red, and silver. Liberty High School opened its doors in 1999. Liberty High School is currently the most populated high school in the Kern High School District with a student body of 2,801
Faculty and Staff
- Libby Wyatt, Principal
- Ron Priest, Assistant Principal of Grounds
- William Sandoval, Assistant Principal of Instruction
- Tim Davis, Dean of Athletics
- Brooke Slayton, Activities Director
- Kerri Hamer, Counselor
- Rebecca Skaggs, Counselor
- Eileen Sanchez, Counselor
- Janine Lynch, Counselor
- Carmen Davis, Counselor
- Diane Galloway, School Psychologist
- Linda Elieff, Speech Therapist
- Tim Williams, Choir Director
- Jason Armistead, Band Director
- Perry Ware, Drama Director
- Pete Tittl, Yearbook Director
- Dave Ziegler, Forensics Director
- Joan Swenson, Journalism Director
- John Koulos, GATE / AP Director
- Patrick Vaughan, CTE
Academics
All students enrolled at Liberty High School must meet the following criteria before graduation:
- 4 years of English (40 credits)
- 3 years of Social Studies (30 credits)
- 1 year of World History
- 1 year of American History
- 1 year of U.S. Government/Economics
- 4 years of Math (30 credits)
- Algebra, Geometry, and Advanced Algebra.
- 2 years of Science. (20 credits)
- 1 year of Physical Science
- 1 year of Biological Science
- 2 years of P.E. (20 credits)
- 1 year of Foreign Language/Fine Arts (10 credits)
- 1 semester of Health (5 credits)
- Choice of Electives (65 credits)
TOTAL = 220 credits
NOTE = Every student must pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) before graduating.
- Liberty High School offers AP, GATE, and Honor’s courses, which students can take to earn college credit:
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Calculus BC
- AP Psychology
- AP Chemistry
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP Environmental Science
- AP European History
- AP French Language
- AP Spanish Language
- AP Statistics
- AP United States History
- GATE Advanced Algebra
- GATE Freshman English
- GATE Geometry
- GATE Sophomore English
- Honor’s Chemistry
- Honor's Economics
- Honor’s Government
- Honor’s Math Analysis
- Honor's Physics
- Honor’s Spanish 3
Notable Music Department
The Liberty High School Marching Patriots
The 120 member group has won many sweepstakes and 1st place awards in band competitions throughout California since its beginning in 1999. In 2002, the band competed in the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) State Championships receiving 4th place overall in Division 4A. In 2004, the band competed in the Western Band Association (WBA) State Championships receiving 4th place overall in the 1A/2A/3A Division Finals with the colorguard claiming the High Sweepstakes award in Auxiliary. It received the highest member count of 150 members in 2003. The Marching Patriots continues to receive high scores and 1st place awards today. They also have a wind symphony, symphonic band, concert band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, and winterguard. The Percussion Ensemble caused a huge upset in 2008 when they defeated the 5-time champion Bakersfield High School winter percussion for the gold medal at the 2008 PPAACC Championships. The winterguard won 3rd place at the WGI Las Vegas Regional in 2003 in the Scholastic A Division, but in 2014, the guard began to progress in the WGI circuit, winning 3rd place in the Bakersfield Regional, and 2nd place in the Riverside Regional. The group currently hosts a Winter Guard International (WGI) regional championship in February, featuring many winterguard units from around the state of California. In 2011 the Marching Patriots swept the entire Sweepstakes category at the Stockdale Band Spectacular, winning High Music, High Woodwinds, High Brass, High Colorguard, High Percussion, and High Band (91.4). The group is now under the direction of Jason Armistead, after being under the direction of Mark McGuire.
Field Shows
- 1999 - Sweet Land of Liberty
- 2000 - James Bond
- 2001 - Bohemian Rhapsody
- 2002 - Hotel California
- 2003 - Class Act
- 2004 - The Bullfighter
- 2005 - Circuitry
- 2006 - Tutenkamen
- 2007 - Quidam
- 2008 - Locomotion
- 2009 - Through the Eyes of a Child
- 2010 - Perpetual Rhythms
- 2011 - Spanish Conquest
- 2012 - Beyond the Blue
- 2013 - Le Tour
- 2014 - A Day at the Park
- 2015 - Let There Be Light
- 2016 - A Pirate's Adventure
Liberty Choral Program
The program contains Liberty Women's Chorale and Men's Chorale, Chamber Choir, and the school's major performing ensemble, Liberty Chorale. The group operated under the guidance of Michael "Mac" McQuerrey from 1999 until his retirement in 2009.
In September 2004, the Chorale joined with the Bakersfield Symphonic Orchestra to present the Concert of America tribute to the victims and survivors of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
In May 2007, the Liberty Chorale was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The Chorale, along with other choruses from around the world, formed a symphonic choir accompanied by the New England Symphonic Ensemble and conducted by composer and arranger Mark Hayes. The performance included the New York premiere of Mr. Hayes' "Te Deum" and a medley of his spirituals.
The group is currently under the direction of Timothy Williams. Since 2011, the Chamber Choir performs a biennial opera (The Mikado in 2011, Pirates of Penzance in 2013, and The Merry Widow in 2015).
Other Programs
Liberty High School is also noted to have many exceptional programs in Academic Decathlon, Forensics, We the People, Mock Trial, and Virtual Enterprise. Their drama department is also one of the best in Kern County, with Perry Ware as their head of department.
Liberty P.A.T.S.
The Liberty P.A.T.S. (Parents-Alumni-Teachers-Support) is the schools Parent Booster group that supports the educational, athletic, and extra-curricular endeavors of Liberty High School Students. Membership is open to all Liberty High School faculty and staff, parents and guardians of students currently enrolled and of alumni, and other members of the general public wishing to assist in the charitable and educational activities and function of the corporation.
Booster Groups
- Band
- Baseball
- Cheer
- Choir
- Executive Board
- Football
- Men's Basketball
- Women's Basketball
- Women's Soccer
- Wrestling
- Men's Soccer
Athletics
Liberty's sports teams are known as the Patriots. Liberty competed in the South Sequoia League in the CIF Central Section from August 1999 to June 2002. In August 2002 the school was promoted to compete in the Southeast Yosemite League in the CIF Central Section, then in August 2010 moved to the Southwest Yosemite League. Centennial High School, Stockdale High School, and Bakersfield High School are Liberty's main city rivals. The school's athletic program is considered one of the best in Kern County and the state of California.
Liberty Football
The 2001 Liberty Varsity Football Team won League Championships and caused one of the biggest upsets in Central California football by beating Clovis East High School for the Valley Championship. The 2015 Liberty's football program continues to be one of the best in Bakersfield with the 2015 Valley Championship. They had a running clock against Clovis high school. "Might as well not even have been a game", says Coach Ryan from Clovis. They embarrassed us on all parts of the game. We were trash playing against them. Everyone got locked down and we could stop them any where on the field. "The liberty offensive line had a field day", says senior Blake Bryant. "It was like playing a Golden Empire team out there", says Matt Hubble.
Liberty Volleyball
The 2002 Liberty Girls' Volleyball Team won the CIF Division II Women's Volleyball State Championships.
Liberty Basketball
The 2008-09 Liberty Boys' Basketball Team won their first South East Yosemite League Championship against the Garces Rams. In addition the team made it to the CIF Division II Central Section Championship. Under the leadership of point guard, Sam Marcus, they were considered to be the best team in Kern County that season, and the second best team in the Central Section behind Clovis East High School. The program has continued to improve under the coaching of Andy Hicks and Andrew Shearon.
In the 2009-2010 season, the Liberty Boys' Varsity Basketball team won their first valley championship in school history. With their big five: Sam Marcus, Westin Hill, Tyler Davis, Jaylin Howard, and Junior Morgan, and the supporting cast the Liberty boy's made school history, defeating the No. 1 ranked San Joaquin Memorial HS at Selland Arena in Fresno, CA. To reach the valley championship, Liberty defeated West High School (Bakersfield) and Tulare Union High School, two very highly ranked basketball teams. Liberty also made a rally in the CIF State playoffs by defeating Mark Keppel HS (Alhambra) by over 20 points, making it Liberty's first State Playoff win in school history. Liberty was defeated by Eisenhower HS (one of the top basketball programs in the state).
Liberty has continued to withhold a strong program in Bakersfield. In the 2010-2011 season, the Liberty HS Varsity boys team tied for the SEYL League champions with Bakersfield HS. In the following season (2011-2012), the LHS Basketball team won the outright SEYL championship, outshining the league powerhouse Bakersfield HS and their Cal Berkeley recruit, Tyrone Wallace. 2010-2012 Liberty stars included Junior Morgan and Jacob Martin.
Liberty Tennis
The Liberty High Boys Tennis team won League titles in the SEYL in the 2009 and 2010 season, and recently took the title in 2011 in the newly formed and much more competitive SWYL league. The boys team also made it to the Division I Championship in 2011 where it faced Clovis West in an away game. The final score was 3 - 6 resulting in a Liberty loss, however the singles were tied at 3 - 3 in the first round.
Liberty Men's Soccer
The Liberty High Boys Soccer team won League titles in the SEYL in 2004 and 2006 seasons, and recently took the title in 2011 in the newly formed and much more competitive SWYL league. The boys made it to the Division I Championship in 2015 where they faced #10 in the nation Buchanan-Clovis in an away game. The final score was 0-1 at the end of 2OT resulting in a Liberty loss.
Commencement Ceremony
The Commencement Ceremony or Graduation is held each year in late May or early June at Liberty Stadium on campus. The school's first graduating class was the class of 2002. The school's largest graduating class was the class of 2008.