Menlo-Atherton High School
| Menlo-Atherton High School | |
|---|---|
| File:Menlo Atherton High School Seal.png | |
| Address | |
 | |
555 Middlefield Road , 94027 | |
| Coordinates | 37°27′40″N 122°10′30″W / 37.46111°N 122.17500°W |
| Information | |
| Type | public comprehensive |
| Established | 1951 |
| School district | Sequoia Union High School District |
| Principal | Simone Rick-Kennel |
| Faculty | 119 (2011–2012) |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 2,275 (2015–2016)[1] |
| Color(s) | Maroon Gold |
| Nickname | Bears |
| Newspaper | The Chronicle [2] |
| Website | www.mabears.org |
Menlo-Atherton High School (known as M-A to locals[3]) is a four-year public comprehensive secondary school located in Atherton, California. Menlo-Atherton is part of the Sequoia Union High School District.[4]
Menlo-Atherton has been named one of the top secondary schools in the nation by the United States Department of Education as part of its National School Recognition Program. It was selected as a California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education in 2007 and 2013.[5][6] In 2005, Newsweek ranked the school as the 259th best school in the United States.[7] Menlo-Atherton also offers the most Advanced Placement courses in the district with seventeen, ranging from Studio Art to US History.[4]
Since the closure of Ravenswood High School, Menlo-Atherton has been racially diverse, drawing from Atherton, Menlo Park, Redwood City, East Palo Alto, and Portola Valley. The school's motto is "Strength in Diversity".[8]
Academics
Typically, 97% of graduates continue their education. Of these, 37% opt for two-year colleges, 60% go to four-year colleges.[4]
M-A offers the following Advanced Placement courses: Art History; Biology; Calculus AB/BC; Computer Science; English Language/Composition; English Literature; Environmental Science; European History; French Language; Latin; Physics; Spanish Language; Spanish Literature (approximately every other year); Statistics; Studio Art; and US History. M-A has an 84% pass rate on AP exams, with just under 40% scoring a 5. It also has the Advanced Via Individual Determination program and the Computer Academy, programs for students seeking a smaller, supportive learning environment.[4]
Statistics
Demographics
2015–2016[1]
- 2,275 students: 1,201 Male (52.8%), 1,074 Female (47.2%)
| Hispanic | White | Asian | African American | Pacific Islander | Two or More Races | Filipino | American Indian | Not Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 971 | 916 | 107 | 90 | 89 | 74 | 17 | 11 | 0 |
| 42.7% | 40.3% | 4.7% | 4% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0% |
Standardized testing
| SAT Scores for 2014–2015 [9] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Reading Average | Math Average | Writing Average | |
| Menlo-Atherton High | 580 | 593 | 575 |
| District | 544 | 563 | 544 |
| Statewide | 489 | 500 | 484 |
| 2013 Academic Performance Index | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Base API [10] | 2013 Growth API [11] | Growth in the API from 2009 to 2013 |
| 771 | 819 | 48 |
Athletics
Menlo-Atherton offers a wide array of varsity and junior varsity level sports, including badminton, tennis, basketball, baseball, wrestling, water polo, swimming, lacrosse, soccer, cross country running, track and field, softball, and volleyball.[12] The student-run Ultimate frisbee team was founded in the fall of 2008. All athletics teams are supported by the Athletic Boosters,[13] which holds the annual Big Bear Run, a five kilometer race through the surrounding neighborhood.[14]
Fine arts
Menlo-Atherton is home to a professional-level 492-seat theater, the Menlo-Atherton Center for Performing Arts. It is home to the school play and musical; band, orchestra, guitar, and choir concerts; the Menlo-Atherton Student Film Festival;[15] the Bear Arts Expo, a collaboration between all of M-A's arts classes;[16] the Senior Fashion Show; and many other school events. It also hosts events related to the City of Menlo Park, which partially financed its construction, and is one of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra's regular venues.[17]
The Advanced Jazz Ensemble regularly travels to festivals around the world, including the annual Reno Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival. The band is supported by the Band Boosters.[18]
The Center is home to Menlo-Atherton's chapter of the International Thespian Society. Currently, they produce a play and a musical each year.
Other extracurricular activities
Menlo-Atherton is the home of KCEA, a radio station specializing in big band music and high school sports.[19]
A magazine, The Mark, is distributed to students at no cost and the online newspaper, The M-A Chronicle, is regularly updated with stories involving the school community. Both are 2015-16 NSPA Pacemaker winners.
Notable alumni
- Chuck Bradley, American football player
- Greg Buckingham, Olympic Silver Medalist in swimming; brother of Lindsey[20]
- Lindsey Buckingham, singer and guitarist with rock group Fleetwood Mac[20]
- Cheryl Burke, Professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars[21]
- Greg Camarillo, NFL wide receiver (Minnesota Vikings)[22]
- Chris Dorst, Olympic Silver Medalist in Water Polo, Los Angeles 1984
- James Gaughran, Olympic Water Polo Athlete, Melbourne 1956
- Bob Melvin, current manager of the Oakland Athletics
- Stevie Nicks, singer with rock group Fleetwood Mac
- Elizabeth Osborn, Top-ranked Woman Equestrian Vaulter United States, 2008[23]
- Dick Roth, Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming, Tokyo 1964, Olympic and World Record Holder 400IM
- Courtney Thorne-Smith, actress
- Bob Weir, singer, guitarist and founding member of The Grateful Dead[20]
- Steve Westly, Venture Capitalist, former California State Controller, 2006 gubernatorial candidate, and executive at eBay
- Richard L. Wright, political leader[20][24]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Enrollment by Ethnicity for 2015–16: Menlo-Atherton High School". California Department of Education. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ^ Chronicle Online
- ^ About M-A
- ^ a b c d School Profile
- ^ 2007 Distinguished Middle and High Schools - California Distinguished Schools Program (CA Dept of Education)
- ^ 2013 Distinguished Middle and High Schools - California Distinguished Schools Program (CA Dept of Education)
- ^ The 1,200 Top U.S. Schools - Newsweek America's Best High Schools - MSNBC.com
- ^ Reid column: M-A's success comes on and off the field - San Jose Mercury News
- ^ "SAT Report - 2014-15 District Level Scores". California Department of Education. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ^ "2009 Base API School Report – Menlo-Atherton High". California Department of Education Assessment, Accountability and Awards Division.
- ^ "2013 Growth API School Report – Menlo-Atherton High". California Department of Education Analysis, Measurement, & Accountability Reporting Division.
- ^ http://www.bearsathletics.org/
- ^ M-A Athletic Boosters
- ^ Big Bear Run | M-A Boosters
- ^ Death, Theft, Violence, and Catnip: The M-ASFF In Review
- ^ Photos from M-A’s Art Expo
- ^ Philharmonia Baroque | Venues
- ^ M-A Band Boosters
- ^ KCEA=89.1FM History
- ^ a b c d "Menlo Atherton High School History Page 6". Menlo Atherton High School Alumni Association. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Hunt, Mary Ellen (2008-12-14). "Cheryl Burke: 'Dancing With the Stars' tour". SFGate.com. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
- ^ "TEAM:Roster Greg Camarillo Profile - MiamiDolphins.com". Retrieved 2008-04-26.
First-team All-Peninsula Athletic League and All-San Mateo County as senior at Menlo-Atherton High School in Menlo Park, Calif
- ^ Wick, Carrie (July 2, 2008). "Three women with Woodside Vaulters head to world vaulting championships". The Almanac. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Bumiller, Elisabeth (August 13, 1999). "Teammate Collects Dollar Bills for Bradley". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-06-30.