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.
| John F. Kennedy High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
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8281 Walker Street , , 90623 | |
| Coordinates | 33°50′33″N 118°2′14″W / 33.84250°N 118.03722°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, High School |
| Established | 1964 |
| Status | Operational |
| School district | Anaheim Union HS District |
| NCES District ID | 0602630[1] |
| Superintendent | Michael Matsuda |
| CEEB code | 050379 |
| NCES School ID | 060263000177[2] |
| Principal | Seema Sidhu |
| Teaching staff | 92.00 (FTE)[3] |
| Grades | 9th-12th |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Enrollment | 2,435 (2018-19)[3] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 26.47[3] |
| Campus type | Large Suburb |
| Color(s) | Kelly Green & Gold |
| Athletics conference | Empire League CIF Southern Section |
| Sports | Football |
| Mascot | Fighting Irish |
| Rival | Cypress High School |
| Accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
| Newspaper | The Shamrock |
| Feeder schools | Walker Junior High |
| Website | kennedy |
| [4][5][6][7][8] | |
History edit
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.[9]
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.[10][11][12][13]
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.
Sports edit
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.[14]: 76, 82 In 2017, the boys volleyball team captured their first CIF-SS Div IV championship in program history. It marked the first time in CIF Southern Section history a wild card team successfully captured the CIF title.[15]
Complete list of Kennedy team CIF SS Championships edit
- 1971 - Football - Div. 3A CIF Champion [16]
- 1980 - Boys Soccer - Div. 3A CIF Champion [17]
- 1984 - Girls Softball - Div. 4A CIF Champion [18]
- 1988 - Girls Softball - Div. 3A CIF Champion [19]
- 1988 - Boys Basketball - Div. 3A CIF Champion [20]
- 1989 - Boys Baseball - Div. 3A CIF Champion [21]
- 2003 - Boys Soccer - Div. 3 CIF Champion [22]
- 2004 - Boys Soccer - Div. 3 CIF Champion [17]
- 2006 - Football - CIF Southern Division Champion [23]
- 2017 - Boys Volleyball - Div. 4 CIF Champion [24]
- 2019 - Boys Baseball - Div. 4 CIF Champion [25]
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme edit
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 worldwide. 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]
Notable alumni edit
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. (November 2010) |
- Brandon Baker, actor in films such as Johnny Tsunami, Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board
- Alan Bannister, former Major League Baseball player
- Ami Bera, Congressman, CA District #7
- Casey Ellison, former child actor who appeared in TV sitcom Punky Brewster
- Casey Fien, Major League Baseball pitcher in the Seattle Mariners' Organization[26]
- Greg Hansell, former major league baseball player
- Debra Jensen, former Coppertone model, Miss January, 1978 Playboy magazine
- Rhema McKnight, wide receiver for the University of Notre Dame, New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers
- Eddie Pleasant, outside line backer for the University of Oregon, strong safety for the Houston Texans
- John Stamos, actor[27]
- Vince Staples, rapper, singer, songwriter, actor
- Lisa Tucker, former American Idol contestant, singer, songwriter, actress
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Anaheim Union High". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved Aug 4, 2012.
- ^ "Search for Public Schools - John F. Kennedy High (060263000177)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved Aug 5, 2012.
- ^ a b c "John F. Kennedy High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ "John F. Kennedy High School Overview". Best High Schools. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ "Directory of Schools: 2011-2012" (PDF). WASC Accrediting Commission for Schools. July 2011. p. 65. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ "Superintendents's Message". Anaheim Union High School District. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Anaheim Union High School District Organizational Chart" (PDF). Anaheim Union High School District. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ "Administrative Team". Kennedy High School. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ Walker, Theresa (November 18, 2013). "JFK High: 'Representing eternal flame'". The Orange County Register. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
- ^ Martindale, Scott (5 October 2011). "Principal defends color-coded IDs; expert 'horrified'". Orange County Register. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ Martindale, Scott (6 October 2011). "Student IDs that reveal test scores deemed illegal". Orange County Register. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ Diepenbrock, William (6 October 2011). "Anaheim Union kills color-coded ID program". Orange County Register. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Simmons, Thom (January 2012). "CIF-Southern Section All Sports Press Guide and Record Book" (PDF). California Interscholastic Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ "Kennedy goes the distance to claim first CIF-SS boys volleyball championship – Orange County Register". 21 May 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
- ^ "Past county football champions, by year". 3 July 2006.
- ^ a b "List of past soccer champions". 6 July 2006.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archives - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Archives - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Archives - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Archives - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Kennedy High wins first CIF-SS volleyball championship, to play for CIF Southern California title". 26 May 2017.
- ^ "Johnson helps Kennedy baseball end 30-year wait for CIF-SS title with win over Sonora". 19 May 2019.
- ^ "Casey Fien Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ Broeske, Pat H. (December 2014). "Growing Up in Orange County". Orange Coast: 88.