Torrance High School

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Torrance High)
Jump to: navigation, search
Torrance High School
Location
2200 W. Carson Street

Torrance, California, USA
Information
Principal John O'Brien
Faculty 91
Type Public
Mascot Tartar
Color(s) Maroon and gray
Established September 11, 1917
Enrollment 2,257 (as of 2007)[1]
Information +1 310 533-4396
Statistics for 9–12 only, not 8th grade advanced course students.
Homepage torrancehigh.com

Torrance High School, the oldest of four high schools in the Torrance Unified School District in Torrance, California, is one of the oldest high schools in continuous use in California and a popular location for television and motion picture production. Torrance High School's colors are maroon and gray.[citation needed] The school's mascot is the Tartar, a Mongolian warrior.

Torrance High has a a suspension rate of 2-3 per year, the lowest of all four Torrance schools.[citation needed]

Contents

The school first opened as a school under the control of the Los Angeles Unified School District on September 11,1917 as a combination high school and elementary school to accommodate the area's rapid post-war growth brought on by its petroleum industry and iron works as well as the Pacific Electric Railway. Its first commencement ceremony took place June 18,1918, during which three female students received their diplomas. In 1947 Torrance Unified School District was formed but was not certified for a high school. During the school year of fall 1946 to summer 1947, Torrance High School became part of the Redondo Union High School District. The very first graduating high school class from TUSD was the Class of 1948.

Torrance High has over 100 classrooms, a library, access to site, district and county media resources, five computer labs, at least one computer per classroom, two gyms and local athletic fields. Torrance High offers 65,700 instructional minutes on a yearly basis and has nine minimum days for testing and/or staff development.

The senior patio behind the main building
The senior patio behind the main building

The Main Building with the 1921 L additions, the Senior Patio, original Science Building/current Home Economics Building(1921), the WPA Auditorium(1937) and the first Torrance Elementary School(1923 now referred to as the Annex) are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1983) and was Torrance's first such listing. It received a major facelift and indoor modernization in the late 1970s and is the building most often seen on film. A scenic Spanish Revival Mexican tile fountain and patio,was added along with a L shaped wing attached to the main building in 1921 and frequently seen in Beverly Hills 90210, has been known for decades as the "Senior Patio." The patio is traditionally off-limits to underclassmen.

The Long Beach earthquake of 1933 left its mark on the campus. The quake destroyed the upper part of the original auditorium and caused the ground near it to sink several feet. The replacement auditorium was built (1937) as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project while the elevated administrative offices were added in 1962.The area was nicknamed the "Sunken Garden" before the current building was built.[2]

A memorial honoring Ted T. Tanouye, THS Class of 1938 and receiptant of the Congressional Medal of Honor, is directly across from THS. Tech. Sgt Tanouye was part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, better known as the "Go For Broke" team. This memorial was dedicated in 2004 on the 60th Anniversary of the heroic acts of Ted Tanouye during World War II.

The distinctive façade of the front building serves as the primary filming location for many shows.
The distinctive façade of the front building serves as the primary filming location for many shows.

Torrance High's unique architecture and relative proximity to Hollywood make it an ideal location for major television programs and motion pictures. Among its credits:

This is the home of the school jazz, concert, and marching bands.
This is the home of the school jazz, concert, and marching bands.
  • Indoor Gym
  • Football Field-Louis Zamperini Stadium
  • Track-Louis Zamperini Stadium
  • Weight-Training Facilities
  • Tennis Courts
  • Volleyball Courts
  • Baseball Fields(home field is Kendall Field @ Torrance Park)
  • Soccer Fields-Louis Zamperini Stadium

  • Video Production Facilities
  • Darkroom
  • Ceramics
  • Fine Arts Facilities
  • Band Room
  • Choir Room
  • Drama Room

  • Library
  • Computer Lab
  • College/Career Center

Marching Band in the Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade
Marching Band in the Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade

Torrance High offers many sports as opportunities for P.E. credit. All sports have Varisty and J.V. delineations. Based on membership, the following sports do not distinguish Frosh/Soph teams: Cheerleading, Wrestling, Marching Band.

As of 2006–07, there are 52 clubs on campus. Clubs meet weekly during lunchtime and convene in the room of the host teacher, also known as a Sponsor. To be recognized as a club, a group must have at least six starting members and one designated President or multiple co-Presidents. After submitting a charter to ASB, they must wait for confirmation before becoming a legitimate club. All clubs must have a President or presiding student officer and one Vice President. Vice Presidency does not guarantee ascension to presidency unless the club charter deems it necessary.

As of 2006, the largest clubs on campus are California Scholarship Federation, Kiwins, and Korean Culture Club, at 182, 114, and 110 members, respectively.[3]

Grades 9–12, 2006–2007 school year[1]
Ethicity Students Percent
Amer Ind. / AK Nat. 10 0.4
Asian 551 24.4
Pacific Is. 24 1.1
Filipino 118 5.2
Hispanic 598 26.5
African American 93 4.1
White non-Hispanic 811 35.9
Multi/No Response 52 2.3
Total 2,257

In addition to the 2,257 regular high school students, Torrance High School also enrolls 110 eighth graders from its two feeder middle schools, Hull Middle School and Madrona Middle School. These eighth grade students take advanced courses in science, mathematics, and/or foreign languages that are not offered at their middle school.[citation needed]


 This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (October 2007)

Torrance High School has 167 faculty and staff members. This includes 90 full and part time teachers, 68 classified staff members, 5 counselors, 1 site supervisor and 3 administrators. Of the teaching staff, 87% are fully credentialed: 43 have a Master’s degree, and 55 are CLAD/BCLAD/Hughes certified.Over 20 members of the faculty and staff have been former students and fifteen have or had students attend THS.

The Alma Mater is set to the ballad "Annie Lisle." It is sung immediately following the conclusion of a rally, and at various other school-sponsored events.

Our strong band shall ne'er be broken
Formed at Torrance High
Far surpassing wealth unspoken
Sealed by friendship's ties
Torrance High School Alma Mater
Deep graven on each heart
Shall be found unwavering true
When we from life shall part.

Torrance High's School Wide Academic Goals, or S.W.A.G. replaced the national standards of E.S.L.R.S. (Expected Schoolwide Learning Results) in 2004 in an effort to raise the standards of secondary education. S.W.A.G. are unique to Torrance High, as the topics covered create an acronym of the mascot's name. Teachers are expected to encourage all students to meet these standards by the end of their education.[4]

Thinkers:

  • Solve problems efficiently
  • Demonstrate reflective, critical, creative, logical, and analytical thinking

Academically Motivated

  • Master basic skills
  • Meet state, district, and/or course standards
  • Set academic goals
  • Prepare for a post-high school career

Responsible

  • Set personal goals
  • Display moral, ethical and civil behavior
  • Employ time management skills
  • Contribute to their community

Technologically Motivated

  • Demonstrate technological proficiency
  • Use available resources to further learning

Articulate Communicators

  • Read, write, listen, and speak proficiently
  • Appreciate artistic communications
  • Work collaboratively

Respectful

  • Of themselves, of their peers, and their community
  • Of the faculty and school guidelines

Skilled

  • In core curricula areas
  • In life skills


This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2007)

  • Louis Zamperini (1936) – Track star and World War II hero for whom Torrance's general aviation airport is named, he still makes frequent speaking appearances at the school. Torrance High School's football stadium, which located about a mile away from the campus, is also named for Zamperini.[5]
  • Ted T. Tanouye (1938) – A member of the famous Americans of Japanese heritage 442nd Regiment, better known as the "Go for Broke" Regiment. In front of the school, on Carson Street, there is a Memorial dedicated to Ted. Dedicated on July 7, 2004, the Memorial was the project of the Ted Tanouye Memorial Foundation and the Torrance High Alumni Association. The ceremony included performances by the Torrance High School NJROTC and Band. He is the only Torrance resident to have received the Medal of Honor. This award was presented to him posthumously on June 21, 2000 by President Bill Clinton.[6]

Torrance High serves both as a school campus and film set.

The Home Economics building holds large classrooms for fashion and home ec classes.

Students gather around an advertisement during lunch.

The auditorium is another example of Torrance High's architecture.

On the right, the Science building stands with two refurbished greenhouses.

The Library is a showcase of school design.

  1. ^ a b Torrance High - Torrance Unified - 1938752 - 1965060. California Public Schools - School Report. California Department of Education: Educational Demographics Unit (2007-09-08). Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
  2. ^ Troppozada, Toussan R. (1989). Earthquake Planning Scenario. California Geology. Retrieved on 2007-01-23.
  3. ^ Not Another High School Yearbook - Torrance High 2005-06 Annual; 181, 189
  4. ^ S.W.A.G. at Torrance High. January 31, 2007.
  5. ^ World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  6. ^ MOH Citation for Ted Tanouye. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  7. ^ Michael Goode (I) at the Internet Movie Database
  8. ^ http://www.nbc11.com/meetthenewsteam/7051305/detail.html
  9. ^ Stevo Polyi at the Internet Movie Database
  10. ^ http://www.bradschecter.com
  11. ^ http://www.goodenter.com/battle/
  12. ^ Nordhoff, Brett (2007-06-20). "Re: '82 reunion". THSAA Message Board. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  13. ^ Player Bio: Dion Thompson. Carolina: Men's Basketball. CSTV Networks, Inc. and the University of North Carolina. Retrieved on 2007-10-14.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
v • d • e
Torrance Unified School District (TUSD)
High Schools: North • South • Torrance • West
Continuation: Kurt T. Shery
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrance_High_School"
Advanced Search
Included Web Search Engines


Safe Search

close

Top Matching Results

Occasionally Search.com will highlight specialized results that are based on the context of your query. Examples of specialized results include specific links to news, images, or video.

Top Matching Results may highlight information from other Search.com pages, content from the CNET Network of sites, or third party content. The listings are based purely on relevance. Search.com does not receive payment for listings in this section but our partners that provide this data may get paid for listing these products.

Sponsored Links

This section contains paid listings which have been purchased by companies that want to have their sites appear for specific search terms and related content. These listings are administered, sorted and maintained by a third party and are not endorsed by Search.com.

Search Results

Search.com sends your search query to several search engines at one time and integrates the results into one list which has been sorted by relevance using Search.com's proprietary algorithm. You can customize the list of search engines included in your metasearch from the preferences.

The search engines that are used in your metasearch may allow companies to pay to have their Web sites included within the results. To view the Paid Inclusion policy for a specific search engine, please visit their Web site. Search.com does not accept payment or share revenue with any search engine partner for listings in this section.