Downey High School
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[edit] Overview:
Downey High School is one of two senior high schools located in the Los Angeles suburb of Downey, California, and within the Downey Unified School District. It is located at 11040 Brookshire Ave. At the present time the school has an enrollment of about 3,790 students, of a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds and socio-economic levels.
Currently, Tom Houts is the principal, Stephen Sanders is the AP World History teacher. In addition to him, there are five other administrators, as well as seven full-time counselors. The instruction staff consists of 155 teachers and the operation functions with the assistance of a staff of 85 specialized employees (custodians, secretaries, nurses, security guards, etc.).
[edit] Recent Achievements:
In the 2005-2006 school year Downey High School also raised over 50,000 dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society in their annual Pennies for Patients fundraiser; they beat out other top schools including Princeton High School in Princeton, New Jersey and Orange High School in Orange, California. Downey High School beat over 17,000 schools all across the country under the command on Brandy Rodriguez, the community service chairman, and delegates such as Stacy Carbajal, Luis Mendez, and Tracy Bunn.
The school is also ranked #1 in their region for most pints of bloods donated through Red-Cross oriented blood drives.
The Downey High School Jazz Ensemble made history on June 23, 2006, when they were the first ever high school band to perform at the Hollywood Bowl, receiving a standing ovation.
The Dance Team has won various awards under the leadership of Coach Leslie Patterson.
[edit] Athletics:
It has great athletic background in the fields of Wrestling and Girls Water Polo (3 consecutive CIF Div. VI Championships from 2003-2006). Currently Volleyball(both guys and girls) is the second best (Girls Water Polo been the best) overall athletic program offered at the school and consistently making CIF semi-final/final appearances.
The Allen Layne Stadium is one of the most advanced stadiums and training facilities in high school level in the Los Angeles area. It is a site for practice for visiting lacrosse teams for Universities, such as University of Michigan.
Also the Downey High Football team under Coach Grant Warhurst has been a fairly sold team over the last 5-6 years commonly making the CIF playoffs each year though usually in second place in the San Gabriel Valley League because of the dominance displayed by the varsity football team from Dominguez High School.
[edit] Famous alumni
• The Carpenters (musical group - Richard Carpenter and Karen Carpenter)
• James Hetfield of the musical group Metallica, an alumnus of Downey High School
• Danny R. Interviewee for the movie "American History X" and webmaster for the Spanish website celtiberos.org, Alumnus of Downey High School (1995)
• Donavon Frankenreiter (surfer and musician)
"Weird Al" Yankovic (Musician, music producer, video director, rock historian, and parodist) (Born October 23, 1959)
Hasan Habib (Professional poker player and WSOP bracelet winner) (Born April 19, 1962)
The Blasters (Rock group)
Ryan Hollweg (Professional Hockey Player who plays with the New York Rangers)
Jeff Tedford (Head Coach of the California Golden Bears and former honorable mention All-American quaterback at Fresno State)
[edit] Clubs and Organizarions:
The Downey High School's Science Club is an active club on the campus. Together, they have dipped pumpkins in liquid nitrogen and fused them with a plutonium-based acid. This is similar to the nuclear pumpkins used by the Green Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man #4. These pumpkins will be featured in the full-length feature film Monty Python vs. The Great Pumpkin .
The Junior State of America, AKA J.S.A., is well known for it's numerous debates and thought talks, featuring topics such as the death penalty. At the end of each debate members are asked to vote Pro, Con or Against.
The school has over 30 clubs and organizations that keep the school-wide integrity.
All activities are ran and/or supervised by the Associated Student Body (ASB). Currently the Activities Director is, Freshman Football and Wresling coach, Mr. Gordon Weisenburger. He has been directing this program for over 7 years.
