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Torrance High School | |
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Location | |
2200 W. Carson Street
Torrance, California USA | |
Information | |
Type | Public |
Established | September 11, 1917 |
Principal | John O'Brien |
Faculty | 91 |
Enrollment | 2,257 (as of 2007) |
Color(s) | Maroon and gray |
Mascot | Tartar |
Information | +1 310 533-4396 |
Website | torrancehigh.com |
Statistics for 9–12 only, not 8th grade advanced course students. |
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. It was founded in 1917, sharing its campus with an elementary school. It is most known for its appearance in high-profile television shows, including Beverly Hills 90210 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Its history of alumni is equally ostentatious, as the alma mater of broadcaster Paul Moyer, Medal of Honor recepient Ted Tanouye, prisoner of war in World War II Louis Zamperini, and professional golfer Angela Park.
School history
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.
Campus
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 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 so-called Long Beach Earthquake on March 10, 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.
A memorial honoring Ted T. Tanouye, THS Class of 1938 and recipient 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.
Filming history
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:
- In TV, Torrance High served as the facade of fictitious West Beverly High School in the Fox Network series Beverly Hills 90210; as Sunnydale High School, the alma mater of Buffy Summers in the WB Network series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and as a location for the short-lived Fox Network series Skin.
- The movies saw Torrance High used as the high school setting for the Freddie Prinze, Jr. movie She's All That. Torrance High also played a prominent role in The Wild Life, Not Another Teen Movie, Bring It On, Whatever It Takes, Cursed, Wild Things 3 and Less Than Zero.
Activities
Torrance High is not an athletically superior school, but many alumni have gone on to become professional players, some before they even graduated. Deon Thompson graduated in 2006, and went on to play Basketball for UNC as a Forward. Angela Park became a professional golfer in April before her graduation in 2006, and went on to tie for second place in the LPGA US Women's Open of 2007.
Student groups are a significant part of students' life, with service clubs like UNICEF and KIWIN'S, and academic groups such as Model United Nations and United States Academic Decathlon serving many interests.
Due to its proximity to the neighboring city Carson, which is primarily not Caucasian, the school is ethnically diverse with larger contingents of Asian and Hispanic students.
Academics
The school's alma mater is set to the ballad "Annie Lisle."
In 2004, Torrance High instated its Schoolwide Academic Goals in an effort to raise its education standards. Comprising an acronym of the mascot's name, they outline goals of technical competency and other standards.
Notable alumni
Military
- 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.
- 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.
Movies and television
- Paul Moyer – popular Los Angeles television newscaster: currently with KNBC
- Mike Goode – cinematographer: Emmy nominated title designer for Wonderful World of Disney opening
- Gregory Hatanaka – film director
- George Kiriyama – news anchor at KNBC
- Stevo Polyi – actor: in several Quentin Tarantino films
- Julie Ronnie – actress on the soap opera Santa Barbara
- Brad Schecter – comedian/actor from the soap opera General Hospital
Music and radio
- Bobby Blotzer – drummer for Ratt
- Juan Croucier – bass player for Ratt and Dokken.
- Danny Gans – comedian and musical impressionist headliner at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas
- Brian Grillo – lead singer of the band Extra Fancy
- Ryan Hedgecock – founding member of the rock band Lone Justice
- Jung Hyung-Rok – singer: "Chris" in Korean boy band Battle
- Glen Mancaruso – drummer: Vengeance Rising and Die Happy (metal band)
- Brett Nordhoff (1982) – disc jockey: was LA's youngest disc jockey while attending Torrance High; continues to do radio today as a disc jockey and program director under the name "Maverick" in the Ventura/Santa Barbara area
- Dave Pack – leader of the band Ambrosia
- Merrill Ward – former lead singer with the SST Records punk band SWA
- Dave Mayberry – Lead guitarist with the hard rock band Hustler Performed on the album Hustler, Warner Bros. Records EWS335, 1980, Also performed in the video "Hustler Live at the Long Beach Arena", 1982
Sports
- Fred Kendall – Major League Baseball player
- Jason Kendall – Major League Baseball player: catcher with the Chicago Cubs, formerly with the Pittsburgh Pirates & Oakland Athletics
- Justin Miller – Major League Baseball player: pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Lisa Moretti – professional wrestler: World Wrestling Entertainment champion under the name "Ivory"
- Deon Thompson (2006) – basketball player: forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Notes
- ^ "Torrance High - Torrance Unified - 1938752 - 1965060". California Public Schools - School Report. California Department of Education: Educational Demographics Unit. 2007-09-08. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- Troppozada, Toussan R. (1989). "Earthquake Planning Scenario". California Geology. Retrieved 2007-01-23.
- "Deon Thompson". Scout Hoops Experts. 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- Beers, Joel (March 2006). "Rising Stars". Southland Golf Magazine. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- Hack, Damon (2007-05-18). "Park Feels Right at Home Among Sybase Leaders". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - S.W.A.G. at Torrance High. January 31, 2007.
- World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
- MOH Citation for Ted Tanouye. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
- Michael Goode (I) at IMDb
- George Kiriyama - Talent Biographies News Story - KNTV | San Francisco
- Stevo Polyi at IMDb
- http://www.bradschecter.com
- http://www.goodenter.com/battle/
- Nordhoff, Brett (2007-06-20). ""Re: '82 reunion"". THSAA Message Board. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
(help)|work=
- "Player Bio: Dion Thompson". Carolina: Men's Basketball. CSTV Networks, Inc. and the University of North Carolina. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
External links
- Torrance High School official website
- Torrance High School Alumni Association website
- Torrance High Cross Country website
- Torrance High Band, Drumline and Colorguard website
Los Angeles County South Bay schools | |||
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Centinela Valley Union HSD |
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El Segundo USD | |||
Inglewood USD | |||
Long Beach USD |
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Manhattan Beach USD | |||
Palos Verdes Peninsula USD |
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Redondo Beach USD | |||
Torrance USD | |||
Wiseburn USD | |||
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South Bay Union High School District was disestablished in 1993; it operated Aviation High School |