Wasco Union High School

"Wasco Union High School" (abbr. "WUHS") is a public American senior high school set in Wasco, California. The school is part of the Wasco Union High School District and takes in incoming freshman from the Wasco Union School District, Maple School District, Lost Hills Union School District, Semitropic School District, St. John’s Christian School, and North Kern Christian School.

History

WUHS was established in 1915 when the voters of the Cleveland, Maple, Poplar, Wildwood, Semitropic, and Wasco elementary school districts approved the formation of a high school, to coincide the new addition of the Wasco Union High School District that year. 28 students were enrolled at WUHS for its inaugural year and classes were held in a rented auditorium-like building called Wasco Hall. In August of 1916, a new high school building for WUHS was approved; it was completed within six months and cost about $50,000. 61 students were enrolled at the time of the dedication on March 3, 1917. After 1917, as new structures were added to the campus, the original building was referred to simply as the Main Building. [http://www.wasco.k12.ca.us/history.htm WUHS History] ]

In the years following the opening of the Main Building, a host of new buildings were added to the campus: an industrial arts building in 1925, an auditorium in 1929, a gymnasium in 1931, an agricultural addition to the industrial arts building in 1934, the first phase of the science building in 1935, then the second in 1939. A cafeteria and a language arts building were added in 1949, a library and a music building in 1953, a new classroom building and a bus garage in 1957, and a new administration building in 1959.

In recent history, WUHS has undergone tremendous change. For instance, the enrollment pattern from the 1925-1926 school year through the 2005-2006 school year showed the school’s student body expanding every decade (aside from the 1975-1976 school year through the 1985-1986 school year) and is revealed in the following figures, given in ten year increments: 1925-1926 (143 students); 1935-1936 (299 students); 1945-1946 (385 students); 1955-1956 (546 students); 1965-1966 (879 students); 1975-1976 (869 students); 1985-1986 (854 students); 1995-1996 (960 students) and 2005-2006 (1,551 students). This led to an increase in student enrollment and, should the Wasco Union High School District sustain its present rate of growth, projections indicate that the enrollment at WUHS will reach 2,200 students by the year 2010. This has led the district to begin preliminary planning for a second comprehensive high school to take in the influx of students within the district.

Administration

The following is a list of the administration department at WUHS: [http://www.wasco.k12.ca.us/wuhs/home/admin/index.htm WUHS Administration] ]

*Joe Elwood, Principal
*Robert Cobb, Vice-Principal (Curriculum and Instruction)
*Pat Rissi, Vice-Principal (Student Affairs)
*Raul Rangel, Athletic Director [http://www.maxpreps.com/FanPages/HomeSchool.mxp/SchoolID-e8805a07-ad83-4f5e-b712-f4de60359aee Wasco Union High School Athletic Director] ]

Academics

All students enrolled at WUHS must at least meet the following criteria before graduation: [http://www.wasco.k12.ca.us/wuhs/students/academics/hsreq.htm WUHS Graduation Requirements] ]

*4 years of English (40 credits)
*3 years of Math (30 credits)
*2 years of Science. (20 credits)
*2 years of P.E. (20 credits)
*1 year of U.S. History (10 credits)
*1 year of World History (10 credits)
*1 year of Government/Economics (10 credits)
*1 year of Fine Arts (10 credits)
*1 year of Freshman Reqs. (10 credits)
*60 credits of electives

In total, 220 credits are necessary for a student at WUHS to graduate. Also, every student who graduates must pass the CAHSEE and an approved Algebra course.

Because WUHS is situated in a largely rural community, the school has for many years offered a program that places heavy emphasis on the development of both vocational and agricultural skills. Agriculture remains a major element of the school’s curriculum as evidenced by the fact that some 500 WUHS students take agriculture related course work. Agriculture students have an opportunity to learn the practical aspects of agriculture on the district’s 110 acre school farm which operates in conjunction with a 10 acre farm lab where instruction is provided in welding, agricultural mechanics, plant science, and animal care.

In addition, WUHS provides the following "advanced" courses for those who want a challenge and/or want to get college credit: [http://www.wasco.k12.ca.us/wuhs/students/academics/ap/index.htm AP Classes Offered at WUHS] ]

*AP Biology
*AP Calculus AB
*AP English Language and Composition
*AP English Literature and Composition
*AP Spanish Language
*AP Spanish Literature
*AP World History
*AP U.S. History

Athletics

The athletic director for WUHS is Raul Rangel. WUHS sports teams are called the Tigers, and have their home games on campus. The Tigers participate in the South Sequoia League (Div. IV, CIF Central Section) [http://www.cifcs.org/LeaguePlacement/leagueplacement2000.htm CIF Central Section League and Divisional Placement] ] and have varsity and JV teams. Below are all the sports that WUHS participates in and their respective season: [http://www.wasco.k12.ca.us/wuhs/students/athletics/index.htm Wasco High School Sports Teams] ]

Fall
*Cross Country
*Football
*Women's Golf
*Women's Tennis
*Women's VolleyballWinter
*Men's Basketball
*Men's Soccer
*Women's Basketball
*Women's Soccer
*WrestlingSpring
*Baseball
*Men's Golf
*Men's Tennis
*Softball
*Swimming
*Track & Field

Clubs and organizations

Every year, WUHS has the following clubs and organizations that students can participate in: [http://www.wasco.k12.ca.us/wuhs/students/clubs/index.htm WUHS Clubs] ]

*ASB
*Black Student Union
*CSF
*Class Representatives (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Social Chair, and Publicity Manager for each class)
*Club Ixchel
*Drama Club
*Academic Decathlon
*Drill / Color Guard
*Fellowship of Christian Students
*FFA
*High Class Catering
*Interact Club
*MAYA Club
*Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
*Migrant Club
*Racquet Club
*Rose Festival Tennis Club
*Uprising Artists Club
*Wasco Tiger Band Club
*Yearbook (a.k.a. "The Wasconian")
*Mock Trial*

: *Mock Trial is not available at WUHS due to lack of interest.Fact|date=August 2008

References

* [http://www.maxpreps.com/FanPages/HomeSchool.mxp/SchoolID-e8805a07-ad83-4f5e-b712-f4de60359aee MaxPreps page for Wasco Union High School]