Saratoga High School

Infobox School
name = Saratoga High School
established = 1959
type = Public high school
district = Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District
principal = Jeff Anderson
enrollment = Approximately 1350 as of 2006-2007
colors = Scarlet (primary), Navy Blue, Grey
mascot = Falcon
religious_affiliation= None
location = Saratoga, California
country = United States
communities= Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos
feeders= Redwood Middle School
website = http://www.saratogahigh.org/

Saratoga High School is a high school in Saratoga, California, United States, part of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District. The school is jointly accredited by the California Department of Education and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Student enrollment averages around 1350. It is ranked as the 72nd best high school in the nation, according to a U.S. News & World Report analysis.

The McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center, a community facility, was recently completed on the campus. It was originally planned for the early 1960s but construction was postponed and the funds used for sesmic upgrades to the Los Gatos campus. Public and private funds were raised 40 years later and it was scheduled to open in early-2004, but budget and construction delays pushed the completion date back to August, 2005. The center is named after Saratoga residents Eric and Marguerite McAfee, who donated $1 million towards its construction. [http://www.community-newspapers.com/archives/saratoganews/20050907/sn-coverstrip2.shtml]

Academics and activities

Academics

Saratoga High is locally known for its rigorous academic program. 98% of graduates go on to college or technical school. In 2005, 98% of the students took the SAT with a mean of 1283. In 2006, 908 AP exams were taken with 89% receiving qualifying scores. 23% of the class of 2007 were semifinalists or commended students in the National Merit Scholarship Program [http://www.saratogahigh.org/academics/SeniorYearBookletFall2006.pdf] . In 2003, the school's California State Academic Performance Index (API) score was 911, the leading score among all comprehensive public schools in the State of California. The school's 2005 API score was 914 [http://api.cde.ca.gov/APIBase2006/2006GrowthSch.aspx?cYear=2005-06&allcds=43-695344337762] . Its long time athletic rival is Los Gatos High School and its academic rivals are Mission San Jose High School, Gunn High School and Monta Vista High School. Many of Saratoga's alumni have gone on in droves to UC schools, Ivy League schools and other top schools. It is common for students to apply to Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Harvard University, MIT and UCLA.

Journalism

The school's nationally ranked student newspaper The Saratoga Falcon is published approximately bi-monthly by two staff groups led by journalism adviser Michael Tyler.The yearbook program publishes an outstanding book every year, named the Talisman, and is also advised by Michael Tyler.

Music Department

Saratoga High School is well known for its award-winning and accomplished Music Department. The Music Department is under the supervision of department chair Michael Boitz, who directs the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra, and the Saratoga Strings. Other faculty members include Jim Yowell, choir director, John Zarco, director of the Symphonic Band, and administrative assistant, Janet Verson.

The Saratoga High School Music Department travels to world events every three years. In 2006, the band, choir, and orchestra went to Australia to perform in the Sydney Opera House. The tour band premiered "The Sails of Time" by David Gillingham. Past events include performing in Europe (2003) and Hawaii (2000).

The Saratoga High School marching band currently has 200+ members, and recently competed in the Western Band Association (WBA) Championships in 2006 and advanced into finals competition for the first time where they placed 9th in State. In 2007, the band placed 7th.

In 2007, the marching band purchased new uniforms, breaking the 25 year tradition of its previous uniform. The new uniforms are in the color red, white, and black, replacing the colors of the venerated 25 year old uniforms, which were red and cream.

Past Field Shows:

Throughout the years, the bitterness of the rivalry between Saratoga High and Los Gatos High has been largely absent among the music department, where there tends to be more collaboration, encouragement, and support between the rival schools.

Chess Team

At the 2005 National Grade Level Chess Championships in Houston, the 9th graders were national champions and the 10th graders took second [http://www.calchess.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=59000] . At the 2006 National High School Chess Championships in Milwaukee, the school chess team placed 3rd out of more than 50 teams from across the nation.

ports and Athletics

The golf team has won six league titles in the last seven years, and is currently on a five-year winning streak. The boys tennis team won the league title in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The badminton team held the league title for three consecutive years, from 2003 to 2005.

Because of neighbor complaints, American football lights have been slow to come to Saratoga High's football field until recently. In the past, the team has had to play at Los Gatos High School. In April 2006, the Trustees of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District approved permanent lights for the football field [http://www.community-newspapers.com/archives/saratoganews/20060426/news5.shtml] . The lights were first used in the Fall of 2006. In 2007, the Falcon football team took another El Camino Division Title and advanced to the CCS semifinals, losing to Live Oak High School by a score of 17-14.

candals

On May 9, 1997, a junior revealed to her peers the essay questions of an Advanced Placement examination before it was given that day. The student received the information from a contact in Singapore, who had taken the test at an earlier time. When news of the leak later reached the Educational Testing Service, they gave students the options of (a) retaking the test, (b) cancelling their submission for a refund, or (c) receiving a score with only the multiple choice graded. [ [http://www.community-newspapers.com/archives/saratoganews/06.04.97/APTest.html "SHS students can retake 'contaminated' AP quiz"] . Saratoga News, June 4, 1997.]

In the summer of 2002, an assistant principal, Martin Nichols, was arrested on charges of "soliciting sexual favors" from a junior boy who attended the school. He pled no contest and did not return to the school the following year. [ [http://www.svcn.com/archives/saratoganews/20020731/snnews3.html "Ex-Saratoga High School assistant principal faces sex charges"] . Saratoga News, July 24, 2002.]

In January 2004, a comprehensive cheating scandal was discovered. The matter received national news coverage due to the extensive and technically advanced cheating methods employed, such as using a keylogger to steal teachers' passwords and change grades. While only a small number of students were involved in the scandal, the school has since been subjected to negative press concerning its competitive atmosphere. Eight students involved were suspended. [cite news | last = Toth | first = Lisa | title = Eight Saratoga High students are suspended for cheating incidents | publisher = Saratoga News | date = 2004-01-28 | url = http://www.community-newspapers.com/archives/saratoganews/20040128/sn-news2.shtml | accessdate = 2006-12-20 ] [cite news | last = Gaura | first = Maria Alicia | coauthors = Alan Gathright | title = Saratoga High cheating scandal gets uglier; Teen arrested in theft of lab chemicals; friend held for alleged threats to principal | publisher = The San Francisco Chronicle | date = 2004-02-05 | pages = A17]

One of the eight students was later arrested for allegedly plotting to bomb the campus as an act of revenge. The sophomore allegedly stole "bomb-making materials from a chemistry lab" at the school and was apprehended during a break-in of the school's science building on January 16, 2004. [cite news | last = Ngo | first = My | coauthors = Lisa Toth | title = Police arrest student on campus with bomb materials | publisher = Saratoga News | date = 2004-02-04 | url = http://www.svcn.com/archives/saratoganews/20040204/sn-education4.shtml | accessdate = 2006-12-20 ] [cite news | title = Saratoga High student believed to have plotted to blow up school | publisher = The Associated Press State & Local Wire | date = 2004-01-31] The student was subsequently expelled from the school.

Notable alumni

*Steven Spielberg - 1965 - Spielberg has said that the school was the "worst ever experience" of his life and "hell on Earth", and he claimed to have experienced anti-Semitism during his year there (1964-1965). [ [http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/05.29.97/spielberg-9722.html "Uneven Steven"] . Metro, May 29 - June 4, 1997.]
* Paul Magid - 1972 - Co-founder of the juggling and theatre troupe "The Flying Karamozov Brothers"
* Roger Bamford - 1973 - Principal Architect, Oracle Corporation
* Zach Gill, Dan Lebowitz and Steve Adams, members of the Animal Liberation Orchestra band are all alumni from the class of 1993.
*Vienna Teng - 1996 - popular singer-songwriter
*Lance Guest - 1978 - Actor best known for his role as Alex Rogan in 1984's "The Last Starfighter".
* Arturo Fallico - 1971 - Artist and Special Educator.
* Ed Solomon - Actor, Director, Writer and Producer. Wrote "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "Charlie's Angels" among others.
* Mike Gurley - Singer-Songwriter and Guitar player for dada.
* Craig Miller - 1982 - Merchandising Giant
* Patricia Miranda - Bronze medalist in wrestling in the summer 2004 Olympics
* Bill Haselman - 1984 - Major League Baseball player for the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox,and Detroit Tigers.
* Lee Hancock - Major League Baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
* Carrie Steinseifer - 1986 - Gold Medal in swimming - 100meter freestyle at 1984 Olympics
* Bill Kahle - 1986 - Montana Real Estate Developer
* Mark Arnold - 1984 - Comic Book and Animation Historian, author of "The Best of The Harveyville Fun Times!".
* Jon Shumway - 1995 - Drummer for rock band "Feed The Kitty"
* Patricia Miranda - olympic wrestler

Principals

*Vernon Trimble (1959-1971)
*Donald Brand (1971-1980)
*Tod Likins (1980-1990)
*Patricia Dickson (1990-1993)
*Kevin Skelly (1993-2004)
*Bill Richter (interim) (2004-2005)
*Harry Bettencourt (interim) (2005)
*Jeff Anderson (2005-)

Assistant Principals

*Gerald Zapelli (1959-1976)
*Henry Rogalsky (1980-1990)
*Jerry McClosky (1990-1996)
*Karen Hyde (1990-)
*John Martin Nichols (2000-2002)
*Dan Fowler (2002-2003)
*Brian Safine (2003-2005, 2008-)
*Gail Wasserman (2004-2008)
*Markus Autrey (2005-2006)
*Joe Bosco (2006-)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.saratogahigh.org/ Saratoga High School]
* [http://www.saratogahigh.org/academics/SeniorYearBookletFall2006.pdf Saratoga High Test Scores / College Acceptance Statistics, pages 8-10]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=20300+Herriman+Ave,+Saratoga,+CA&ll=37.266036,-122.028934&spn=0.006067,0.014106&t=k&hl=en Saratoga High School Satellite Image] (Google Maps)
* [http://www.lgsuhsd.org/ Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District]
* [http://www.saratogafalcon.org/ The Saratoga Falcon] , The Official Student Newspaper
* [http://www.saratogafalcons.com/ Saratoga Falcons] , The Official Student Athletic Website
* [http://www.saratogarobotics.org/ Saratoga Robotics] , The Official Website for the Saratoga High School Robotics Team
* [http://www.saratogamusic.org Saratoga Music Boosters] , The Official Website for the Saratoga Music Boosters