Liberty High School (Bakersfield, California)

Infobox School
name = Liberty High School


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location =
streetaddress = 925 Jewetta Avenue
city = Bakersfield
state = California
district = Kern High School District
zipcode = 93312
country = USA
coordinates =
principal = Pat Preston
viceprincipal =
dean =
faculty =
staff =
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schooltype = Public
fundingtype =
campustype = Suburban
enrollment = 2801
grades = 9th through 12th
athletics =
conference = Southeast Yosemite League
slogan = Patriot Pride and Excellence
motto =
accreditation =
rival =
mascot = Patriot
school_colours = colorbox|navycolorbox|redcolorbox|silver Navy, Red, and Silver
yearbook = Legacy
publication =
newspaper = The Revolution
opened = August 30, 1999
established =
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closed =
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homepage = [http://www.kernhigh.org/liberty/]

Liberty High School is a public co-educational high school located in Bakersfield, California. Its athletics teams are known as the Liberty Patriots and the school colors are navy, red, and silver. Liberty High School opened its doors in 1999.

Faculty and Staff

*Pat Preston, Principal
*Ron Priest, Assistant Principal
*Scott Pole, Assistant Principal
*Tim Davis, Dean of Athletics
*Brooke Slayton, Activites Director
*Kerri Hammer, Counselor (9th Grade)
*Rebecca Skaggs, Counselor (9th Grade)
*Eileen Sanchez, Counselor (10th Grade)
*Janine Lynch, Counselor (11th Grade)
*Carmen Davis, Counselor (12th Grade)
*Diane Galloway, School Psychologist
*Linda Elieff, Speech Therapist
*Michael McQuerrey, Choir Director
*Mark McGuire, Band Director
*Perry Ware, Drama Director
*Ruth Saldubehere, Dance Director
*Pete Tittl, Yearbook Director
*Dave Ziegler, Forensics Director
*Joan Swenson, Journalism Director
*John Koulos, GATE / AP Director

Academics

All students enrolled at Liberty High School must meet the following criteria before graduation:

*4 years of English (40 credits)
*3 years of Social Studies (30 credits)
**1 year of World History
**1 year of American History
**1 year of U.S. Government/Economics
*3 years of Math (30 credits)
**Algebra, Gemoetry, and Advanced Algebra.
*2 years of Science. (20 credits)
**1 year of Physical Science
**1 year of Biological Science
*2 years of P.E. (20 credits)
*1 year of Foreign Language/Fine Arts (10 credits)
*1 semester of Health (5 credits)
*Choice of Electives (65 credits)TOTAL = 220 credits

NOTE = Every student must pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) before graduating.

*Liberty High School offers AP, GATE, and Honor’s courses, which students can take to earn college credit:
**AP Biology
**AP Calculus AB
**AP Computer Science
**AP English Language and Composition
**AP English Literature and Composition
**AP Environmental Science
**AP European History
**AP French Language
**AP Spanish Language
**AP Statistics
**AP United States History
**GATE Advanced Algebra
**GATE Earth Science
**GATE Freshman English
**GATE Gemoetry
**GATE Sophomore English
**GATE World Civilization
**Honor’s Chemistry
**Honor's Economics
**Honor’s Government
**Honor’s Math Analysis
**Honor's Physics
**Honor’s Spanish 3

AP Calculus Program

Liberty High School has an impressive AP Calculus Program that is taught by Mr. Jose Castro. As of 2008, 97% of students who took the AP Calculus passed with a 3 or higher, with 267 (65%) receiving a perfect score of 5.

Notable Programs

The Liberty High School Marching Patriots

The 100 member group has won many sweepstakes and 1st place awards in band competitions throughout California since its beginning in 1999. In 2002, the band competed in the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) State Championships receiving 4th place overall in Division 4A. In 2004, the band competed in the Western Band Association WBA State Championships receiving 4th place overall in the 1A/2A/3A Division Finals with the colorguard claiming the High Sweepstakes award in Auxiliary. It recieced the highest member count of 150 members in 2003. The Marching Patriots continues to receive high scores and 1st place awards today. They also have a wind symphony, symphonic band, concert band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, and colorguard. The Percussion Ensemble caused a huge upset in 2008 when they defeated the 5-time champion Bakersfield High School winter percussion for the gold medal at the 2008 PPAACC Championships. The colorguard won 3rd place at the WGI Las Vegas Regional in 2003 in the Scholastic A Division.

Band Directors

*Jason Kuyper (1999-2005)
*Mark McGuire (2005-present)

Field Shows

*1999 - Sweet Land of Liberty
*2000 - 007
*2001 - Bohemian Rhapsody
*2002 - Hotel California
*2003 - Class Act
*2004 - The Bullfighter
*2005 - Unknown
*2006 - Unknown
*2007 - Quidam
*2008 - Locomotion

Liberty Choral Program

Under the direction of Michael McQuerrey, the Liberty Choral Program is regarded as the best of all the high schools in Bakersfield, California. The program contains Liberty Belles and Chamber Belles (both groups Women's Choirs), Chamber Chorale, and the school's major performing ensemble, the 120 member Liberty Chorale. In 2007, the Liberty Chorale was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City and premiere a new choral piece by Mark Hayes. The Chorale is also the only high school group in Bakersfield to perform with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and Bakersfield Masterworks Chorale.

Other Programs

Liberty High School is also noted to have many exceptional programs in Academic Decathlon, Forensics, Mock Trial, We the People, and Virtual Enterprise.

Liberty P.A.T.S.

The Liberty P.A.T.S. (Parents-Alumni-Teachers-Support) is the schools Parent Booster group that supports the educational, athletic, and extra-curricular endeavors of Liberty High School Students. Membership is open to all Liberty High School faculty and staff, parents and guardians of students currently enrolled and of alumni, and other members of the general public wishing to assist in the charitable and educational activities and function of the corporation.

Booster Groups

*Band
*Baseball
*Cheer
*Choir
*Executive Board
*Football
*Men's Basketball
*Women's Basketball
*Women's Soccer
*Wrestling

Athletics

Liberty's sports teams are known as the Patriots. Liberty competed in the South Sequoia League in the CIF Central Section from August 1999 to June 2002. In August 2002 the school was promoted to compete in the Southeast Yosemite League in the CIF Central Section. Centennial High School, Stockdale High School, and Bakersfield High School are Liberty's main city rivals. The school's athletic program is considered one of the best in Kern County and the state of California.

Liberty Football

The 2001 Liberty Varsity Football Team won League Championships and caused one of the biggest upsets in Central California football by beating Clovis East High School for the Valley Championship. Liberty's football program continues to be one of the best in Bakersfield.

Liberty Volleyball

The 2002 Liberty Volleyball Team won the CIF Division II Women's Volleyball State Championships.

Commencement Ceremony

The Commencement Ceremony or Graduation is held each year in late May at Liberty Football Stadium on campus. The school's first graduating class was the class of 2002.

External Links

* [http://www.kernhigh.org/liberty/ Liberty High School official website]
* [http://www.lhspatriotmusic.com/ Liberty High School Marching Patriots]