Arcadia High School is a four-year comprehensive secondary school located in Arcadia, California, United States. It is part of the Arcadia Unified School District.
The high school was opened in 1952. The incoming freshman classes consist of students that feed in from Arcadia's three middle schools: First Avenue Middle School, Richard Henry Dana Middle School, and Foothills Middle School.
The school has a teaching staff of 108. Arcadia High School has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges—for the first time in 1964 and most recently in 2023, for a fixed term after each evaluation.
Contents
History
During 1952, Arcadia High School was opened. 2012 was the planned launch of the 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) Arcadia High School Performing Arts Center.
Controversies
Native American symbols in branding
Before 1997, Arcadia High School had used several Native American symbols in its branding, including an "Apache Joe" mascot, the Pow Wow school newspaper, the "Apache News" television program, the "Smoke Signals" news bulletin boards, the school's auxiliary team's marching "Apache Princesses" and opposing football team fans' "Scalp the Apaches".
In September 1997, the L.A. School Board banned the use of offensive Native American branding from its schools following criticism from several Native American groups. Members of the groups then advocated the same for Arcadia. The school consulted with Native American groups and made some concessions, including the removal of the "Apache Joe" mascot, the "Apache Princesses", and some other portrayals of Native Americans. The student newspaper Pow Wow was renamed to Arcadia Quill in 2021. The news show Apache News retained its name.
Arcadia High School has established a relationship with the White Mountain Apaches through the Student Council Apache Commission (SCAC). The commission holds fundraisers and drives for the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Cibecue, Arizona, and monitors the school's use of Native American motifs.
In July 2020, following several petitions to change the school's nickname, AUSD Superintendent David Vannasdall announced that the administration will consider possible options after schools resume in-class sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Athletics
Arcadia High School competes in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section as a member of the Pacific League. Its teams, known as the Apaches, wear cardinal and gold. Boys’ sports include Baseball, Basketball, cross country, football, Golf, soccer, swimming, Tennis, Track and field, Volleyball, Water polo, and Badminton. Girls’ sports include Basketball, cross country, Golf, soccer, Softball, swimming, Tennis, Track and field, Volleyball, Badminton, and Water polo. The school also has a pep squad with Song, Cheer, and Pep Flags.
Cross country, and track and field
The boys' cross country team earned CIF Division I state championships in 2010 and 2012. Arcadia also won the national title at the Nike Cross Nationals in both 2010 and 2012.
In 2010, the team took first place at Nike Team Nationals and set a new record for the lowest team time in history. The team remained undefeated the entire season and broke the California state record.
In 2012, the boys cross country team won another state championship, led by Estevan De La Rosa. They went on to win the Nike Cross National Championships.
Coach Doug Speck was inducted into the Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame at Mt. San Antonio College in 2009.
Arcadia hosts the annual Arcadia Invitational, considered the largest high school track meet in the United States. The event has featured national high school record holders and future Olympians, including Quincy Watts, Steve Lewis, Danny Everett, Valerie Brisco-Hooks, Gail Devers, Mike Powell, Michael Marsh, Marion Jones, Allyson Felix, Monique Henderson, Deena Kastor, Michelle Perry, Alan Webb, Cathy Freeman from Australia, Bryshon Nellum and other athletic stars such as USC and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods, USC wide receiver Marqise Lee, George Farmer, De'Anthony Thomas, George Atkins III, and Remontay McClain.
Academic teams
Arcadia is home to several academic teams, including the Constitution Team, Quiz Bowl, Destination Imagination, Mathematics Team, Physics Team, Science Olympiad, National Science Bowl, National Ocean Sciences Bowl, Mock Trial Team, Speech and Debate Team, Solar Cup, Academic Decathlon, and National History Bowl.
Recent achievements:
In 2011 the school won first place at the National Science Bowl, JPL Regional Competition.
In 2010 the school won first place at the National Science Bowl, JPL Regional Competition.
In 2013 Arcadia High School won first place at the National Ocean Sciences Bowl Regional Competition at JPL, and first place in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl competition at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In 2010 Arcadia High School won first place at the National Ocean Sciences Bowl Regional Competition
In 2010 Arcadia High School Constitution Team earned the California State Championship title. In April 2010, Arcadia High School's Constitution Team was declared the national champion of the We the People competition.
Performing arts
Arcadia has a drama program, a dance/prop production program (Colorguard) that has placed third in the nation twice as well as second in 2024. A dance program, an advanced dance company (Orchesis), four choirs, and a large instrumental music program. The Arcadia High School Theatre Department won first place in the High School Intermediate Category for its ensemble performance of Oklahoma!. Competing with schools from all over the United States, they secured the first-place trophy in February 2012. In 2013, the Arcadia High School Theatre Department took home the Drama Teachers Association of Southern California (DTASC) Sweepstakes Trophy. Out of 66 schools throughout Southern California, Arcadia High School won the most first-place awards ranking them in first place for the overall sweepstakes award. The Apache Marching Band and Color Guard has performed at various events such as the nationally televised 2019 Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade, the Super Bowl, and two Presidential Inauguration Day parades for presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and George W. Bush. The band has also made 18 appearances in the Rose Parade, which is held in nearby Pasadena, California every New Year's Day, more than any other high school marching band in the country. The Apache Marching Band and Color Guard is one of the most decorated high school marching bands in the United States.
Notable alumni
Chris Arnold, former MLB player
Stevan J. Arnold, American Evolutionary Biologist
Ryan Bergara, of Watcher and formerly BuzzFeed Unsolved
Bruce Bochte, former MLB player 1974–86
Joe Comeau, hard rock and metal musician
Stacie Chan, voice of Jade in the animated television series Jackie Chan Adventures
Ian Chen, actor
David Chapple, NFL football player, artist
Renee Chen, Taiwanese singer and songwriter signed by Warner Music
Hal Finney, computer scientist, first person to receive a Bitcoin transaction, key software developer for Pretty Good Privacy and Bitcoin
Marianne Gravatte, model/actress and 1983 Playmate of the Year
Dave Hostetler, professional baseball player 1981–88
Steve Kemp, professional baseball player 1977–88
Mike Lansford, professional NFL placekicker for Los Angeles Rams 1980–90
Marlene Longenecker, president of National Women's Studies Association, 1989-1991
Bruce Matthews played football at Arcadia High and at USC; played in the NFL for Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans; a first-year (inducted in the first year of eligibility) Hall of Famer of 2007.