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William Howard Taft Charter High School

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See also: Taft High School

for schools of the same name.

Taft High School
Location
Map
5461 Winnetka Ave.
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Information
TypePublic
Established1960
PrincipalSharon Thomas
Enrollment2900
Color(s)Red, Gold
WebsiteOfficial website

William Howard Taft High School is a public school located on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, USA, within the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Several areas, including portions of Woodland Hills, Tarzana and Melody Acres [1], are zoned to Taft. In addition, residents of Topanga, an unincorporated section of Los Angeles County, may attend Taft or Palisades Charter High School.

History

Taft opened in 1960 [2].

Sports

Taft's nickname and mascot is the Toreador. Its rival schools are El Camino Real High School, Birmingham High School and Golden Valley High School located in Woodland Hills, Lake Balboa and Santa Clarita, respectively.

Home to many winning sports programs, Taft sports teams have won city championships in football, basketball, track, tennis, volleyball, soccer and golf.

Many Taft players have gone on to division one programs and professional sports. Former All-American Steve Smith is now an NFL receiver for the New York Giants. Jordan Farmar of the Los Angeles Lakers also is a 2004 alumnus.

Academics

Taft is home to Speech and Debate teams under the leadership of Doug Lasken that sent 10 students to the State Competition held in Sacramento, California. Three were finalists in the National Forensics League National Competition held in Texas.

Taft has also seen repeated success in the United States Academic Decathlon, winning Nationals in 1989, 1994, and 2006.

In 2006 a new academy called the Visual And Performing Arts Academy (VAPA) was created. It combines the vocal music, instrumental music, drama, dance, and art departments and puts focus on the arts in academic subjects.

Notable Alumni

In the media

Taft starred as the high school used in 1976's The Boy in the Plastic Bubble with John Travolta, 1985's Mask (film), starring Cher, 1995's The Brady Bunch Movie , 2005's American Pie: Band Camp, 2006's Monk (TV series), 2007's Keith starring Pop Superstar, Jesse McCartney, and 2008's music video for If I Didn't Have You by Hannah Montana co-stars Mitchel Musso and Emily Osment.

Taft High was mentioned in the pop-up version of the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical (2006) as the winner of the United States Academic Decathlon.

Also, Taft has been featured in many commercials, most recently for Home Depot, Skittles and the video game Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Taft High was also used in the production of the NBC show Chuck, the episode aired October 20, 2008.

Most recently, Taft High School was used as a filming location for the music video "You Better Pray" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

On many weekends and when the high school is out of session it is not unusual for it to be seen used as a filming location.

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