Dos Pueblos High School
Nestled between the mountains and the sea, west of Santa Barbara, Dos Pueblos High School was established in Goleta Valley in 1966 and serves a diverse population of 2400 students in grades 9-12. The ethnic make up of the student body is 61% white, 29% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 2% African American, & 2% other.
Dos Pueblos, or "DP" or "DPHS" as it's called, is a National Blue Ribbon School. The school mascot is the "Charger." Dos Pueblos was the first school to win a CIF Division I title in all of Santa Barbara County. Dos Pueblos is currently undergoing major renovation including the building of a large theater and finishing of a new football stadium, which makes some students say that the school looks like a war zone. Due to the deteriorating infrastructure, an electrical box recently exploded.
DPHS enjoys the support of many individuals and parent organizations. The school's PTSA is an active partner in building strong home and school communications by sending out a monthly newsletter, providing volunteers for school activities, and by raising money for academics, athletics and activities on the Dos Pueblos campus. They also have a separate school site council that meets monthly to assist in the evaluation and financial support of their educational programs. Collaboration with the University of California, Westmont College and Santa Barbara City College provide active support for their students. DPHS supports active college representative visitations; works closely with local foundations for scholarships and loans; and utilizes local counseling and social services.
Academic Programs
Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy
The Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy provides highly motivated and academically excellent students who are interested in pursuing any field of science or engineering with the unique opportunity to participate in a rigorous hands-on science curriculum. The coursework is designed to provide the academic foundation necessary to support the students' participation in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition. Students will design and build a robot that can perform specified complex tasks in order to compete with other teams. FIRST is an internationally recognized organization that is affiliated with and sponsored by many corporations, government agencies, and academic institutions including Xerox, Delphi, General Motors, NASA, and MIT. Course pre-requisites and participation are subject to instructor approval and an application process.
Advanced Placement
The Advanced Placement (AP) program is a program of college-level courses and exams for secondary school students which is administered by the College Board. Over 90% of the colleges that most AP candidates attend give credit to students whose AP examination grades are considered acceptable (usually 3 or better). It is not necessary for students to take the AP examination in order to receive high school credit. However, current Board of Education policy requires that students must take the AP exam in order to receive a weighted grade. The University of California recognizes all AP classes as Honors level and therefore assigns them weighted credit in the UC System. AP courses are open to all students who have met the prerequisites and are qualified.
Courses offered:
- Studio Art AP, English AP, Spanish 7-10 AP, French 7-10 AP, Calculus AP/SBCC, Biology AP, Physics AP, Chemistry AP, Environmental Sci. AP, European History 1-2 AP, United States History 1-2 AP, American Government AP, Comparative Government AP, Economics 1-2 AP, World History 1-2 AP Latin 7-10 AP Computer Science AP German AP
International Baccalaureate Programme
The International Baccalaureate Programme provides highly motivated and academically able college-bound students an opportunity to pursue a rigorous liberal arts curriculum that is recognized by the best colleges and universities throughout the world. Although the program is not as well established at Dos Pueblos than most schools, which has led to the small size of IB diploma students. Many also criticize the program for being overly isolated, as many of the IB students do not interact (in an academic environment) with other students.
Three Higher Level (2 year) courses and three Standard Level (1 year) courses are required. HL courses may include: History, English, Math, Visual Arts, and Foreign Language. The IB Programme involves completion of several rigorous criteria: six IB courses and exams, the Theory of Knowledge course, 150 hours of Creativity/Action/Service (CAS), and an extended essay. Course pre-requisites and participation are subject to instructor approval and an application process.
REACH
A program based on AVID principles; for students with potential to succeed in college if given the encouragement, study skills, and information; in-class tutorials twice a week, speakers, college visitations, college research, SAT preparation. Students must be on college prep track in coursework and have a 2.5 GPA or better; contract made among teacher, counselor, student and parent. Grades 9, 10, 11 are elective credits; Senior Seminar (applications, essay, scholarship/financial aid, college writing) meets "g" college prep elective credit for UC/CSU.
EXCEL
A program for the ELL (English Language learner) student who wants to reach their highest potential; help identify and plan career paths after graduation, including college. Activities include tutoring, study skill development, test preparation, home visits, speakers, mentors, and trips. Classes are either Period 6 or after school.
Athletics
Fall Sports
- Men's Cross Country (Channel League Champs)
- Women's Cross Country
- Football (no wins)
- Women's Golf
- Women's Tennis
- Women's Volleyball (Channel League Champs)
- Mens Water Polo (2004&2005 CIF Division 4 Champions) (2005 Undefeated Channel League Champs)
Winter Sports
- Men's Basketball
- Women's Basketball
- Men's Soccer
- Women's Soccer
- Women's Water Polo
- Wrestling
Spring Sports
- Baseball
- Men's Golf
- Softball
- Swim & Dive (M/W)
- Men's Tennis
- Track & Field (M/W)
- Men's Volleyball(DP has had one Alumni that has been in the olympics in the sport of volleyball)
Performing Arts
Dos Pueblos Charger Theater
Main article: Dos Pueblos Charger Theater
The Dos Pueblos Charger Theater's program challenges its participants and audiences to think, dream, and live creatively (or "outside the box") through visionary programming, collaboration with leading resident theater companies and colleges, ongoing community outreach, interaction with professional artists, and unqiue performance opportunities for all levels and interests.
Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir
The Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir, from Goleta, California, represents the Duke Ellington version of a jazz band. As jazz choirs go it is very large, providing the opportunity to perform a versatile and sophisticated repertoire. With an emphasis on swing and bebop styles, the choir utilizes many strong vocal soloists to present their vocal version of improvising and scatting around a melody. A solid combo, featuring brass, woodwind and rhythm instruments, punctuates the choir. This combination presents a very strong impact
Dos Pueblos Instrumental Music Program
Our program consists of 5 different performing disciplines:
Marching/Concert Band
The Dos Pueblos High School Marching Chargers is the biggest and most popular group in the Instrumental Music Program at Dos Pueblos. It is comprised of drumline, color guard, and horn line, which all compete and perform as one group. The Marching Chargers perform at prep football games as half time entertainment, in parades such as the Santa Barbara Downtown Holiday Parade, and also compete all along the south coast against other marching bands. The band meets daily during normal class schedule to practice music and drill for their field show as well as having at least one night rehearsal every week before a game or competition.
Every year the group changes the theme of its show to keep it exciting for the band members and fans. Last season, the band performed the show of The Incredibles from the Pixar Animation Studios film of the same name. Shows of the past have included The Phantom of the Opera, Grease, and Les Misérables. The group takes a lot of time and dedication to become the great band and grow in skill and size year after year.
Jazz Ensemble
The Dos Pueblos HS Jazz Ensemble is an award winning group of outstanding musicians who play a variety of jazz styles, from the swing and big band music of Duke Ellington to the cool and mild tones of Miles Davis to modern jazz-funk. These young men and women perform at a variety of venues in the Santa Barbara area, as well as the Reno Jazz Festival, and other Community College and High School jazz festivals on the central coast. A few students in this band even take on the responsibility of producing the annual Dos Pueblos High School Jazz Festival. which will be in its 37th year this coming March.
From this band, another, smaller jazz combo is formed. These fine musicians represent the peak of dedication and skill the Jazz Ensemble has to offer, and offer a versatile and highly mobile performing group. The jazz combo is largely student run, and emphasis is placed more on individual improvisation and expression, rather than ensemble playing.
Drumline
Color Guard
Color Guard is as much of a sport as it is entertainment. Using hand and eye coordination along with a wide variety of flags, rifles, sabers, props, and dances, it is the Color Guard's job to entertain the crowd while they listen to the music of the Marching Band and the beat of the Drumline. Color Guard is also a sport because of the competition and dedication that it takes to make one successful. It requires compassion, spirit, and skill to succeed in Color Guard.