Washington High School (Fremont, California)
| Washington High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
38442 Fremont Blvd. Fremont, CA 94536 | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Motto | "We focus on empowering our students to become healthy individuals, responsible and ethical citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators, collaborative workers, and lifelong independent learners." |
| Established | 1895 |
| Principal | Dr. Milt Werner |
| Faculty | 85 |
| Enrollment | 2012 |
| Newspaper | Hatchet |
| Information | (510) 505-7300 |
| Colors Mascot | Orange and Black Hank and Hannah Husky |
| Website | http://www.fremont.k12.ca.us/WHS/ |
Washington High School (WHS) is one of the five Fremont, California public high schools, and was established in 1892. It is a part of the Fremont Unified School District.
History
The first high school classes in the Washington Township began January 11, 1892 in the Masonic Hall on Peralta Boulevard with 22 Students. The School was named Union High School District 2 and May Burdick became the first graduate in June, 1892. In March of 1893, the students moved into a new building on Peralata Boulevard that cost $6582.
In 1914 the school name was changed to Washington High School District and in 1916 five bus routes were started to bring students to school in canvas-sided buses. Publication of the school newspaper, the Hatchet, also began that year when the students decided it "could be used to bring untruth and deceit to an end." In 1923, the first volume of the school yearbook, the Washingtonian, was published by the senior class.
In 1923, 20 acres were purchased for $20,000 at the present Fremont Boulevard location. The new classicaly designed building was dedicated in August, 1924. By 1926, the school enrollment had grown to 300 students and the school was the largest business in Washington Township.
By 1958, the school had grown to over 2,900 students attending a triple staggered schedule. In 1972, earthquake concerns led to the closure of the main building and many students in the northern attendance area began attending the new American High School. Construction of a sports stadium was started in the summer of 1972 and on October 12, 1972 it was dedicated as the Tak Fudenna Memorial Stadium in honor of 1939 WHS graduate, Takeo Fudenna, who gave much to the community and the project and who had died the previous August in an accident.
After the passage of a bond in the early '90s, the main building and gyms were demolished to make way for new construction. Efforts of the Washington High School Alumni Foundation and its many members helped save the original entrance archway of the main building and incorporate into the design of the new building. The new building was dedicated on December 13, 1997 and stands there today. (Accounts of some events taken from Reflections: The Educational History of Fremont, 1983)
Demographics
Demographics for the 2003-2004 school year: 20% Latino or Hispanic, 6% African American , 26% of these students were of Asian origin, 41% European American (White), 5% Filipino, 1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1% Pacific Islander and 13% Multiple or No Response.
Statistics
| Grades | School | State Average |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 9 | 25 | 28 |
| Grade 10 | 31 | 30 |
| Grade 11 | 31 | 28 |
| Grade 12 | 30 | 26 |
| School | State Average | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Years Teaching | 12 | 12 |
| Average Years in District | 10 | 10 |
| Percentage of Teachers in First Their Year | 7% | 6% |
| School | State Average | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Credential | 92 | 93 |
| Pre-Interns/ Interns | 9 | 5 |
| Emergency Waivers | 0% | 4% |
Athletics
The school colors are orange and black, and the school mascots are Hank and Hannah Husky.
Washington High School belongs to the Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL), comprising of the five high schools in Fremont as well as James Logan High School and Newark Memorial High School, the only high schools in Union City and Newark, respectively. The MVAL is a league in the North Coast Section of the California Interscholastic Federation. Washington typically is ranked among the top 3 of this league in regard to all sport league placement.
Their girl's Basketball team has won three league titles in a row. They went undefeated this season and made it to the semi finals of NCS with new head coach Michelle Keller. They were lead by seven seniors, Ashley Marshall, Kelly Fisher, Jessica Hout, Chelsea Price, Sam Ang, Lyndsey Okuda, and Pam White. Great Season Girls!
Football
Noted as an MVAL football prowess, WHS held 5 League title during the 90s and continues to be a threat in both MVAL and NCS play.
Swimming
Washington is known to take or challenge for the Girls Varsity Swim title while dominating in the JV realm. Varsity/JV boys too are often seen amongst the highest of MVAL placements. WHS has a strong tradition of quialifying a steady group of swimmers for NCS competitions.
Gymnastics
WHS is home to a powwerhouse gymnastics team. Coach Freitas has esatblished a legacy of gymnastics that began in the 80s
Badminton
Badminton is one of the largest sport teams in the school, despite difficulties in getting the team together in this 2006 season. The Washington badminton team also plays within the MVAL. For 2006, the team leader is Guang Liu, and the captains are: Martin Wong, Min Thein, Ivan Zhang, Issac Lo and Howard Chu.
Notable alumni
- Jack Acosta a figure on the Board of Directors of several San Francisco Bay Area companies
- Dennis Eckersley, Baseball Hall of Famer who played for the Oakland Athletics, and other teams
- John Woodcock a NFL defensive lineman who played with the Lions, and later with the San Diego Chargers.
- Stebler Loze an author who taught at several universities and colleges and a researcher with the National Ocean Survey. He wrote prolifically on the correlations between astronomical events and tidal dynamics, and was a program director for the National Science Foundation.