Abraham Lincoln High School (San Francisco, California)

Abraham Lincoln High School was established on Tuesday, August 27, 1940, accepting approximately 950 students under principal Clyde W. White. Its opening and dedication ceremony was held on September 22, 1940.

ALHS is a "westside" school along with Lowell High School and George Washington High School.

ALHS at the corner of Quintara and 19th

In the center of the Sunset District, ALHS occupies four city blocks demarcated by the intersections of Quintara Street and Santiago Street and 22nd Avenue and 24th Avenue. The school is located near the Sunset Reservoir, which supplies water for the Sunset district and serves as a rectangular, city-block track for physical education, and directly north of McCoppin Square, the Taraval Police Station, and the Parkside branch of the San Francisco Public Library.

A 1938 bond issue, approved by San Francisco voters to address the increasing population in the Western San Francisco area, financed the incorporation of ALHS with a three-story building of 50 classrooms, library, and cafeteria as well as a football field, costing over $750,000 in 1940[4] (adjusted for 2005 dollars, over $10 million). Additions such as the North and South Gymnasiums, the auditorium, and the "New Building" expansion were completed later.

ALHS has been the beneficiary of the voter-approved Prop A Bond work for remodeling and renovation. The site has been fully updated for the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as much cosmetic advancement including new floors. ceilings, and light fixtures throughout the building, an expanded alarm system, campus-wide exterior lighting, interior and exterior paint, new athletic fields and irrigation systems, a new rubberized track with "D" zones, batting cages, refurbished floors in both gymnasiums, new tennis courts, picnic tables, a remodeled cafeteria and a remodeled basement level that includes state-of-the-art classrooms, two new Biotechnology laboratories designed by the instructors, and a Photography lab with dark room. The crowning achievement of the bond work has been a new building housing eighteen 21st century classrooms that is LEED certified "green" construction. Lincoln has also received greening grants that have installed an outdoor classroom, raised plant beds, a condensation irrigation system and tree plantings.

In 2020 the San Francisco School Renaming Panel argued that Abraham Lincoln, the school's namesake, had treated Native Americans poorly and therefore the school should no longer have his name.[5] Mayor of San Francisco London Breed criticized the renaming proposal, arguing that there were more important tasks to focus on during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] Jill Tucker of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that a video recording of the meeting does not show that the committee discussed the proposal to rename Lincoln, and Tucker wrote that the proposal was "a slam dunk for the committee".[7]

Abraham Lincoln High School, unlike alternative schools such as Lowell and SOTA, is a comprehensive school which does not require special applications, testing or auditions for admission. As with all SFUSD schools, Lincoln's admissions are affected by the "diversity index", which considers factors such as socioeconomic status, academic achievement, parents' educational background, and the API score of the sending school.[8]

For the 2017–2018 school year, ALHS was the second most requested high school in the district, after Lowell. 34% (1,548) of all applicants requested Lowell as a 1st choice, and 19% (868) requested Lincoln.[9]

The school colors are red and gold, and the school mascot is the Mustang.

The school hymn, titled "High on a Hilltop", was written by Lincoln graduate, Patricia Cutler Aversano, in 1943.

High on a hilltop, 'mid sand and sea,
Abraham Lincoln, we will honor thee forever.
Thy sons and daughters, however long the trail,
Always will remember thee. Hail! Hail! Hail!

The Bell Game is a 70-year old football tradition between Lincoln and rival Washington High School.[10] The winning school receives the prized bell. Spirit week is an important time at Lincoln High School. It takes place the week of the Bell Game. Spirit Week events include Battle of the Classes, Twin Day, Crazy Hair Day, Nerd Day, Polo/Hat/Tie Day, and Duct Tape/Tinfoil Day.

The annual Brotherhood Sisterhood Assembly ("BSA") is one of the largest events at ALHS. Various clubs perform to celebrate the school's diversity. BSA began as an opportunity to understand other cultures after a near fatal school-related shooting, which resulted in a paralyzed teenager over ten years ago. The BSA is a two-hour assembly presented by a wide array of extracurricular clubs that promote tolerance and awareness (Polynesian Dance Club, Middle-Eastern Club, Munocka Performing Arts, Koinonia Club, Japanese Culture Club, Korean Club, Vietnamese Club, and Fellowship Club), diversity (Gay-Straight Alliance, Peer Resources, Black Student Union), and student interests (Hip Hop Club, Break-Dancing Club, Drama Club, Varsity Gold Show Choir and Cheerleading Team).

Lincoln hosts two seasonal festivals each year: Fall Fest and Spring Fest. Accompanied by popular music, a majority of clubs hold fundraising activities in the open courtyard, from JROTC's traditional barbecues to Chinese food, other cultural dishes, smoothies and mixed drinks.

The Turkey Day game is the city championship football game held annually on Thanksgiving.

The first Star Trek convention in Northern California was held at Lincoln in 1975.[11]

The main entrance of ALHS is portrayed as Elmore Junior High School in the British/American cartoon show The Amazing World Of Gumball.

ALHS has over 30 clubs[12] and student organizations including Amnesty International, Red Cross Club, Lincs Service Society, Environmental Club, Gay Straight Alliance, Youth for Chinatown Elderly, Chinese Leadership Empowerment Club, JROTC (Color Guard, Drum Corps, Exhibition and Flag Drill Team), Black Student Union, the Varsity Gold Show Choir, and Drama, to name a few.

The student body at ALHS prides itself on making generous charitable contributions and running charitable campaigns, with annual drives for organizations such as the San Francisco Food Bank and Salvation Army as well as fundraising for current disasters and other events needing charitable contributions. In 2004 the San Francisco Food Bank recognized ALHS for collecting the most food out of all San Francisco schools. That year students raised $10,000 in the wake of the 2004 Asian tsunami.

ALHS fields varsity teams in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, fencing, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball and wrestling. ALHS also offers track and field, badminton, softball, weightlifting and girls' flag football. Additionally, ALHS has a number of athletic and sports clubs including archery, cycling and dragon boat.

Varsity football

Marine recruiter gives motivational speech to ALHS varsity football team on sports field

The ALHS Varsity Mustangs are the back-to-back California State Champions for football in 2018 and 2019.

On December 15, 2018, the Mustangs defeated visiting Orange Glen High School, the San Diego Section Division V champion, 24–13 in the CIF Division VI state title game at City College of San Francisco. It was the first state title in the school's history in the first ever state championship game held in San Francisco.[14]

On December 14, 2019, the Mustangs defeated Gardena High School Panthers 35–26 in the Division 7AA state championship at City College of San Francisco.[15]

• 2016–2017[16]
  • 2072 students; M/F (56.1/ 43.9)

• 2017-2018
  • 126 Certificated Teachers;

• San Francisco County high schools