Bonita High School
Bonita High School is a high school located in the city of La Verne, California in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Opened in 1903, it was the first high school in the Bonita Unified School District. It moved to its current campus in 1959. The majority of its students come from Ramona Middle School, which is also located in La Verne. The Bearcat athletic teams compete in the Palomares League of the CIF Southern Section.
Bonita High School | |
---|---|
Address | |
3102 D Street , 91750 | |
Coordinates | 34°06′34″N 117°45′54″W |
Information | |
Type | Comprehensive, Public |
Established | 1903 |
School district | Bonita Unified School District |
Superintendent | Dr. Carl Coles |
Principal | Kenny Ritchie |
Teaching staff | 74.67 (FTE)[1] |
Grades | 9-12 |
Enrollment | 1,923 (2018–19)[1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 25.75[1] |
Color(s) | Green and White |
Athletics conference | Palomares League |
Mascot | Bearcat |
Nickname | Bearcats |
Accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
Newspaper | The Paw Print |
Yearbook | Echoes |
Website | School website |
History
In 1903, high school classes started on the second floor of a La Verne store. The classes were quickly moved to the building of nearby La Verne Public School (now La Verne Heights Elementary). Two teachers helped open Bonita Union High School, the first school in the Bonita Unified School District, that fall. In 1905, the school relocated to a two-story Mission-style building on Bonita Avenue. The size of the school was expanded to 23 acres in 1922.
In 1959, due to the overcrowding of the school, the school was sold to the Catholic Church and opened as Damien High School. Bonita moved to D Street, where the current campus still stands. The school celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2003.
Recognition
In 1996 and 2003, Bonita was recognized as a California Distinguished School for its excellence in Academics, Athletics, and the Arts, with a California Standardized Testing (CST) rating of 846 (the California standard is 1000 with a score of 800 considered excellent).
Notable alumni
- Cliff Bleszinski (born 1975), video game designer, former design director for Epic Games, founder of Boss Key Productions, known for his role in the development of the Unreal franchise and the Gears of War franchise.[2]
- Glenn Davis (1924–2005), Professional football player; Heisman Trophy winner; West Point graduate; special events director for the Los Angeles Times[3]
- Jason David Frank (born 1973), American actor, martial artist and professional mixed martial arts fighter, best known for playing Tommy Oliver in Power Rangers.[4][5]
- Gordon Goodwin (born 1954), studio pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor. He leads Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band.[6]
- Erin Gruwell (born 1969), unorthodox high school teacher, author, and main character in the 2007 movie Freedom Writers.[7]
- Jeremy Reed (born 1981), professional baseball player who played for the Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers.[8]
- Earl Smith (1928–2014), Major League Baseball center fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates in their 1956 season.[9]
- Matt Wise (born 1975), professional baseball player for the Anaheim Angels, Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets.[10]
References
- "Bonita High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- "Interview: Legendary designer Cliff Bleszinski discusses the future of free-to-play shooters". Retrieved 2016-09-21.
- College Football Hall of Famer Glenn Davis Dies at 80
- Sisario, Ben (2004-02-29). "FOR YOUNG VIEWERS; Those Mighty Power Rangers Just Keep On Morphing". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- McCormick, Patricia S. (1995-02-12). "TELEVISION; . . . And a Parents' Guide to the Politics of Angel Grove". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- "Goodwin, Gordon – Jazz.com - Jazz Music – Jazz Artists – Jazz News". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- "In Defense of the 'Freedom Writers'". The Atlantic. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- "Jeremy Reed Stats". ESPN Internet Ventrues. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- "Earl Smith, ex-Bulldogs outfielder and Pittsburgh Pirate, dies at 86". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- "Matt Wise Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 25 January 2014.