La Cueva High School
La Cueva High School is a public high school located in northeast Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, within the Albuquerque Public Schools District. Its mascot is the Bears. The La Cueva feeder schools include Desert Ridge, Madison, and Eisenhower middle schools; and Dennis Chavez, Double Eagle, E. G. Ross, Hubert Humphrey, and North Star elementary schools. La Cueva opened in 1986 with 1200 students.[2]
| La Cueva High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
 La Cueva High School | |
| Address | |
| |
7801 Wilshire Ave. NE , 87122 United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Established | 1986 |
| Principal | Dana Lee |
| Teaching staff | 89.74 (FTE)[1] |
| Enrollment | 1,762 (2018-19)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 19.63[1] |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Navy blue Silver White |
| Athletics conference | NMAA, 5A Dist. 2 |
| Mascot | Bear |
| Rival | Eldorado High School |
| Website | lacueva.aps.edu |
School Grade
The NMPED (New Mexico Public Education department) replaced the No Child Left Behind Act and AYP testing with a new school grading formula, which took effect for the 2010–11 school year. The grade is calculated using many forms of testing, and includes graduation rates.[3]
| School year | Grade from NMPED |
|---|---|
| 2010–11 | A |
Academics
La Cueva has been a New Mexico Exemplary School for several years, and the only APS high school to meet AYP. According to www.greatschools.net, La Cueva is one of few high schools in the state to receive a GreatSchools rating of 10 of 10. The website also indicates the school's standardized test scores are the highest of any high school in the city. La Cueva has been recognized nationally by Redbook magazine as a "School of Excellence" and offers a variety of practical, fine arts, social studies courses, and numerous math and science classes.
La Cueva's Academic Decathlon team has won multiple state championships and been recognized for excellence with outstanding performances at the national level. The JETS (Junior Engineering Technical Society) TEAMS teams have been state champions every year since 1992. DECA: Association of Marketing Students program has had many students place in national marketing competitions. The Model United Nations program has won eight state first places and finished third in the National Model UN program. Frances Gruette, a teacher of AP Calculus AB, was awarded one of the Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement.[4]
La Cueva has had national winners in the National Counsel of Teachers of English (NCTE) writing awards for the past eight years. Journalism and yearbook students have achieved state and national recognition for their work on school publications. A number of La Cueva graduates are journalists writing for news publications throughout the country. The school has produced over 150 National Merit Scholarship Finalists since 1988.
In 2018, La Cueva was named as a Top 100 Best Public High School in the U.S. by TheBestSchools.org [5]
Athletics
LCHS competes in the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA), as a class 5A school in District 2. In addition to La Cueva High School, the schools in District 2-5A include Farmington High School, Piedra Vista High School, Eldorado High School and West Mesa High School.
LCHS competes in 18 NMAA sport-activity events.
State Champions (since opening in 1986) in AAAA/AAAAA
State championships Season Sport Number of championships Year Fall Cross country, boys' 5 2010, 2004, 1998, 1996, 1995 Cross country, girls' 5 2014, 2013, 1995, 1994, 1987 Football 4 2018, 2009, 2004, 2003, 1993 Soccer, boys' 7 2012, 2009, 2008, 2002, 1996, 1994, 1989 Soccer, girls' 15 2014, 2012, 2011, 2006, 2004, 2002, 1998, 1997, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989 Volleyball 1 2015 Winter Basketball, boys' 5 2010, 2009, 2003, 1994, 1989 Basketball, girls' 2 2009, 2008 Swimming & diving, boys' 1 1996 Swimming & diving, girls' 8 2016, 2008, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995 Wrestling 2 2002 (2002 Dual) Spring Baseball 9 2018, 2017, 2014, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 Cheerleading 9 2012, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2002, 1995, 1993, 1991 Golf, boys' 9 2016, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 Golf, girls' 4 2013, 2011, 2007, 1989 Softball 1 2005 Tennis, boys' 13 2016, 2015, 2014, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 Tennis, girls' 2 2000, 1998 Track & Field, boys' 10 2011, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 Track and field, girls' 7 2013, 2011, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2000, 1996 Total 118
(2nd among NM high schools)
Others:
- JROTC (10) - 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
- Drill team (2) - 1989, 1993
- Bowling (1) - 2008
- Ice hockey (1) - 2005
During the 2004 and 2005 school year, the Bears baseball team briefly held the national record for consecutive wins. The Bears football team was undefeated for two seasons, losing its third game in the 2004 year.
According to the school's website, since 1986 the school has won a total of sixty-nine state championships, 226 district championships, and has been selected as the NMAA All-Sports Trophy winner 11 times for boys and eight times for girls, and were awarded the first ever Directors Cup honoring the total athletic program for the 2004–2005 academic year. The school's first state championship came in 1987 as the La Cueva girls' cross country team won the NM AAAA State Championship. La Cueva has had 29 High School All-Americans, 12 Gatorade Athletes of the Year, 6 APS Athletes of the Year, and 5 Tribune Athletes of the Year.
Former Bears include Olympians Lance Ringnald (88) and Nate DiPalma (93). Collegiate All-Americans include Amy Warner (01), Kristen Graczyk (02), Jamie MacArthur (04), Randy Wells (07), Richie Hansen (95), Jennifer Hommert (95), Anna Tuttle (95), Doug Zembiec (91), Jeff Rowland (02), Lauren Goldfarb (09). AJ Bramlett (basketball) (95) played on the University of Arizona's national championship team and Nick Speegle (2000) was drafted and plays football for the Cleveland Browns. Sports Illustrated ranked the Bears as the 24th best overall sports high school in the country.
Notable alumni
- Bryce Alford (class of 2013), professional basketball player[6]
- A.J. Bramlett (class of 1995), professional basketball player[7]
- Terri Conn (class of 1993), actress[8]
- Marty Crandall, musician
- Jamie Dick (class of 2007), racing driver[9]
- Mitch Garver (class of 2009), MLB catcher for Minnesota Twins
- Neil Patrick Harris (class of 1991), actor, Emmy and Tony Award winner, star of television's How I Met Your Mother[10]
- Colin O'Malley (class of 1992), composer[11]
- Jordan Pacheco, Major League Baseball player[12]
- James Parr (class of 2004), retired Major League Baseball player[13]
- Tammy Pearman (class of 1991), soccer player for the United States women's national team[14]
- Freddie Prinze, Jr. (class of 1994), actor[15]
- Pascual Romero, musician and filmmaker
- Jesse Sandoval, musician[16]
- Caitlin Shaw (class of 2008), stock car racing driver[17]
- Jarrin Solomon, Olympic bronze medalist[18][19]
- Nick Speegle (class of 2000), NFL linebacker[20]
- Tony Vincent (class of 1991), actor[21]
- Douglas A. Zembiec (class of 1991), U.S. Marine Corps officer[22]
- Shadrack Kiptoo-biwott is a Kenyan-born American long-distance runner.[23]
References
- "LA CUEVA HIGH". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- La Cueva High School website
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2012-07-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- The Siemens' Foundation
- https://thebestschools.org/rankings/best-public-high-schools-us/#la-cueva-high-school
- Wang, Jack (May 22, 2013). "Bryce Alford invited to USA U19 training camp". Inside UCLA. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- Herron, Gary (January 9, 2010). "Former Wildcat and La Cueva Bear now works in radio in Rio Rancho". Rio Ranhcho Observer. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- "School Information". La Cueva High School. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- Fenton, Tom (April 27, 2007). "Senior Shifts Gears on Weekends: La Cueva's Jamie Dick Gets a Charge Out of Trading Paint on Nascar Circuit". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- "Doogie Howser Graduates From N.m. High School". Orlando Sentinel. May 26, 1991. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- "Twins followed separate paths to realize their dreams". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. August 21, 1999. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- Herron, Gary (July 3, 2011). "New Mexican a step away from 'The Show'". Rio Rancho Observer. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- Sickenger, Ken (September 14, 2005). "La Cueva Graduate James Parr Is Becoming a Star in the Braves' Farm System". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- "Tammy Pearman". La Cueva High School. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- Lee, Sally (July 1, 2008). Freddie Prinze, Jr: From Shy Guy to Movie Star. Enslow Publishers, Inc. p. 30. ISBN 9780766029651.
- Bower, Lash (April 5–11, 2007). "James Mercer's Inverted World". The Alibi. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
- Smith, Toby (November 12, 2010). "She's Driven to Compete". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- Guerrero, Maria (July 6, 2012). "Albuquerque native to compete in the Olympics". KOB. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- Sickenger, Ken (July 15, 2012). "Ex-Lobo Solomon To Realize Olympic Dream". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- "Nick Speegle, OLB, New Mexico". USA Today. May 18, 2005. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- Steinberg, David (January 11, 1998). "La Cueva graduate builds career in music". Albuquerque Journal. HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- "NM Marine killed in Iraq". Associated Press. La Cruces Sun-News. May 13, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- "IAAF: Shadrack Kiptoo Biwott | Profile". iaaf.org. Retrieved 2017-11-02.