Thousand Oaks High School

Originally part of Oxnard High Unified School District, Thousand Oaks High School (TOHS) was the fifth high school built in Ventura County, California, following the population growth of the Conejo Valley during the 1950s and 1960s. Its construction was proceeded by that of Oxnard High School (1901, second campus built in the 1950s), Camarillo High School (1955), and Hueneme High School (1959). Previously, students in the area had attended Oxnard High School. In 1960, the school board approved bonds totaling $3.85 million for the purchase of the land for Thousand Oaks High School as well as the construction of another high school in El Rio, California (although it would not get constructed until after TOHS) and later that year, voters passed the bond with 78.3% of the vote. In November 1960, the board purchased the 50.5-acre site on Moorpark Road from the Janss Corporation for $245,693.45 and the school site plan was approved by the California state Bureau of State Planning, against the recommendation of the County Planning Commission. In 1961, the board approved the school layout which was based on that of Hueneme High School to save on "architectural fees and construction time" and awarded the $2.275 million building contract to Viola Incorporated, more than $200,000 over budget. Another $6.6 million in high school bond money was put before the voters to complete the high school and fund the construction of Rio Mesa High School and Channel Islands High School to relieve overcrowding at other district schools.[5]

On Tuesday September 11, 1962, the school opened with Tom Roser, a former social science teacher at Oxnard High School, as its first principal and 826 high school students, expanding to 895 by the end of September. Ten classrooms were set aside for elementary and middle school use by Valley Oaks District while Meadows Elementary of the Arts and Sciences was under construction. 300 elementary students used the space.[5]

The school consists of 16 academic buildings arranged in a rough J shape surrounding a central covered hall. The buildings are lettered A through M, moving counter-clockwise starting on in the North West area of campus. The L building contains the library, renovated in 2019.[6] The school also contains a pool, gym, football/soccer stadium with track, locker rooms, and baseball stadium concentrated on the South and West sides of campus. There is also a student store, cafeteria (in front of which is the Lancer Statue), bathrooms, office, and an approximately 350-seat performing arts[7] center which typically hosts a student musical and play once a year and other events from the band, orchestra, and other school organizations. In the middle of campus, there is a central quad area. The campus is fenced.

Following the completion of the football stadium and performing arts center in 1999, all major building construction is complete. In 2000, a modernization project was completed that touched heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 issues. During 2016–2017, a campus survey and site analysis were completed and was developed into a master plan regarding future modernization plans focused on increasing energy efficiency and utilizing green technologies, enhancing the educational environment, fiscally responsible beautification, and the removal of portable buildings in poor condition.[3] The master plan is split into three phases. Phase one includes a new STEAM building, modernizing the cafeteria and library, removing portable buildings, replacing windows and HVAC system, and deferred maintenance. Phase two includes a new two-story administration and classroom building, expanding parking lot capacity, and finishing the replacement of the HVAC and windows. Phase three consists of a new athletic building, finishing the removal of the portables, modernizing the gym and locker rooms, and basic classroom modernization. The master plan estimates the cost of each phase at $15.99 million, $12.27 million, and $13.35 million, respectively and is funded by Measure I bonds (passed in 2014 and authorizing the issuance of up to $197 million in bonds[8]), 2012 California Proposition 39, and planned future bond money. Currently, the project is in phase one, having completed the HVAC replacement in 2018[9] and library modernization in 2019.[10]

In 2020, Schneider Electric announced its intention to donate a 30 × 30 ft outdoor classroom with shade structure and solar panels called the Sustainable Outdoor Learning Environment (SOLE). The donation was approved by the board of education and is projected to be completed by the end of June 2020.[11]

The school competes in the Marmonte League.

• 1993 Men's Cross Country CIF State Champion.[12]
• 1993 Woman's Cross Country CIF State Champion.[13]
• 1994 Men's Cross Country CIF State Champion.[13]
• 2003 Men's Varsity Baseball CIF State Champion.[14]

• Jett Bandy – Major League Baseball catcher, who has played for the Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers.[15]
• Amanda Bynes – actress[16][17]
• Bryan Corey – MLB player[18]
• Chuck Crim – former MLB baseball player[19]
• Claire Liu – tennis player (did not graduate from Thousand Oaks High School)[20]
• Chance Myers – defender for the Kansas City Wizards[21]
• Sam Querrey – tennis player[22]
• Michael Richards – comedian and actor; Seinfeld[23]
• Kurt Russell – actor[24]
• Kurt Stillwell – MLB baseball player[25]
• Jack Wilson – Atlanta Braves shortstop, All-Star in 2004[26]