South Pasadena High School

South Pasadena High School (SPHS or "South Pas") is the one public high school serving grades 9-12 in the city of South Pasadena, California. With the South Pasadena Middle School and three elementary schools (Arroyo Vista, Marengo, and Monterey Hills) it makes up the South Pasadena Unified School District.

Established in 1906, it is the first and only public high school in South Pasadena. The campus is situated on the west side of the city on Fremont Avenue. The school is composed of several main academic buildings, a performing arts auditorium, a swimming pool, three sets of tennis courts, two indoor gymnasiums, a 400-m outdoor track, and three athletic fields. The school's motto is "Scholarship, Leadership, Strength, and Fair Play." The school colors are orange and black, and the mascot is a tiger.

History

SPHS opened in 1906 after South Pasadena residents approved a measure to construct a public high school. Until 1955, South Pasadena High School was known as South Pasadena-San Marino High School and served both cities. San Marino opened their own high school in 1955.

In 2003, SPHS dedicated a concrete wall honoring former superintendent George C. Bush, who was murdered in 1940 by administrator Verlin Spencer. It was later determined that Verlin Spencer was high on prescription pain killers.^[1] A patio dedicated to Bush stood on the campus until the school was rebuilt in 2000.

In 2005, SPHS students and faculty successfully saved principal Janet Anderson from reassignment, proposed by then-superintendent Rob Arias. Anderson had been principal of SPHS since 2001. Arias originally reassigned Anderson to a nearby elementary school. On March 18, 2005, faculty picketed outside of school, protesting the reassignments before school and students walked out of class to protest the reassignments as well. The Board of Education repealed the reassignments, leading to the resignation of Arias. Two school board members, both of whom favored the reassignments, were voted out months later in an election.

SPHS is an active member of the CIF Southern Section and competes in the Rio Hondo League

Achievements

SPHS's API score in the 800s place it high in California achievement lists.

The school's publications, The Tiger (newspaper) and Copa de Oro (yearbook), have been honored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Tiger was named the best high school newspaper by CSPA once, and the Copa de Oro, the best yearbook twice.

Notable alumni

• Steven Alvarez – actor/business entrepreneur
• Alison Brie – actress
• John Bush – Professional Musician, Singer for the band Armored Saint
• Wesley Chesbro - California Assemblyman and Senator^[2]
• John Gabbert – Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeals
• Bobby Garrett – former NFL player
• William Holden - (William Beedle) – actor
• Porochista Khakpour - novelist, writer and reviewer for national and international publications
• Bob Long – former NFL player
• Mary Bono Mack – politician
• Adrian Picardi – director
• Bronson Pinchot – actor
• Ward Ritchie – master printer, book designer
• Gonzo Sandoval – Professional Musician, Drummer for the band Armored Saint
• Phil Sandoval – Professional Musician, Guitarist for the band Armored Saint
• Noelle Scaggs – singer (Fitz and the Tantrums)
• Shanice – singer
• Leslie Smith - professional mixed martial arts fighter competing in the UFC's bantamweight division^[3]
• Hilary Swank – actress
• Jaleel White – actor

References

External links

• South Pasadena High School
• South Pasadena High School Alumni Association

Coordinates: 34°06′34″N 118°09′13″W / 34.10938°N 118.15373°W / 34.10938; -118.15373