Rancho Cucamonga High School

Rancho Cucamonga High School
Address
11801 Lark Drive
Rancho Cucamonga, California
USA
Information
Type Public
Established 1991
School district Chaffey Joint Union High School District
Principal Cary Willborn
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 3,189 (2011-12)[1]
Color(s)      Purple
     Silver Black
Template:Color boxlBlack Black
Team name Cougars
Rival Los Osos High School[2]
Newspaper The Cat's Eye
Website Official website

Rancho Cucamonga High School is a public high school located in the city of Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California's Inland Empire. It is one of nine high schools in the Chaffey Joint Union High School District.[3] Rancho Cucamonga High School opened in August 1992 with an enrollment of approximately 1,500 ninth to eleventh grade students. Today, RCHS has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 students in the 9th through 12th grades.

Academics

In 1996 and in 2003, Rancho Cucamonga High School was honored as one of California's Distinguished Schools.[4] In 1997 and in 2003, Rancho Cucamonga High School was accredited by WASC for 6 years. Rancho Cucamonga High School was honored in 1998 as a State of California nominee as a national Blue Ribbon School. In 1999, RCHS joined the ranks of California's digital high schools. It serves students from Ruth Musser, and Etiwanda District schools (primarily Etiwanda Intermediate). Rancho Cucamonga High School has been recognized as a Silver Medal School by U.S. News & World Report.

Rancho Cucamonga High School has posted an Academic Performance Index (API) rating of over 800 since the 2009-2010 school year, with a score of 839 in the 2011-2012 school year.

RCHS offers 21 Advanced Placement courses as of the 2013-2014 school year, with about 30% of the students taking one or more AP courses.[5] RCHS also uses California Standardized Testing and Reporting, and supports the GATE program.

Until the 2008-2009 school year the school had an AFJROTC unit residing, CA-941. The RCHS AFJROTC won fourth place at the Fontana High School Drill meet.

The school's Academic Decathlon team has also been successful in recent years, qualifying for the California Academic Decathlon State Competition for the last two years, includiing 2nd and 3rd-place finishes in the San Bernardino County Competition in those years.[6]

Activities

Rancho Cucamonga High School offers a number of clubs and organizations to promote students' interests and involvement in the school. Clubs offered include: Anime Club, AP Club, Associated Student Body, Black Student Union, BASIC (Brothers and Sisters in Christ), Best of Buddies, C.A.S.T., California Scholarship Federation, Cougars For Christ, Dumbledore's Army, Environmental Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FIDM Fashion Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Gay-Straight Alliance, Hearts for Animals, Hip Hop Club, iHeart Art Club, iSnap, Key Club, Lessons Learned Tutoring Program, Lifeteen, Musicians in Christ, Mock Trial, Muslim Student Association, National Honor Society, PILOT, Project Africa, Political and Social Awareness, RC Cares, Rancho Rooters, RCHS Interact, Red Cross, Reflection, Renaissance, Science Olympiad, Snowboarding Club, Spoken Word, STAND, STEM, Suicide Prevention Club, TV/Video Club, Urban Dance Club, and Yearbook.[7]

The school has a number of varsity sports teams and performing arts programs, including Boys' and Girls' Basketball, Tennis, Baseball/Softball, Swimming, Water Polo, Track & Field, Cross Country, Soccer, Boys' Football, and Golf. Performing Arts include Drama, the Rancho Cucamonga Marching Cougars Marching Band, Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, Dance, and Color Guard.

RCHS also hosts an event for military veterans, called Rancho Remembers, which is held every April/May. The event, founded and organized in 2007 by two of the school's history teachers, Mr. Robert Sanchez and Mr. James Longo, along with a number of students in a club of the same name, gathers a number of veterans in the school's gymnasium, who have the opportunity to share their stories and interact with the school's junior class in a formal setting, with lunch also being served at the event for the veterans and students. The event attracts a large number of veterans each year, with the 2013 event attracting 320 veterans. Rancho Remembers and its founders have received great praise from the veterans, and from local citizens and news outlets, for putting on such a special event that honors the veterans, and teaches the students in a memorable fashion.[8]

Athletics

Rancho Cucamonga High School competes in the Baseline League, including Chino Hills, Damien, Upland, Etiwanda, and Los Osos, with Los Osos being the school's main rival.

The Football team has produced a number of Division 1 FBS recruits, including 6 from the 2012 class alone.[9] The school has been primarily noted for its production of standout defensive backs, with 3 of them going on to become 2nd round NFL Draft picks.[10] In 2016, construction of a brand new football and track stadium was completed allowing students to play games at home for the first time in the school's history. The school is also known for its traditional "Haka" dance, a cultural dance, that is performed after home games.

Demographics

As of the 2011-12 school year, the ethnic breakdown of the students:[11]

The Rancho Cucamonga Marching Cougars band, 2004

41.9% Hispanic/Latino

27.7% African American

14.6% White

8.4% Asian

3.0% Filipino

0.8% Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

0.4% American Indian or Alaskan Native

2.7% Two or More Races

Future Technology and Upgrades

In accordance with the passage of California Proposition 30, and the passage of the local district initiative Measure P, both passed on November 6, 2012, Chaffey Joint Union High School District schools will undergo a large project to upgrade the high schools' facilities and technology. Rancho Cucamonga High School, as a result, will receive their own football and track facility, and other proposed upgrades include an auditorium, a parking structure, and new tennis courts, as well as renovated classrooms and other facilities. The school will also receive technological upgrades, as well as improvements to the school's energy efficiency and environmental efficiency systems.[12]

Notable Alumni

References

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