George Washington High School (San Francisco)

George Washington High School
Address
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600 32nd Avenue San Francisco, California 94121 United States
Coordinates	37°46′40.13″N 122°29′31.24″W / 37.7778139°N 122.4920111°W / 37.7778139; -122.4920111Coordinates: 37°46′40.13″N 122°29′31.24″W / 37.7778139°N 122.4920111°W / 37.7778139; -122.4920111
Information
Motto	Of all victories first and greatest is for a man to conquer himself - Plato
Established	August 4, 1936
Principal	Susan Saunders
Faculty	110
Enrollment	2,001 (2014-15)[1]
Campus	Urban
Color(s)	Scarlet and Gray
Teams	Washington Eagles
Website	sites.google.com/sfusd.edu/gwhs

George Washington High School is a public high school in Richmond District, San Francisco, California.^[2] The school is a part of the San Francisco Unified School District. In 2011, Washington High was ranked by Newsweek's Jay Mathews Challenge Index as the 497th best high school in the United States.^[3]

History

George Washington High School opened on August 4, 1936 to serve as a secondary school for the people of San Francisco’s Richmond District. The school was built on a budget of $8,000,000, on a site overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. The lobby is decorated with murals by Victor Arnautoff in the "buon fresco" styles. They depict scenes from the life and times of George Washington. The stadium, auditorium, and gymnasium were added in 1940. The school was formally dedicated on Armistice Day of 1940. The accomplishments of its students in various fields of academics, athletics, leadership, and extracurricular activities have given George Washington High School an outstanding reputation among California high schools. The school was also used in an episode of the hit TV series "The Streets of San Francisco." Maureen McCormick plays a teenage hooker attending the school. There are two scenes showing the school and its view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The episode was in season five.

In 1981 the Pacific News Service aired a story about race-based gangs at George Washington High School.^[4]

Demographics

According to US News and World Report, 92% of Washington's student body is "of color," with 62% of the student body coming from an economically disadvantaged household, determined by student eligibility for California's Reduced-price meal program. ^[5]

Location

A. E. Lubamersky Industrial Arts Center

600 32nd Ave, San Francisco, California

George Washington High School's campus is located kitty-corner to Presidio Middle School, also a public school.

Facilities include:

• 3-story 4-shaped academic building
• 2-Story shop building
• Auditorium/Theater
• Computer Labs
• Library
• Gymnasium
• Track field
• 2 Batting cages
• Front Toss cage
• Bullpen
• American football field/Soccer Field
• Soccer/multipurpose field
• 6 tennis courts
• 3 fullsized basketball courts
• 1 halfsized basketball court

Academics

Washington High School prides itself in academic excellence with emphasis on AP courses. In 2011, Newsweek ranked George Washington as the 497th best high school in America.

Sports

The George Washington High athletic program is governed by Academic Athletic Association (AAA) and is sanctioned by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)

George Washington High School supports 20 varsity and 7 junior varsity and frosh-soph programs.

Sports offered include Dragon Boat, Cross Country, Tennis Girls, Football, Soccer Boys, Volleyball Boys, Golf Girls, Volleyball Girls, Wrestling, Swimming, Badminton, Baseball, Fencing, Softball, Basketball, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Golf Boys, Tennis Boys, Soccer Girls, Track & Field, as well as Cheerleading.

Washington Hymn

The Washington Hymn is the official song of George Washington High School.

Notable alumni

Senior graduation, 2005, with familiar view of Golden Gate Bridge

Senior graduation, 2006

• Diane Amos, Pine-Sol lady^[7]
• Maya Angelou, author and poet, awarded the Spingarn Medal, the National Medal of Arts, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Marty Balin, former lead singer of the Jefferson Starship
• Josiah Beeman, US Ambassador^[8]
• Gene Brown, basketball player
• Phillip Burton, Congressman^[9]
• Rey Carr, executive coach and creator of peer coaching
• Rosemary Casals, professional tennis player^[10]
• Ann Curtis, Three time USA swimming medalist, 1948 Summer Olympics, winning two Golds in the 400 meter freestyle & 4 X 100 freestyle relay, and a Silver in the 100 meter freestyle
• Dorothy Delasin, golfer^[11]
• Keith Fowler, actor, director, producer, educator
• Edgar Gallardo, school psychologist
• Danny Glover, actor
• Steve Gray, basketball player
• Richard Hongisto, politician^[12]
• Leonard Krupnik, Ukrainian-American footballer
• Amanda Lassiter, basketball player in the WNBA^[13]
• Marcio Lassiter, basketball player in the Philippines^[14]
• Gilman Louie, technologist
• Richard Lui, news anchor for MSNBC
• Alec Mapa, writer, comedian and actor
• Hal March, 1950s television personality
• Del Martin, lesbian activist
• Johnny Mathis, singer, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award^[15]
• Ollie Matson, member of College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, Olympic gold and bronze medalist^[16]
• Sean McGrath, musician, artist
• Lee Meriwether, model, actress, and Miss America^[17]
• Nathan Oliveira, artist^[18]
• Betty Ong, flight attendant on 9/11 jet American Airlines Flight 11^[19]
• San Quinn, rap artist
• Jim Sochor, former college football head coach, UC Davis (1970-1988).^[20][21]
• Phil Smith, NBA player^[22]
• Gregg Turkington, comedian
• Paul Vixie, internet pioneer (sendmail, BIND and PAIX)
• Martin Wong, artist
• Lope Yap, film director, assistant director, and special effects producer
• Al Young (dragster driver), world champion drag racer
• Connie Young Yu, writer, historian, lecturer

See also

• San Francisco County high schools

References

External links

• George Washington High School Online, School Website
• George Washington High School Alumni Association, Alumni Association Website
• WPA murals and sculpture at George Washington High School, from the New Deal Art Registry
• George Washington High School History Website