Granada Hills Charter High School

Granada Hills Charter High School (often abbreviated to GHCHS or simply Granada) is an independent charter school consisting of over 4,600 students in grades 9–12, located in the Granada Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. It is the largest charter school in the nation. Granada also has a high Academic Performance Index (API) score of 878, greatly exceeding the target API score of 800 for all schools in California.[3] On April 12, 2011, Granada was named a 2011 California Distinguished School.[4] On December 22, 2011, Granada became an International Baccalaureate World School.[5] Since 2011, the school has won seven National Academic Decathlon Championships.

Granada Hills Charter High School
Address
10535 Zelzah Avenue

Los Angeles
,
California
91344

United States
Coordinates34.2611°N 118.5254°W / 34.2611; -118.5254
Information
TypeCharter school
MottoHome of the Highlanders
Established1960 (1960)
School districtLos Angeles Unified School District
PrincipalBrian Bauer
Teaching staff171.87 (FTE) (2016–17)[1]
Grades9–12[1]
Enrollment4,662 (2016–17)[1]
Student to teacher ratio27.13∶1 (2016–17)[1]
Color(s)     Green
     Black
     White
Athletics conferenceCIF Los Angeles
West Valley League
MascotThe Highlander
AccreditationWASC[2]
NewspaperThe Plaid Press
YearbookTartan
Websitewww.ghchs.com

History

Granada Hills High School is a comprehensive public high school, founded in 1960.[6] Bryce Schurr was the first acting principal of the school.[7]

In the 1970-71 and 1971-72 school years, Granada Hills High had the largest student body of any high school in the United States.[8] The school was relieved by the 1971 opening of John F. Kennedy High School.[9]

In 1994, the school opened a LAUSD magnet school with emphasis in math, science and technology in conjunction with the California State University at Northridge. In 2003, the school was awarded charter status which granted it fiscal and instructional autonomy.[10]

In 2003 the Los Angeles Board of Education voted to allow the school to become a charter, making it the largest school in the United States to convert to a charter school.[11] The school administration asked for a charter status since being directly operated the district limited its fundraising opportunities, and it also was against LAUSD funding cuts.[12]

In mid 2013, Granada Hills Charter High School purchased the nearby Pinecrest Northridge Elementary School campus for $5.6M,[13] using funds obtained from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Granada Hills Charter High School used this new land to create iGranada, a campus specializing in digital arts and sciences. This campus opened for the first time for the Fall 2015 school year.[14]

As part of their Charter Renewal Petition, GHCHS has applied to increase their enrollment from 4,300 students up to 5,500 students. This includes adding approximately 200 additional grades 9-12 seats to the existing GHCHS campus, through a Charter Augmentation Grant, and adding up to 1,000 additional seats at the Pinecrest site (or at another possible property acquisition).[15]

Technology

On campus, there are six computer labs, each with more than 35 computers. There are also laptop carts, which house many laptop computers and can be transported around the campus for enrichment activities. Science classrooms are updated with new lab technology often. Most classrooms have Smart Boards and projectors, increasing the overall student interaction in class.

Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, Chromebooks are given to every student. Teachers may use Google Classroom to post assignments, online teaching materials, and give instant feedback to the students. Additionally, the school has wifi networks campuswide, and can provide wifi at a student's home if they cannot afford it.[16]

Demographics
WhiteHispanic/LatinoAsianAfrican AmericanPacific IslanderAmerican IndianTwo or More Races
25%40%28%4%0.3%0.3%3%

According to US News and World Report, as of 2019, 75% of Granada's student body is "minority," with 47% of the student body coming from an economically disadvantaged household, determined by student eligibility for California's Reduced-price meal program.[17]

The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.[2]

Facilities

The school's sports stadium, John Elway Stadium, is used by the Los Angeles Rampage women's soccer team and is the former home ground of the San Fernando Valley Quakes United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League soccer team.

Academics

Granada offers 29 Advanced Placement (AP) courses and 38 IB courses which include: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Environmental Science, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP European History, AP World History, AP United States History, AP Psychology, AP United States Government, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Human Geography, AP Art History, AP Music Theory, AP Studio Art, AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP French Language, AP Spanish Language, and AP Spanish Literature. [18]

Extracurricular activities

Granada Hills Charter High School offers a wide variety of extra curricular activities which include, Associated Student Body (ASB), Dance Team, Cheer, Show Choir, Honors Choir, Jazz Band, Marching Band and Color Guard, Winter Guard, Indoor Percussion, and Orchestra. With that, the school also offers several academic teams such as Academic Decathlon, DECA, Envirothon, Robotics, Model United Nations, Science Bowl, Science Olympiad, and Speech and Debate. [19]

Academic Decathlon

The Academic Decathlon team won back-to-back-to-back national championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The 2015 team began another championship streak[20] as Granada Hills went on to win again in 2016 and 2017. The 2019 team captured another championship, for seven titles in a span of nine years.

Model United Nations

The nationally-ranked[21] Model United Nations team at Granada Hills Charter has been recognized at various conferences across North America. During the 2017-2018 season, they won Best Small Delegation at Harvard Model UN (HMUN).[22] In 2019, GHC Model UN won the Award of Distinction at the National High School Model United Nations (NHSMUN).[23] GHCMUN notably hosts the Valley Regional Model United Nations (VRMUN), the first high-school Model UN conference in the San Fernando Valley.[24]

Speech & Debate

In 2011, Granada Hills Charter won the Stanford Junior Varsity LD tournament[25] (Yellow River). It was also the 2008 CHSSA State Champion in Thematic Interpretation.[26] In 2011 the school took 13th at the CHSSA State tournament in Original Prose and Poetry.

Marching Band & Color Guard

In 2012, the Granada Hills Charter High School Marching Band was awarded a bronze medal at the 2012 SCSBOA Division 5A Field Show Championships. [27] In 2016, the Highlander Band participated in the 2016 Bands of America St. George Regional Championships in St. George, Utah and was awarded and recognized as an SCSBOA 4A Finalist that year. [28]

Athletics


Baseball

Ryan Braun was a four-year letterman on the Granada Hills High School baseball team, and three-year team captain and Most Valuable Player (MVP). In 2002, he batted .451 as a senior, with an OBP of .675, and broke the school record for career home runs with 25.[29]

Basketball

In 1964, Granada Hills High School won the L.A. City Basketball Championship.

In 2019, the Granada Hills Charter High School Boys Basketball team won the Division I Los Angeles City Section Championship defeating University High School 71-54 to win their first City title since 1987.

Cross Country

The Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams gained prominence in the mid to late 2010s competing in Los Angeles City Section.

In 2013 the Girls Team placed 2nd in the Division I Los Angeles City Section Cross Country Finals. Placing 2nd also ensured their first ever appearance in the CIF State Cross Country Championships.

In 2016 both teams advanced to the CIF State Cross Country Championships after they each placed 2nd in their races in the Division I Los Angeles City Section Cross Country Finals. The placement also marked the Boys Team's first appearance in the CIF State Cross Country Championships.

In 2017 the Girls Team won their first Los Angeles City Section title by winning the Division I race with a score of 53 points. They later went on to place 13th at the CIF State Cross Country Championships in Division I. The following year in 2018 they repeated as Division I Los Angeles City Section Champions in with 43 points. The victory also ensured a 3rd consecutive trip to the CIF State Cross Country Championships. For the third straight year in 2019, the girls Cross Country team won the Division I City Title this time with 30 points.

In 2018 the Boys Team won the Los Angeles City Section Cross Country Finals Division I race with a score of 53 points. It was their 2nd trip to the CIF State Cross Country Championships in 3 years, but most importantly the victory ended a 42 year long title drought of winning a City Championship, which hasn't happened since 1976.

Football

In 1970, Granada Hills High School won the L.A. City Football Championship with the five-receiver passing attack innovated by Coach Jack Neumeier later known as the spread offense that a few years later attracted John Elway's father, Jack Elway's attention, after the Elway family moved to Los Angeles when Jack Elway assumed the head football coaching position at California State University, Northridge.[30]

In 1987, in a highly publicized rematch, Granada Hills High School upset the Carson Colts (at the time the #2 rated high school football team in the United States), 27-14, to win their second L.A. City Football Championship. Head coach Darryl Stroh, offensive coordinator Tom Harp, and line coach Bill Lake were instrumental in developing a successful new game plan that countered Carson's offensive juggernaut and ferocious pass rush. Carson had clobbered Granada, 42-14, earlier in the season. It is still regarded as one of the biggest upsets in the history of L.A. high school football.

Soccer

In 2017, both the Boys and Girls soccer teams won the Division I LA City Championship.

In 2019, the Girls won another LA City Championship defeating league rival El Camino Real in a penalty shootout.

Notable alumni
Ryan Braun
John Elway

References
  1. "Search for Public Schools - Granada_Hills_Charter_High_School (062271003050)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  2. "Directory of Schools". Acswasc.org. Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  3. "Granada Hills Charter High School API Rockets to 874" (Press release). Granada Hills Charter High School. 2011. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011.
  4. "Granada Hills Charter High School named California Distinguished School" (PDF) (Press release). Granada Hills Charter High School. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 9, 2013.
  5. "GHCHS now an International Baccalaureate World School" (Press release). Granada Hills Charter High School. 2011. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012.
  6. "About Us - Miscellaneous - Granada Hills Charter High School". www.ghchs.com. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  7. LA, Times. "LA Times".
  8. Hier, Jim (2007). Granada Hills (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. p. 9. ISBN 0738547719. 9780738547718
  9. Hier, Jim (2007). Granada Hills (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 0738547719. 9780738547718
  10. "Charter School FAQs". ghchs.com. Granada Hills Charter High School. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  11. DiMassa, Cara Mia. "Granada Hills Gets Charter OK." Los Angeles Times. May 14, 2003. Retrieved on January 8, 2016.
  12. Corwin, Ronald G. and Joe Schneider. The School Choice Hoax: Fixing America's Schools. Greenwood Publishing Group, January 1, 2005. ISBN 0275986950, 9780275986957. p. 221.
  13. "Granada Hills Charter High buys Pinecrest Northridge campus for $5.6M". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  14. "IGRANADA DIGITAL ARTS & SCIENCES". Archived from the original on September 27, 2015.
  15. Granada Hills Charter High School: A Charter School Petition for Renewal (PDF), retrieved July 8, 2014
  16. "Technology - Granada Hills Charter High School". ghchs.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  17. "Granada Hills Charter High Student Body". US News and World Report. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  18. "Advanced Placement (AP)". Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  19. "Activities - Granada Hills Charter High School". Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  20. "Granada Hills H.S. Wins U.S. Academic Decathlon". nbclosangeles.com. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  21. "The Top 150 High School Model United Nations Teams in North America from the 2017-2018 School Year". Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  22. "Delegation Award Winners". Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  23. "GHC Model United Nations takes the Big Apple by storm". Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  24. "Granada hosts first Valley Regional MUN conference". Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  25. "2011 Stanford Invitational". Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  26. "CHHSA State Results For Members of the TVFL". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  27. "World of Pageantry - Fall 2012 Western States High School Band Results & Scores". Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  28. "World of Pageantry - Fall 2016 Western States High School Band Results & Scores". Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  29. Mulhern, Tom, "Brewers: Braun's start a smashing success", Wisconsin State Journal, July 21, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
  30. Sondheimer, Eric (September 3, 2004). "Jack Neumeier, 85; High School Football Coach Inspired Elway". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  31. "WWE Diva Cameron starts right cause with 'Wrong #'". The Miami Herald. September 8, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  32. https://www.insider.com/james-bacon-college-senior-white-house-official-history-2020-2
  33. "Granada Hills: High School Alumni". The Baseball Cube. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2007.
  34. "Colorado State Football".
  35. "Vacations in California travel Guide". things-to-do granada-hillsl. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  36. "Jamal Brooks Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  37. "Travis Kalanick". nndb.com. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  38. "Barry Kerzin, About". GHDonline. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  39. Media, Character (2012-10-10). "October Issue: 'Pitch Perfect' Actress Hana Mae Lee Makes Her Big Screen Debut". Character Media. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  40. "Blanchard Montgomery". DatabaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2007.
  41. "Granada Hills High School Tartan Yearbook". p. 130.
  42. "Biography". www.jeffreyleepierce.com. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  44. "Profile on Metacritic". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.

Further reading
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