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Torrance High School

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Torrance High School
File:THS FRONT.jpg
Location
Map
2200 W. Carson Street Torrance
,
California

USA
Information
TypePublic
Established1917-09-11
PrincipalJohn O'Brien
Faculty91
Enrollment2246
Color(s)Maroon and gray
MascotTartar
Information+1 310 533-4396
NewspaperNews Torch
Websitewww.torrancehigh.com

Torrance High School in Torrance, California is one of the oldest high schools in continuous use in California and a popular location for television and motion picture production. Torrance High School's colors are maroon and gray. The school's mascot is the "Tartar", a Mongolian warrior.

School history

The school first opened as the area's first Los Angeles School District school on September 11, 1917 as a combination high school and elementary school to accommodate the area's rapid post-war growth brought on by its petroleum industry and iron works as well as the Pacific Electric Railway. Its first commencement ceremony took place June 18, 1918 during which two students received their diplomas. Torrance High School became part of the Redondo Union High School District in 1947. On July 1, 1948, voters in Torrance voted to begin the Torrance Unified School District of which the school remains a part of to this day.

Renovations

The senior patio located behind the main building
  • The main building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is Torrance's first such listing. It received a major facelift and indoor modernization in the late 1970s and is the building most often seen on film.
  • A scenic Spanish Revival fountain and patio added behind the main building in the 1920s and which was frequently seen in Beverly Hills 90210 has been known for decades as the "Senior Patio." The patio is traditionally off-limits to underclassmen.
  • The Long Beach earthquake of 1933 left its mark on the campus as well. The quake destroyed the upper part of the original auditorium and caused the ground near it to sink several feet. The replacement auditorium was built(1937)as a WPA project while elevated administrative offices were added in 1962. The area is nicknamed the "Sunken Garden." [1]

Alma Mater

The Alma Mater is set to the ballad "Annie Lisle." It is sung immediately following the conclusion of a rally, and at various other school-sponsored events.

Our strong band shall ne'er be broken

Formed at Torrance High

Far surpassing wealth unspoken

Sealed by friendship's ties

Torrance High School Alma Mater

Deep graven on each heart

Shall be found unwavering true

When we from life shall part.

School Wide Academic Goals

Torrance High's School Wide Academic Goals, or S.W.A.G. replaced the national standards of E.S.L.R.S. (Expected Schoolwide Learning Results) in 2004 in an effort to raise the standards of secondary education. S.W.A.G. are unique to Torrance High, as the topics covered create an acronym of the mascot's name. Teachers are expected to encourage all students to meet these standards by the end of their education. [2]

T Thinkers:

  • Solve problems efficiently
  • Demonstrate reflective, critical, creative, logical and analytical thinking

A Academically Motivated

  • Master basic skills
The school mascot is the Tartar, a mongolian warrior.
  • Meet state, district, and/or course standards
  • Set academic goals
  • Prepare for a post-high school career

R Responsible

  • Set personal goals
  • Display moral, ethical and civil behavior
  • Employ time management skills
  • Contribute to their community

T Technologically Motivated

  • Demonstrate technological proficiency
  • Use available resources to further learning

A Articulate Communicators

  • Read, write, listen and speak proficiently
  • Appreciate artistic communications
  • Work collaboratively

R Respectful

  • Of themselves, of their peers, and their community
  • Of the faculty and school guidelines

S Skilled

  • In core curricula areas
  • In life skills

Activities

Sports

Torrance High offers many sports as opportunities for P.E. credit. All sports have Varisty and J.V. delineations. Based on membership, the following sports do not distinguish Frosh/Soph teams: Cheerleading, Wrestling, Marching Band.

File:CrossCountry.jpg
Torrance High Varsity Cross Country Team

Clubs

There are 53 extant clubs on campus in 2006-07. Clubs meet weekly during lunchtime, and convene in the room of the host teacher, also known as a Sponsor. To be recognized as a club, a group must have at least 6 starting members, and 1 designated President or multiple co-Presidents. After submiting a charter to ASB, they must wait for confirmation before joining together as a legitimate club. All clubs must have a President or presiding student officer, and one Vice President. Vice Presidency does not guarantee acension to presidency unless the club charter deems it necessary.

Academic Culture Volunteer Special Interest
Academic Decathlon Irish-Scottish Tartar Knights Anime
Model United Nations Black Tartar Ladies Young Adult Book
California Scholarship Federation Chinese H.E.L.P. Chess
Forensics French Human Relations Choral
Inter-Club Council Japanese KIWIN'S Fashion
Associated Student Body Filipino (Kababayan) LEO Fine Arts
N.J.R.O.T.C. Korean PAW Gaming
Newstorch (newspaper) Latino SAVE Gay-Straight Alliance
National Honor Society Pacific Islander Service League Guitar
Theatre South Asian SAVE ROCK
Class Council Vietnamese UNICEF Science Fiction
Letterman Youth for Peace and Justice
Annual (Yearbook) Ping Pong
Fishing
Smash (Super Smash Bros. Club)
ComedySportz
Writing
  • Tartar Knight's officers are named Captain and 1st Lieutenant, while Tartar Lady's officers are called Queen and First Lady, respectively.
  • The largest clubs on campus are CSF, KIWIN'S, and Korean Culture Club, at 182, 114, and 110 members, respectively. (2006 count) [3]
  • Black Culture Club is noted for hosting the schoolwide rally Hands Across Campus. Culture clubs rally together to produce individual displays of culture, such as the Filipino Club's presentation of Tinikling, which provoked loud cheers and excitement from all students.

Facilities

Torrance High has over 100 classrooms, a library, access to site, district and county media resources, five computer labs, at least one computer per classroom, two gyms and local athletic fields. Torrance High offers 65,700 instructional minutes on a yearly basis and has nine minimum days for testing and/or staff development.

Sports

  • Indoor Gym
File:Campus walk.jpg
Campus Walk
  • Football Field
  • Track
  • Weight-Training Facilities
  • Tennis Courts
  • Volleyball Courts
  • Baseball Fields
  • Soccer Fields
This is the home of the school jazz, concert, and marching bands.

Arts

  • Video Production Facilities
  • Darkroom
  • Ceramics
  • Fine Arts Facilities
  • Band Room
  • Choir Room
  • Drama Room

Other resources

  • Library
  • Computer Lab
  • College/Career Center

Enrollment

The current enrollment of ninth through twelfth graders at Torrance High School is 2246 students. Overall the student population is approximately 38 % Caucasian, 26 % Hispanic, 24 % Asian, 5 % Filipino, 4 % African-American, 1 % Pacific Islander, and 3 % other. Torrance High School also enrolls 110 eighth graders from its two feeder middle schools, Hull Middle School and Madrona Middle School. These eighth grade students take advanced courses in Science, Mathematics, and/or Foreign Language that are not offered at their own school. Enrollment as of 2006: [4]

American Indian Asian Pacific Islander Filipino Hispanic African American White No Response Total
Students 9 541 30 111 588 100 851 16 2246
% of total 0.4 24.1 1.3 4.9 26.2 4.5 37.9 0.7 100

Faculty

Torrance High School has 167 faculty and staff members. This includes 90 full and part time teachers, 68 classified staff members, 5 counselors, 1 site supervisor and 3 administrators. Of the teaching staff, 87% are fully credentialed, with 43 having a master’s degree. 61 % of the teaching staff is CLAD/BCLAD/Hughes certified. Sixteen members of the faculty and staff have been former students and 15 have and/or had students attend THS. Many faculty and staff live in the neighboring area. This ownership adds to the sense of community at THS.

Filming history

The distinctive façade of the front building serves as the primary filming location for many shows.

Torrance High's unique architecture and relative proximity to Hollywood make it a perfect location for major television programs and motion pictures. Among its credits:

Notable alumni

Photos

  • The Senior Court epitomizes Torrance High's unique Spanish-influenced design.
    The Senior Court epitomizes Torrance High's unique Spanish-influenced design.
  • Torrance High serves both as a school campus and film set.
    Torrance High serves both as a school campus and film set.
  • The Home Economics building has clean lockers and large classrooms.
    The Home Economics building has clean lockers and large classrooms.
  • Students gather around an advertisement during lunch.
    Students gather around an advertisement during lunch.
  • The auditorium is another example of Torrance High's architecture.
    The auditorium is another example of Torrance High's architecture.
  • On the right, the Science building stands with two refurbished greenhouses.
    On the right, the Science building stands with two refurbished greenhouses.
  • The Library is a showcase of school design.
    The Library is a showcase of school design.

Notes

  1. ^ EARTHQUAKE PLANNING SCENARIO. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ S.W.A.G. at Torrance High. January 31, 2007.
  3. ^ Not Another High School Yearbook - Torrance High 2005-06 Annual; 181, 189
  4. ^ "School Level Enrollment Report". California Department of Education. Retrieved January 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  6. ^ MOH Citation for Ted Tanouye. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
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