Grossmont High School is a public high school located in Eastern San Diego County, California. Opened in 1920, it is the oldest public high school in East County and the first of twelve high schools currently in the Grossmont Union High School District. The school has an approximate enrollment of 2,800 students.[4]
Grossmont High School was recognized as being a California Distinguished School for the scholastic year of 2008–2009.
Its mascot is the Foothiller,[3] so chosen because, at the time of the school's construction, East County was much more isolated from the rest of San Diego than it is today and was often referred to as the boondocks or the foothills.
Campus
The school's "Old Main" building was constructed in 1922 and was used for decades as a teaching space before being converted to district offices. The campus has slowly expanded over the past 80+ years to include thirteen additional permanent instructional, athletic, and administrative buildings. Notable among these is the “Old Gym” which was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Recent plans to demolish this gymnasium were tabled after considerable negative community response.
Grossmont is directly in between the cities of La Mesa and El Cajon, with a large majority of students being from both areas. It is located close to regional Harry Griffen Park.[6] The majority of the student body is from the La Mesa area.
Prop H Construction on the Grossmont High School campus began summer of 2005. The corridors are in the process of being remodeled. So far the 800, 700, and 500 buildings have been re-modeled and the construction crews are going in reverse order by the building number, 800 first and 100 last. 600 will not be re-modeled as it was re-modeled in 1995, along with the Old Gym. The 400 building or the Old Main building was shut down. Whether the district will re-model this building or demolish it is yet to be decided.
Proposition U was passed during the 2008 election by an overwhelming majority. Construction and renovation on the campus will continue.
Future construction
Construction of multiple new buildings is currently underway on the campus, including a school museum and a lunch cafeteria.
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
Grossmont's athletic teams, the Foothillers, compete in the Hills League of the Grossmont Conference and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) San Diego Section.
The school fields teams in the following sports: baseball, boys basketball, cheer, girls basketball, boys cross country, girls cross country, football, boys golf, girls golf, gymnastics, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, boys soccer, girls soccer, softball, boys swimming & diving, girls swimming & diving, boys tennis, girls tennis, boys track & field, girls track & field, boys volleyball, girls volleyball, boys water polo, girls water polo, and wrestling.
Grossmont's varsity baseball team has captured the division II CIF title in the past 4 seasons ('05, '06, '07, '08) and ranks amongst the most competitive high schools in California.
Grossmont High School's rival is Helix High School. Helix High School and Grossmont High School play for the coveted "musket" trophy in football.
Traditions
Commencement
Commencement at Grossmont used to take place atop nearby Mt. Helix in an amphitheater constructed in the early part of the 20th century for Easter sunrise services. Graduation ceremonies were later moved to San Diego State University, and then to Grossmont's own Thomas Mullen Adams Stadium (Adams was the first American military officer killed during the Iraq War and a 1993 graduate). Awards granted each year at commencement include the Circle G Award, the Boy and Girl of the Year Award, and the Norman Freeman Award.
William Kennedy Shearer, 1949, attorney, writer, and publisher of The California Statesman 1962–2007, founder of California's American Independent Party.
Julia A. Stewart, 1973, businesswoman, former Chief Executive of Dine Brands Global (IHOP and Applebee's).
