Los Altos High School (Hacienda Heights, California)

Los Altos High School
Address
Map
15325 East Los Robles Ave.

Hacienda Heights
,
Los Angeles County
,
California

USA
Information
TypePublic
Established1958 (1958)
School districtHLPUSD School District
PrincipalJeff Hess
StaffAssistant Principal:

Assistant Principal: Samuel Pena

Assistant Principal: Danny Hong
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,557 (2022–2023)[1]
Student to teacher ratio22.74[1]
Schedule typeBlock Schedule
Color(s)  Royal blue
  White
  Red
MascotJoe the Conqueror
RivalGlen A. Wilson High School
USNWR ranking363rd Place as of 2017[2]
NewspaperThe Conqueror[3]
YearbookLos Recuerdos
Websitelahs-hlpusd-ca.schoolloop.com

Los Altos High School is a comprehensive four-year public education high school located in the bedroom community of Hacienda Heights, California, United States, in eastern Los Angeles County. It should not be confused with the Los Altos High School located in the city of Los Altos, California.

History

The school was founded in 1958 as the second of seven high schools in the former La Puente Union High School District. It is now one of four high schools in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, which was created in 1970 by a vote of the electorate unifying four high schools and the Hudson Elementary School District.

Enrollment levels of the school have varied over the years. In 1978, it reached its highest enrollment, of 2,850 students. In the early 1990s the enrollment dropped to about 1,500. It currently hovers around 2,100.[4]

Sports

Football

Los Altos High School Football has a long history of CIF Championships, especially during the coaching period of Dwayne DeSpain from 1966 to 1996. In August 2022, Los Altos High School dedicated the football field, re-naming it the 'Dwayne DeSpain Field'. [5][6]

Boys' Volleyball

The Boys' Volleyball team won the CIF Division IV Title in 2019 for the first time in school history by defeating the Windward Wildcats. This was Los Altos' first championship appearance since back-to-back title losses in 1984 and '85.

Girls' Water Polo

The Girls' Water Polo team won the CIF Division V Title in 2015 for the first time in school history by defeating number one-seeded Palm Desert High School 8-7.[7]

Los Altos Academy of Engineering

The Los Altos Academy of Engineering was founded in 1989 by Robert Franz, (a science teacher at the time). It started as a joint program between the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and the La Puente Valley Regional Occupational Program.[8] They have won awards for building and racing a solar car in international competition, and won 1st place in the DaimlerChrysler/Trellis Build Your Dream Vehicle Competition in 2005 and 2006.[9] From 2007 to 2009 the Academy's engineering students competed in the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas, taking 1st place in the hydrogen division in 2007 and presenting the first hydrogen internal combustion engine to compete in 2008.[9]

Los Altos Visual and Performing Arts Academy

The Visual and Performing Arts Academy (VPAA) is a cross-curricular program. The program is available to students for performing arts on a higher level. The five areas that comprise the VPAA (drama, dance, instrumental and vocal music, and technology) come together for spring productions.[10]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b "Los Altos High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  2. ^ www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california/districts/hacienda-la-puente-unified/los-altos-high-hacienda-heights-2305
  3. ^ www.lahsconqueror.com
  4. ^ "Los Altos High School". Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  5. ^ Los Altos Athletics News. https://losaltosathletics.org/2022/08/15/dwayne-despain-field-dedication-set-for-friday/
  6. ^ San Gabriel Valley Tribune. https://www.sgvtribune.com/2022/08/17/legendary-los-altos-football-coach-dwayne-despain-to-be-honored-in-pregame-ceremony-friday/
  7. ^ "Los Altos rallies to win CIF-SS Division 5 girls water polo title". 28 February 2015.
  8. ^ Los Altos Academy of Engineering. https://www.lasv.org/
  9. ^ a b "Los Altos Academy of Engineering Competition Participation". Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  10. ^ "Los Altos High School: LAHS Academies". lahs-hlpusd-ca.schoolloop.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-02.
  11. ^ CLIPPERS: Michael Smith
  12. ^ "1993 PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS : Players From Bishop Amat on Top of Cream of the Crop : 1993 All-Stars: Four athletes from the school are named to first team, including repeat selection Rodney Sermons". Los Angeles Times. December 9, 1993.

34°00′28″N 117°58′35″W / 34.00769°N 117.97646°W / 34.00769; -117.97646